I am kind of glazing over the process of bending the sides. I’ll show that on some of the next ones. The sides are soaked in warm water and then bent over a steel pipe heating with an electric heat gun set on low. I put them in these simple drying forms which helps me see if the sides are symmetrical. After they have dried I mark the trim lines, and then cut off the overhang.

Maple neck and back. Cherry sides and fretboard. Western Red Cedar top.

I have begun a project to build ten custom themed ukuleles for my friends who have given me lots of support and inspiration for my ukulele projects. This one is for my buddy Peter.  We were punk rocking style go-getters in high school, and art class together was sometimes spent trimming up spikey hair doos. Peter went on to open his own salon, and the love of his work is reflected in a tattoo he wears. For Peter’s uke I am taking the image of the tattoo and am going to paint it on the back.  I can’t wait to see how this all comes out!