joejeweler
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.....a ukulele with "No Name", that is!
I check over the Elderly Instruments ukulele offerings pretty regularly of late, and usually don't spend much time in the "Orphan" department.
(AKA the "No Name" ukes)
Last night i checked in there, and picked this one out of the cluster, for a couple of reasons.......
Here's the listed description:
Firstly, i took note of the nut width,....this one is wider than the usual 1-3/8" usually found. I like wide for easier fingering. I've got a build spot with forum member Bradford, and was planning on going with the usual nut width.
That may change to the wider 1-7/16" found here, if i like the feel once it's in hand.
The uke appears to be set up with a floating bridge, based on one tailpiece being there. If not it will end up that way! I've been wanting to experiment with a really lightweight bridge on a flatop ukulele that had a tailpiece string attachment for awhile. I didn't want to have a lot tied up in a uke i would be making major changes in, however.
If the bridge is glued on, i'll deal with removing it and making a lightweight floating type. It makes intonation adjustments easier is you want to experiment with different string types also.
The body is solid mahoghany,....always a good thing on a ululele and i didn't have one yet in that wood.
I'll probably end up hand making an ebony tailpiece, and replace the metal one there now. (like you see on some archtops, maybe with a cord attachment)
The nut needs replacing,...probably go with ebony there also.
The fretboard needs some attention,...the frets look a bit nasty. Maybe they'll clean up,....but at some point i may need to replace them. The fretboard rope binding is really COOL!
In the end i'll probably refinish the uke,....if only to remove some of the lighter marks and get rid of the painted on black imitation body binding. The label on the headstock will remain, however, as the "birthmark" of this orphan.
A soundport is definately an option,....and will depend on how the side thickness looks once i recieve it. (hopefully on saturday in 2 days)
Looks like lots of fun to be had tweaking this one.
Anyway,...here are a few pics, and i'll add some more in a couple of posts down:
I check over the Elderly Instruments ukulele offerings pretty regularly of late, and usually don't spend much time in the "Orphan" department.
(AKA the "No Name" ukes)
Last night i checked in there, and picked this one out of the cluster, for a couple of reasons.......
Here's the listed description:
NO NAME SOPRANO UKULELE VG-EC, satin finish, 6-1/2" all mahogany body, painted on binding on top and back, mahogany neck, mahogany fretboard with rope border trim, dot inlays, 12 frets, unique tailpiece, ebony bridge, friction pegs, logo shield (decal) is partially missing, sold AS-IS (needs fret work, strings, set up, etc.), 1-7/16" nut, 13-1/2" scale
sku: 180U-515 .. $150.00
Firstly, i took note of the nut width,....this one is wider than the usual 1-3/8" usually found. I like wide for easier fingering. I've got a build spot with forum member Bradford, and was planning on going with the usual nut width.
That may change to the wider 1-7/16" found here, if i like the feel once it's in hand.
The uke appears to be set up with a floating bridge, based on one tailpiece being there. If not it will end up that way! I've been wanting to experiment with a really lightweight bridge on a flatop ukulele that had a tailpiece string attachment for awhile. I didn't want to have a lot tied up in a uke i would be making major changes in, however.
If the bridge is glued on, i'll deal with removing it and making a lightweight floating type. It makes intonation adjustments easier is you want to experiment with different string types also.
The body is solid mahoghany,....always a good thing on a ululele and i didn't have one yet in that wood.
I'll probably end up hand making an ebony tailpiece, and replace the metal one there now. (like you see on some archtops, maybe with a cord attachment)
The nut needs replacing,...probably go with ebony there also.
The fretboard needs some attention,...the frets look a bit nasty. Maybe they'll clean up,....but at some point i may need to replace them. The fretboard rope binding is really COOL!
In the end i'll probably refinish the uke,....if only to remove some of the lighter marks and get rid of the painted on black imitation body binding. The label on the headstock will remain, however, as the "birthmark" of this orphan.
A soundport is definately an option,....and will depend on how the side thickness looks once i recieve it. (hopefully on saturday in 2 days)
Looks like lots of fun to be had tweaking this one.
Anyway,...here are a few pics, and i'll add some more in a couple of posts down:
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