Difficulty: Advanced
Cost: $$
If you can’t leave home without a ukulele, try building a travel ukulele. I built this instrument with cherry wood, but any type of wood could be used.
Download the free plans and start building. Before building this ukulele, I would advise you to read through all of the steps to get the overall picture. Also, make sure to be familiar with the tools you are using and PLEASE use caution. Follow the plans to make an acoustic/electric ukulele with a concert (15 inch) scale, or tailor the plans to make you own masterpiece.
Download the free plans!
Email CircuitsAndStrings@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.
See it in action!
Circuits and Strings 
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First of all, you are great!
But where can I find the zither Tuning machine?
May be replaced by something similar?
In the US, I get the zither pins from the “C. B. Gitty” online store. eBay has them too.
And the wood is? 🙂
This one is all cherry, but you could use any type.
Hi, aprox. how much does this project cost, and how long does it take?
You could probably building it for around $50-$70, depending on the wood and where you get the parts. If you have the right tools and expertise, it could take 10-20 hours.
Do you think you could put a tutorial for the song you played in the video? It is splendid.
Let me see if I can remember how I played it. 🙂
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I was wondering if it was possible to only make it acoustic ( because in the plans you made it possible to make it electric…). Thank you for postiting the video and the plans!
Yep. Just leave out the piezo and put a peg strap on the back instead of an endpin jack. Good luck. 🙂
Thank you very much! I also wanted to know if it was possible to build a bigger body for the uke ( it might not be a travel ukulele but… 🙂 )
Yep. You can make it as big as you want.
Thank you very much for your help! 🙂
Just a question… In your pdf you put twice the top and back piece of wood in the list of supplies. But you only put the piece of wood used for the sides of the body once… Could you tell me if i need to take two pieces of wood for the sides of the uke?
That should have only been there once. 20*3*1/8 is enough for both the top and back.
Okay thanks! 🙂
Can i have the on diy travel ukulele the 2.0 one ?
All of my plans are here:
The instructions of it
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I printed the fretboard guide for the travel ukulele he came out being an inch and 5/8 wide can you give me a measurement from the 04 to the 12th fret to check my proper printing size thank you very much cool instruments
Hey Bennie, the ukulele isn’t in my possession anymore, but the 0 fret to the 12th feet should be just under 7.5 inches.
Hi Daniel,
Do you mean the 0 fret to the 12th fret plus the extra 1/4” on the top of the fretboard? The fret guide I printed out was about seven inches from the 0 fret to the 12th fret.
Hi. The 0 fret to the 12th fret line should be be just under 7.5 inches. Make sure to print the fret template at 100% on 8.5×11 paper.
Hi, Daniel! I’m working on this plan now. Though the body forms a trapezoid, the end blocks are square, which message that the sides need to glue up square to the end blocks but then bend between the end blocks. Did you glue them in any particular order to make that easier? I’m wondering if I should soak the side pieces to make them pliable, clamp everything together so the sides form into the right shape, and then glue it once everything has dried.
You should be good without soaking and bending the wood. They do bow a bit, but not enough to worry about. Let me know if you need any more help.
Hello,
I know this project us two years old but i really live the idea! Is it without the electrical part loud enough for a fire pit play?
It depends on the size of the fire pit. 🙂
I’d probably make the body a little wider. That will help boost the volume. Let me know if you have other questions.
Can I make the body with 1/4″ wood, or is it crucial that it’s 1/8″?
1/8″ would be the best for the top. The rest of it is less important. If the top is too thick, the instrument will sound a little dead. The top needs to vibrate.
If you are just looking for a super rugged uke for travel, go for it with 1/4″.
Where did you get the wood for the acoustic travel ukulele?
Rockler is a good online place for wood. Look for the 1/8 stuff for the body.
An acoustic electric traveler guitalele, the next song is uptown Passover by 613.
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