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I`m building a Tenor Uke for my grandaughter.Top has a 25 ft radius.On a guitar I like to see an un-fretted board just touch or clear the bridge by a whisker.Setting my Woolson jig to .090 gets me real close, and alows me to get the action I`m looking for at about .0940 at the 12th.Not sure what I need to do on a Uke?
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

1. Fret the board
2. Lay a 1/8" drill bit at the 14th fret
3. Set a straightedge on the 1st fret and the drill bit
4. The straightedge should then rest on the top of the saddle

This should give you action at the 12th fret that is close to your goal.

My ukes are also built with a 25' top radius. In order to get the board to lay flat on the top to the soundhole, I find it necessary to begin the radius at the soundhole. The rim is sanded to radius only below the soundhole. The rim of the upper bout is flat and the upper bout is perpendicular to the surface of the body where the heel of the neck mates. The brace that is just above the soundhole is flat. The angle between the fretboard and the heel of the neck turns out to be very close to perpendicular but heel usually requires a bit of adjustment to get the board to lie straight and flat on the top.

Hope this helps!

Thanks David.I also flatten the uper bout.I had to cut the heel about 1/2 degree out of square to get the fretboard to lay flat.This should get me pretty close.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Yep, that's about right.

Your granddaughter is a lucky girl!

I do about 0.5 - 1degree neck angle on my ukes and flatten the upper bought like building a guitar. It really depends on the bridge geometry though. My method is to dry-fit the top and tape it in place. Then lay the fingerboard on it and check the height at the bridge position with a ruler. You can adjust the rim and neck angle if needed.

Not to hijack this thread (this is kinda' related), what kind of action do you guys like to see at the 14th fret? The 1/8 inch drill bit suggestion makes me think it should be around whatever 1/8 inch minus fret height works out to be. Thoughts?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I set mine to about 0.09" at the 12th fret...from the fret to the string. 0.015" at the 1st. I think that's on the low side of average for ukes.

Thanks! BTW, I haven't forgotten that I borrowed your plans. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

No prob. Looks like spring is finally here so I'll be spending my time fighting with my lawn