How to Build a Baritone Ukulele

Baritone ukulele kits are available with pre-finished and manufactured parts.

Building a baritone ukulele from scratch requires an advanced level of woodworking and musical instrument-making experience. There are several kits on the market, though, that will enable those with moderate assembly skills to successfully build a baritone ukulele. The baritone ukulele is the largest in the ukulele family, measuring about 30 inches in length as opposed to the standard soprano ukulele which measures around 21 inches. Your particular kit instructions may differ considerably in complexity, so these steps will apply to those requiring only basic assembly.

Things You'll Need

• Wood Glue
• Belt Clamp
• 2 C-clamps
• Screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Heavy book
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. Remove contents of the ukulele kit and take an inventory of parts listed on your instruction sheet.

2. Attach the neck to the ukulele body with wood glue and use a belt clamp to hold in place for approximately 12 hours. A clothing belt will suffice as a belt clamp or you may purchase one at a woodworking or hardware store.

3. Attach the fretboard to the neck with wood glue and clamp in place with 2 C-clamps for approximately 12 hours.

4. Install the tuning keys by inserting them into the holes in the ukulele headstock. Depending on the type provided, they will mount with screws or threaded washer bushings. Insert screws and tighten with a screwdriver or insert threaded bushing and tighten with an adjustable wrench. Check your instruction manual for details.

5. Glue the nut onto the neck and bridge to the body. Since ukulele model measurements vary, consult your instruction manual for proper bridge position. Place a heavy book over the bridge and allow to dry for approximately 8 hours. The nut does not require clamping or weighting, but you may place a strip of masking tape over the nut and headstock to eliminate the possibility of movement.

6. Install the ukulele strings according to the instruction manual.

Tips & Warnings

• Perform a dry fit double-check measurements of all parts before installing.

• Many ukuleles are supplied with friction tuning keys, which are installed with threaded bushings. The trick to keeping your ukulele in tune with these is to tighten the small screw that goes through the center of the tuning key. Do not over-tighten, to avoid splitting the plastic key.

• Choose a kit that suits your skill level. Some kits require intermediate or advanced painting or finishing, wood shaping, gluing and clamping, fret installation and more. Intermediate or advanced kits will cause frustration if you're not equipped to do so, and you'll risk ruining the components by trying.

• If you do paint, do so in a well ventilated area to avoid potentially harmful and inflammable fumes and vapors.

References

• Musicmakers: Baritone Ukulele Tenor Guitar
• Stewart-MacDonald: Tenor Ukulele Kit #5348 Assembly Instructions
• Grizzly Industrial: Ukulele Kit Model H3125 Instruction Manual
• Papa's Boxes: Cigar Box Ukulele Kit Assembly Instructions

Resources

• Ko'olau Guitar & Ukulele Company: Ko'olau Ukulele Dimensions
• Easy Ukulele: Baritone Ukulele Tuning