I've really been digging the solid mahogany Kala I got as a 2nd off Ebay. The price was right and allowed enough room for me to do these mods and still come in under the price of a new SMHS.
My order is en route from StewMac and I'll be installing Waverly friction pegs to replace the ones that are on it. I'll move those to my Kala 15S. I'm shaping a bone nut/saddle for it, will clean and lemon oil the fretboard/bridge, polish the frets, and seal it up with a thin, satin nitro finish. Most of the sanding is complete and should be ready to go by my next weekend (M-W) during which time the supplies should have arrived.
During the interim my Kala 15S is getting lots of play time. With the project uke torn apart, it's the only mahogany soprano available, and doing a fine job I might add.
I didn't take any before photos. It's a run of the mill Kala so any picture you find online will look almost identical. I'll get some after shots though. It shouldn't look too much different, but the headstock will lend some individuality. I raise egg laying chickens and decided to include a water slide of a chicken under the refinish. I'm raising a fresh batch of pullets right now and they enjoy the uke. I go out to the brooder and play for them and it calms them down and puts them to sleep. So having the chicken on the headstock combines 2 of my favorite things.
Progress will be slow, but I'll keep this updated for anyone interested.
My order is en route from StewMac and I'll be installing Waverly friction pegs to replace the ones that are on it. I'll move those to my Kala 15S. I'm shaping a bone nut/saddle for it, will clean and lemon oil the fretboard/bridge, polish the frets, and seal it up with a thin, satin nitro finish. Most of the sanding is complete and should be ready to go by my next weekend (M-W) during which time the supplies should have arrived.
During the interim my Kala 15S is getting lots of play time. With the project uke torn apart, it's the only mahogany soprano available, and doing a fine job I might add.
I didn't take any before photos. It's a run of the mill Kala so any picture you find online will look almost identical. I'll get some after shots though. It shouldn't look too much different, but the headstock will lend some individuality. I raise egg laying chickens and decided to include a water slide of a chicken under the refinish. I'm raising a fresh batch of pullets right now and they enjoy the uke. I go out to the brooder and play for them and it calms them down and puts them to sleep. So having the chicken on the headstock combines 2 of my favorite things.
Progress will be slow, but I'll keep this updated for anyone interested.