Best way to repair bent sides?

[Bob_H]

With the neck block fitted and the sound board in place, it is clear that the sides are a couple of mm too deep for the neck. I could taper the sides, reduce the overall depth or build up the neck block. Suggestions or advice received gratefully

[CNCWorksNZ]

You could put a nice contrasting Heel Cap in that space ... That's what I would do, just for the hell of it ...

[Lillian]

You could do both, put a heel cap on and then taper from the waist to meet it.

[Allen]

If your sides are the same depth at tall block and neck then your uke is going to look pretty strange. They should taper in body depth from deepest at tail block to the neck. I use 10mm between the two on all sizes of my ukes.

Pretty easy to achieve this by using a small plane and pare away excess from waist to neck and then use a piece of plywood or mdf with 80 grit sandpaper to level / even out the transition.....or a radius dish if you are going with that type of back.

I have a radius dish mounted to an old repurposed potters wheel and this job would take me 30 seconds to a minute.

[Bob_H]

Thanks all. I think a taper and heal cap sound like a plan. I’m not using an arched back and haven’t put together a radius dish at this time, so plane and sand.

[johnparchem]

This all looks normal to me. Agree with taper the sides, the block and the heel cap until all is in plane.

[kiwigeo]

If the sides aren't tapered...then it's a banjo....and we don't wanna be buildin' banjas do we???

[CNCWorksNZ]

Can anyone explain why a Ukulele should be tapered?
Is there any Acoustical reasoning behind this, or is it just traditional?

.

[Lillian]

If the sides aren't tapered...then it's a banjo....and we don't wanna be buildin' banjas do we???

You mean like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYQsLSNzBhY

[johnparchem]

Can anyone explain why a Ukulele should be tapered?
Is there any Acoustical reasoning behind this, or is it just traditional?

.

They do not need to be and many traditional ukulele's are not. I think the tapered sides on a tenor looks better. It matters less to me with a soprano or true ukulele. I made my suggestion as the heel block was sized assuming a tapered back.

[CNCWorksNZ]

Can anyone explain why a Ukulele should be tapered?
Is there any Acoustical reasoning behind this, or is it just traditional?

.

They do not need to be and many traditional ukulele's are not. I think the tapered sides on a tenor looks better. It matters less to me with a soprano or true ukulele. I made my suggestion as the heel block was sized assuming a tapered back.

Thanks for that. My current challenge is a Baritone Ukulele built entirely from a 1919 John Brinsmead Piano which will be 85mm deep throughout, (no Taper).
I dismantled one over the last few Weeks and can confirm that it's not worth the effort.
I'll get 2 Baritone sized Sound/Back Boards & 1 Classical and a lifetime of Brace Material and that's it. The Piano didn't have the decency to supply ivory Keys