Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Been a very long time since I've managed to have time to build a simple "entry level" instrument. This one managed to get completed in between all the other action in the workshop over the last few months. Completing all the parts separately when I had a little spare time and then just set aside while more pressing matters needed my attention. The beauty of this is that when it does come time for assembly the whole thing comes together in what seems like a few hours.

Anyway, the body is make from some nicely coloured and figured Koa that was an orphan guitar back set. Neck is Qld. Maple and fret board and bridge are Indian Ebony. Finish is 30% gloss lacquer that gives a really nice silky finish that looks very much like a hand rubbed oil, but provides much more protection. Finish is right off the gun. All done in one day.

Woo Hoo, what a lovely orphan.
Has it been adopted yet?

Not yet. Just got strings on it today. Always good to find new homes for them, but wouldn't mind to have this one hang around at least until the Cairns Uke Festival. It's the only soprano that I've got, and wouldn't mind the exposer that the venue presents.

It's beautiful. Tiny, but stunning. For an entry level, it's huge on the wow scale.

Thanks Lillian. I don't build many soprano's as they are just too small for me to play. But I do get asked about them so it was about time to have one to show.

Nice work on both these ukes Allen.

I'll agree the 3220/30 is a lot quicker and easier than the full gloss (and a lot more forgiving) I've done the last three weissys with the 30% and to be quite honest I'm not looking forward to the next which'll be full gloss and will likely take three weeks until it is buffed.

I'm starting to prefer the satin finish over the full gloss. Ithink it gives a much earthier look.

Mmmmmm, another stunner from the McFarlen stable I'm loving the 'earthy' colouring & grain features of this guitar. The finish is excellent too, there are just sometimes you look at a finished instrument in the white & it just lends itself to a satin finish. I've always liked a 'flat' look but either tradition or the customer asks for a gloss, so haven't done as many as I've liked, but the finishing schedule is great for these, pore fill, apply finish, let harden & that's it!

You mob have me wondering why I bother with gloss now, that does look good and a sharp bit of wood you chose there too Allen.

Jim

This one didn't even get a pore fill, so it was even quicker. The entire finishing process took just one day. I also glued on the bridge prior to spraying, as it's not getting a lot of build or any buffing. Takes that step of scraping back the lacquer out of the schedule too.

Simple instruments like this just don't look right in high gloss, and I'm trying to get the hours down in the building and finishing schedule to allow me a pricing structure that will get them into more peoples hands. Thing is that I'm never asked to do a low gloss build. They all want shine.

Jeepers! Look at the colour of that Koa!! Beautiful timber and finish choice on this one Allen.

Those sopranos really are so tiny.

And speaking of tiny...

Look closely at the cameo appearance in this pic -
A la metallic tiny green (fruit?) fly Thought it'd pop in for the shot - dared by a nearby mate no doubt Probably drunk on fermented nectar of the umbrella tree flowers... again...

I remember plenty of those back in Brisbane but we don't seem to get them down here.

Jeremy.

You're the first to spot the fly Jeremy. Was making a point of getting it in the shot. We had a big blue butterfly hovering about but got camera shy at the last minute.

Allen wrote:You're the first to spot the fly Jeremy.

I thought it was an inlay... and have not yet found the time to comment anything here or even look closer to that "inlay", or "onlay"...

So this is a simple soprano uke. OK, I believe it. But it's an extraordinary exemplary of simple Koa ukulele.

I know that it has all been said already, but that really is a gorgeous little uke Allen. The bands of colour in the koa are spectacular.
Steve