Decal Removal?

pahu

pahu

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I have a Mele Pineapple that I love, but the headstock decal just makes it look cheap IMO..Any suggestions on removing it without removing the finish? I can feel the edge with my fingernail-looks like a water-slide type and doesnt appear to have any finish on top of it.
 
Warm,damp cloth and a gentle rub.If it
starts to peel off,keep rubbing.If not
leave it alone! Never done this but if
it IS a water slide type transfer,that
should do it!
 
I can't claim any personal knowledge on the subject, but according to one of Mele's ebay auctions (http://cgi.ebay.com/MELE-PINEAPPLE-CONCERT-UKULELE-Beautiful-Sweet-sound-/170444315891) they use "a very thin coat of satin-finish nitrocellulose lacquer". I'd expect that the decal is under it, but I could be wrong.

Hopefully it is just a water slide transfer over the finish and if it is the technique suggested should work.
 
J-UK said:
I can't claim any personal knowledge on the subject, but according to one of Mele's ebay auctions (http://cgi.ebay.com/MELE-PINEAPPLE-CONCERT-UKULELE-Beautiful-Sweet-sound-/170444315891) they use "a very thin coat of satin-finish nitrocellulose lacquer". I'd expect that the decal is under it, but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine that someone would use a water-slide decal without at least a thin coat of something over it, so I agree with J-UK. You would still see the edge. Sadly, as nice as Mele ukes are, I concur that the logo doesn't hold up to the quality of work therein. Would love to re-design their logo to match the visual delight of their ukuleles.
 
An inlaid "truss rod cover" sans truss rod of course might be a better solution, the 3M adhesive used to affix it probably wouldn't affect the original decal if removed carefully down the road.

Something like a simple mother of pearl inlay in ebony maybe? Maybe with a white and black fiber backing, complete with adhesive and ready to install?

lol
 
Last edited:
No, Mele does not laquer over their headstock "water" decals. I recently contacted them about a partially rubbed-off one on the headstock of a used soprano I just bought. They advised I apply a wet cloth for a few minutes and just gently rub it off with a finger tip. This didn't work as quickly as I wanted to I gently scraped it off with a fingernail and it came right off with no damage to the finish.
 
Does not the removal of original factory items devalue an instrument? I have several ukes that have no label and therefore are not as valueable as an investment than if they did have ID original markings.
 
ukekuki said:
Does not the removal of original factory items devalue an instrument? I have several ukes that have no label and therefore are not as valueable as an investment than if they did have ID original markings.
Click to expand...

Pahu: When I contacted Mele, they offered to send me a new decal, and they did. I have it safely stored in the event I want to sell the uke and the new owner wants a "mele" logo on the headstock. The primary identifying label is still "inside" the uke, visible through the soundhole.
 
mketom said:
I can't imagine that someone would use a water-slide decal without at least a thin coat of something over it, so I agree with J-UK. You would still see the edge. Sadly, as nice as Mele ukes are, I concur that the logo doesn't hold up to the quality of work therein. Would love to re-design their logo to match the visual delight of their ukuleles.
Click to expand...

i asked about this once. Cheryl told me that by using this decal it helps keep the uke cost down. Keli'i uses a decal like this as well.
 
I wonder if this could be done with the headstock label on Kala's new "Ukadelic" ukes. I like some of the designs (particularly the Hawaiian sunset and sunrise) but I don't care for the "Ukadelic" on the headstock.
 
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