arpie
Well-known member
Hi Guys
I would like to get this old 40s/50s Aussie uke 'working' again - I don't want to 'restore' it 'as such' ..... just get it to playable condition for my stepson - It was his father's uke.
This is a 'Museum One' - an Australian JMG Ukulele - which was one of the first ukuleles ever made in Australia. It may be Mahogany - it has an arch-topped front AND back, similar to a violin body shape
This is the one I will be working on!
Some cracks in the body
The original timber nut is totally stuffed and will need replacing - it looks pretty well locked in place too!
The old 'painted' fretboard' is worn thru to the timber on the first few frets (proof that it was loved & played HEAPS in it's youth!) and should be 're-done'
The removable bridge is also cracked and one edge of it is almost missing in action, but I should be able to glue that back together OK. The base of it is 'curved' to fit the archtopped shape of the front of the uke.
I think I'm going to need all the help that I can get to even get this to 'half' usable!!
Should I try and work on the timber to give the body a 'nicer look'?
Do I string it up with Aquila or other strings?
I was planning on putting geared tuners on it as I believe it will be easier for them to tune it up than the original friction ones - the original tuners are incredibly 'thin' and no matter what I replace them with, I'll need to drill the holes first! And they don't match - 3 black & 1 white! If I oil them up, would they 'work smoother' if i just put back 'as is'?
Any help, tips or suggestions - particularly on replacing the nut and working on the fretboard would be gratefully appreciated
cheers for now and thanking you in advance!
Roberta
I would like to get this old 40s/50s Aussie uke 'working' again - I don't want to 'restore' it 'as such' ..... just get it to playable condition for my stepson - It was his father's uke.
This is a 'Museum One' - an Australian JMG Ukulele - which was one of the first ukuleles ever made in Australia. It may be Mahogany - it has an arch-topped front AND back, similar to a violin body shape
This is the one I will be working on!
Some cracks in the body
The original timber nut is totally stuffed and will need replacing - it looks pretty well locked in place too!
The old 'painted' fretboard' is worn thru to the timber on the first few frets (proof that it was loved & played HEAPS in it's youth!) and should be 're-done'
The removable bridge is also cracked and one edge of it is almost missing in action, but I should be able to glue that back together OK. The base of it is 'curved' to fit the archtopped shape of the front of the uke.
I think I'm going to need all the help that I can get to even get this to 'half' usable!!
Should I try and work on the timber to give the body a 'nicer look'?
Do I string it up with Aquila or other strings?
I was planning on putting geared tuners on it as I believe it will be easier for them to tune it up than the original friction ones - the original tuners are incredibly 'thin' and no matter what I replace them with, I'll need to drill the holes first! And they don't match - 3 black & 1 white! If I oil them up, would they 'work smoother' if i just put back 'as is'?
Any help, tips or suggestions - particularly on replacing the nut and working on the fretboard would be gratefully appreciated
cheers for now and thanking you in advance!
Roberta