Last fall A friend an I decided that we would build ourselves a uke or two for something to do this winter. I figured the first one would be filled with mistakes so local woods were used. The sides and back were birch and the top quarter sawn oak. The plans were purchased from Elderly (an early model martin design).

There were a few blunders like when I cut the angles for the tuners on the neck.   I made a jig because my saws were not able to handle the 15 degree cut. Subtracting the 15 from 90 I got 75 (wow). Then in great haste I went to 70 deg. and over another 5 setting the jig up for 65 instead of 75 deg. The 25 deg angle wasn't noticed until I had the neck all ready for assembling. I now have probably the only uke in existence with a 25 deg angle on the tuner section of the neck.

Question #1 - Is there some reason for the 15 degree angle? It seems that all stringed instruments, guitars, mandolins, uke's etc. use the 15 deg. angle where the tuners are placed on the neck.

Question #2 - Why doesn't oak make a good sound board? My first one sounds like it is muted.

Question #3 - I'm now on my third uke. Is building instruments addictive?

Cap't Bob