Steve vanPelt
Well-known member
So I've been mostly lurking around this forum since I decided to build an 'ukulele about nine months ago. Luthier's Lounge is the best source of information ever, Both for information and inspiration. Chuck, Pete, Paul, John, Dave and every one who contributes here has helped guide me through the builds. Thank You, Everybody!!:bowdown:
Today I strung up my pineapple, 'uke #7, it's (finally) the first one to surprise me in a good way. Straight neck, centered sound hole, centered, straight bridge.....all on the same 'uke. Never done that before. It's not particularly loud, but it's the best sounding one yet. Still, it's got a few mistakes built in. Funny string angle at the peghead, couple of finish issues and two bonehead goofs inside the box I don't even want to talk about. All in all, though, I'm really happy with my new 'uke.
It's got a solid koa body and one piece neck. Spanish heel. Snakewood binding and soundhole ring. Paua dots and rosette. Rosewood bridge and fingerboard. Bone nut and saddle and Gotoh tuners and Aquilla strings. The finish is based on that William King oil method, topped off with a couple of shots of shellac, Colortone rattle can sealer, then gloss, then a couple coats of satin. Took about two six weeks to finish with all the dry time.
Yeah, so I kind of hid out for a while, but I really didn't even know enough to know what to ask. Most of the answers I was looking for are in here anyway. I've read every thread in Luthiers Lounge at least once. It's not that any part of building an 'uke is hard to do...it's just really hard to do well. You luthiers out there, and you know who you are, are amazing. It is insane how beautiful your work is. That leaves me here, in my little shop, really enjoying the process at least as much as the end result, spending way too much time chasing all my little mistakes, some times setting aside the big mistakes, sanding off my fingernails, having the best time ever....
So many mahalos, everybody, and here are a few pics...
Today I strung up my pineapple, 'uke #7, it's (finally) the first one to surprise me in a good way. Straight neck, centered sound hole, centered, straight bridge.....all on the same 'uke. Never done that before. It's not particularly loud, but it's the best sounding one yet. Still, it's got a few mistakes built in. Funny string angle at the peghead, couple of finish issues and two bonehead goofs inside the box I don't even want to talk about. All in all, though, I'm really happy with my new 'uke.
It's got a solid koa body and one piece neck. Spanish heel. Snakewood binding and soundhole ring. Paua dots and rosette. Rosewood bridge and fingerboard. Bone nut and saddle and Gotoh tuners and Aquilla strings. The finish is based on that William King oil method, topped off with a couple of shots of shellac, Colortone rattle can sealer, then gloss, then a couple coats of satin. Took about two six weeks to finish with all the dry time.
Yeah, so I kind of hid out for a while, but I really didn't even know enough to know what to ask. Most of the answers I was looking for are in here anyway. I've read every thread in Luthiers Lounge at least once. It's not that any part of building an 'uke is hard to do...it's just really hard to do well. You luthiers out there, and you know who you are, are amazing. It is insane how beautiful your work is. That leaves me here, in my little shop, really enjoying the process at least as much as the end result, spending way too much time chasing all my little mistakes, some times setting aside the big mistakes, sanding off my fingernails, having the best time ever....
So many mahalos, everybody, and here are a few pics...
