The fourth instrument I'm working on...for a production tenor uke.
- Thread starter Livetosculpt
- Start date
barefootgypsy
Well-known member
It looks as if it will be gorgeous! Where in the world are you?
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Port Washington WI, stones throw from Lake Michigan.
ksquine
Well-known member
Cool. But you have to come up with a better name for the ABS. Something catchy like "Ukelite" or "tonelene". Maybe "ovationoid"?
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Good point! It's all in the marketing. Plastone. Durasound, I like tonelene. Tonelene is good because ABS is a modified styrene.
I just made a form for laying up the body with recycled materials like denim, old printed t-shirts, old magazines etc. When I get some time I want to build a prototype. Like carbon fiber without the carbon...I'll have to name that too!
I just made a form for laying up the body with recycled materials like denim, old printed t-shirts, old magazines etc. When I get some time I want to build a prototype. Like carbon fiber without the carbon...I'll have to name that too!
mjgreenwood
Well-known member
nice
Do you build guitars or other traditional construction ukes?
I love Port Washington. I work with a camp in fredonia.
Do you build guitars or other traditional construction ukes?
I love Port Washington. I work with a camp in fredonia.
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Not yet! I've only built three complete instruments so far, I'm teaching myself as I build. If you would like to visit when you are in this area and see what I'm doing, let me know. I'd be glad to spend some time with you.
John
John
Newportlocal
Well-known member
Really love the look of it. The curved lines and the blue. Great work!
mjgreenwood
Well-known member
I am right behind you (in teaching myself).
I've got most of the tools needed and I do repairs all the time. (mostly minor guitar stuff).
I'm a bandsaw and a few handtools away from starting (I'm not going to start until I've got what I need.... no hand sawing necks for me).
I'd definitely look you up, I'll be going back this fall, maybe timing will work out.
AndrewKuker
Well-known member
That looks cool! I'm interested. Email me when you start selling.
Rick Turner
Well-known member
It's one thing to design and build them. It's another whole thing to sell them (especially if you're going to wholesale them) and not lose your ass. Just try getting paid for past the first ten... We're at about 300 ukes, and it's still not easy...
AndrewKuker
Well-known member
You just get prepaid. That's standard for custom type stuff. Don't trust those shady music store people! Hey Rick, are you setting up at NAMM this year?
mjgreenwood
Well-known member
Well said.
Rick Turner
Well-known member
Who prepays? I only get pre-paid on true custom work and then only 50%. I don't know any dealers who will fully prepay. Sometimes it's hard to get paid at all even when instruments are sold on consignment.
Rick Turner
Well-known member
Oh, yes on NAMM...
Liam Ryan
Well-known member
Rick, do you think it's possible to make a living building ukuleles without selling through dealers?
Rick Turner
Well-known member
Only if you pay your dues dearly and gain a tremendous reputation on-line. Most people want to be able to play before they buy, and that's what music stores are for. And you have to get a lot of uke out there before the general public starts to notice. We've got over 300 Compass Rose ukes out there now, and it's starting to make sense.
We who are pros and who post here make what the bulk of the uke community consider extreme high end instruments. We have a big uke club here with sophisticated uke owners, and I still think that if you did a survey of a typical night and priced the 60 or 70 ukes in the room, you'd find an average price of under $400.00. I don't really know about everyone else here, but my simplest and least expensive ukes start at close to a grand.
We who are pros and who post here make what the bulk of the uke community consider extreme high end instruments. We have a big uke club here with sophisticated uke owners, and I still think that if you did a survey of a typical night and priced the 60 or 70 ukes in the room, you'd find an average price of under $400.00. I don't really know about everyone else here, but my simplest and least expensive ukes start at close to a grand.
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Will do. I'm probably a couple months out. I'm developing a sugar free chocolate right now for my chocolate business, with Stevia. So I'm trying to stay on task. I have my second prototype ABS uke very close to completion.
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Livetosculpt
Well-known member
Maybe there's a small niche out there for a sculptor designing and building unconventional ukes. Maybe not. But so far it's been a really fun ride. I'd like to continue experimenting with different designs and more abstract shapes as I learn more about the acoustics and playability of the instruments. I think this is more of a personal challenge to me than just creating a production uke. I certainly cannot compete with awesome luthiers like Rick, and that's not my motivation.
