Neal Carey wrote:I did build 3 walnut ukes last year @ .065-.07 and it was pretty thin, which for the sides/back turned out fine, but the spruce tops were really way too thin and I wish in hind sight that I had gone to .08 or .09 for the top. I ended up adding extra fan braces to hopefully prevent the tops from warping.
FWIW my first few ukes were way overbuild, probably more like .11 - .125 and everyone who has ever picked one of them up has remarked at how heavy they were.
Neal,
I have some black walnut that I downed on my property a couple of seasons ago, and I was wondering about the suitability for a uke build. I'll thin it down and let it dry, completely, of course, but I was wondering if you used walnut for the neck and back, as well as the sides. I have plenty available, and can afford a few mistakes, but I wouldn't want to waste too much time or material if it's simply a lost cause.
Thanks for sharing the material thickness you used, and for any other insight you can provide.