Customer Reviews

Grizzly H3125 Ukulele Kit

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you consider that the body of the Ukulele comes ready built, the fretboard comes finished and with frets installed, and the neck/head are already formed this is a great kit for the price. Don't expect a top quality instrument, but use this kit as an introduction to what building a Ukulele is all about. The top and bottom of the soundbox are made of beautiful striped sapele mahogany plywood that is really stunning. The sides are not particularly attractive luan plywood. The body is well assembled with internal liners but no bracing that I can see. All the parts are well sanded and ready for finish sanding, staining and finishing. The tuners and strings are inexpensive but adequate. The directions are badly translated Chinese, but the construction is easy to figure out. The neck is to be attached by a simple butt joint, but I would suggest additonal strengthing with dowels. I would suggest shortening the nut to first fret distance by at least 1/16" for better intonation. The string height is not specified in the directions, so you better know how to adjust that properly for good playing.
The instrument I built worked out fine, the sound is not particularly loud compared to better instruments. I changed the strings to Aquila Nylgut with much better results.
I have provided construction photos on my website at:

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Enjoy

Ukuleles are irresistible. I don't know what it is about them, but everyone loves ukuleles. And this is a great way to get into one. Inexpensive and fun to build. It isn't hard to put together at all. The hard parts have already been done for you. The body comes pre-assembled. The fret board is finished with fret wires already attached. Basically all you need to do is glue it up, sand, and finish.
The instruction booklet is well written and has plenty of information, including instructions for setting string height.

It is relatively easy to assemble.
1. Step one is to pre-sand the parts, paying attention to not sand any glue areas. I suggest you don't waste time with a sander. This instrument is so small it is easier to hand sand.
2. The neck comes ready to glue to the body. It is pre-shaped making it a cinch to glue up. There is no pinning necessary, but if you use a good quality wood glue it should be OK. The only bracing I can see inside the body is a block attached at the neck join that was probably intended for stapling the side lap. But if don't trust glue alone, the block is robust enough that you can add a dowel or two. I chose not to dowel mine. So far no problems. I used a number of heavy rubber bands to secure the neck to the body while the glue dried. I tried a strap clamp, but it was more trouble that it was worth.
3. The fretboard is just as easy to attach. I suggest you re-drill the holes for the position dots. As they came on my kit, they were much too small to accept the dot. A piece of 320 grit sand paper wrapped around a Popsicle stick works great to file the dots down flush with the fretboard.
4. Once the neck and fretboard are down you can final sand in preparation for finishing. You will need to tape off a spot on the front of the body for the bridge. Measure carefully as position is important. The instructions are very detailed so you shouldn't have any trouble.
5. Now you can carefully tape off the fretboard, and bridge and top nut areas.
6. Apply the finish of your choice. The front and back of the body are mahogany plywood and would look great stained and lacquered. But you can choose to paint it as well. (We opted for a bright yellow enamel.)
7. Finish up by attaching the bridge and top nut, then install the tuners and strings.
8. Tune it up and make music!

This is a fairly high quality kit, and all the really hard parts have already been done. The price is certainly right. And if you take your time you will end up with a quality instrument. The sound is good and it is fun to play. A great project to get into with the grandkids. I highly recommend this kit.

I built this inexpensive kit and added just a few "extras". Gold tuners and upgraded strings. It is a beautiful instrument. Went together well, and sounds fine. I am ordering more as everyone who sees this can't believe I built it myself and I am now using them for gifts. If not for a uke player, I dress it up with something that relates to their hobby and it makes for a great wallhanger for anyone. (I added sea turtles for my daughter.)

Great kit.
I received it as a gift for Christmas. The strings must be replaced they are awful. I swapped mine with Aquilas, which are louder and stay in tune. Also, the distance from the nut to the first fret was too long by about a little more than 1/16th inch. go to stewmac's website, they have a free online calculator for calculating scale length and fret spacing for many different instruments.

I used titebond wood glue for the neck.

I also added some nice hardwood bindings and I replaced the nut with a piece of bone and it plays great.
When I get a chance, I might knock down the frets by about .01 to .02 inches or so.

The tuning mechanisms could of been better, but heck it's $25. I have been playing it nonstop for 3 weeks now. The Ukulele is very addictive. I will be buying a second one for my daughter.

Like many other builders, I upgraded the fret board and added some extras - binding, better strings, upgraded tuners. It was fun to build, easy, sounds nice (yes, purchase Aquia Nylgut strings). I will build more. Don't expect a Martin or a Gibson, but have fun with it. The other kits from Grizzly are also a hoot to make and play with.

'Real' luthiers will say this kit is too easy, and that the plywood is too cheap, but if you are in it for the fun of building something unique and if you don't have all the tools to bend wood etc., then I say 'go for it!'

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i got my kit today and have started it. its been a blast:D how ever if you are getting this for a friend or a child, be aware that your gona spend another 30$ to 40$ on extra supplise. if you dont have any wood working tools your going to need
at least 2 c clamps one ratchet strap , stain, gloss, wood glue and a drill with small bits. you will alos need some sand pape, and paint brushes. the kit also says you need wood putty but i havent needed it yet, and you will need some masking tape.
for the quality of the ukulele the totaly price iincluding the extra supplize is worth it only if you have ever wanted to "make one yourself". if you want it simple to have one, its cheeper to buy an already created one. with upgraded strings this one is comprable to the already premade ones. how ever, if you are like me and just love to make things, its worth every penny. i would honestly say order two that way you have one to make for a friend that you can practice on and make all your mistakes on , and then have a second one you can make perfic for you~sniker~
also because its a do it your self kit you can wood burn pretty much anything you want on it and realy personalize it.this is what i myself am doing. all in all i give it a 3 and 3/4 starts out of 5. only because i didnt realize i would ned so many extra supplise lol! but now im set to make another one :D

The directions were ok, but not great. Luckily my spouse knows a quite a bit about stringed instruments and was able to make it playable. But for the price it was fun to put together and plays like I expected it to.

The kit was easy to assemble, and the materials were of good quality. The instruction booklet was more than adequate, and I was pleased with the results. The product was as I expected and more. Shipping was prompt.

All in all, a good experience.

I really enjoyed building this ukulele kit.

pros
- beautiful wood finish
- great sound and a great started ukulele

cons
- the strings are low quality, pick up a set at a guitar store for $6
- The holes on the finger board had to be made larger. They weren't even close to the correct size.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed building this uke!

My wife bought this for me as a b-day gift and I have to say as a person who knows nothing about ukuleles that I think this uke kit is great! I had a fun time putting together and finishing it. It looks and sounds pretty good however the tuning machines and the set of strings provided in the kit are not of very good quality. That is why I bought a new set of strings, which sound much better and the new tuning machines are on the way.