Project UKE - Part 1

I dunno why I start things like this. What seems like a simple project has the potential to turn into a huuuuge pain in the ass. And not in a fun, kinky way either. 

I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment....

Or I get bored easily. And there's where I go wro.....

oooooooooh a shiny thing.....

Ha, that made me laugh. I like making me laugh....

But I digress. 

The problem is, I get bored to easily, then I find something different and interesting to relieve the boredom, then I get bored with that, then I find something new and interesting.... 

Notice a pattern here?

Anyhoo, my current 'interest' is ukuleles.... I've got two thus far. A cheapy $25 ornamental type of thing I picked up at an ornament shop, funnily enough. A few weeks faffing with that, plus fiddling with the two guitars, lead me into buying a decent quality uke. Her name in Calamity.... as in Calamity Jane. As that particular uke is an Amnoon 'Deadwood' model, her name makes sense. 

Calamity, flanked by her two 'sisters'. Salma on the left, and Carmel on the right.
Stand designed and built by yours truely.

So.... back to the new project.

As I quite often do, I was cruising Fleabay for random bits and pieces. This particular time, I was actually looking for a new, cheap uke. My initial interest was for something to take to the Earth Frequency Festival next year (EFF '19). Be buggered if I'll take a nearly $100 dollar pride and joy, on the back of a motorbike, to a 4 day camping festival where she might get damaged.

As I've been often known to say....'Fuck that shit!'

No, I was looking for something decent, but cheap. Something that will probably get handed around like Jenni Johnson at a bachelor party. Something that I wouldn't be overly concerned about. If it got trashed, it's be a disappointment, maybe even an annoyance.... but I could live with it.

Then I saw THIS sweet young thing.... 

 And my peen went 'ping'! Or something close too it. 

Now, I realise that refurbishing most musical instruments can be problematic. Shit, it can be damn fuckin expensive if you want to get it back to factory original.... BUT I'm thinking that if I take it slow and easy and very..... very fuckin carefully.... I might just be able to pull this off....?

Besides... it's a $25 (inc postage, after a bit of negotiation) Kahuna. Not really a mega expensive brand. They appear to be a halfway decent budget uke, something to pluck along with as a learner.

With this Google knowledge ringing in my... eyes(?), I hit buy. Shit, at that price I'd be mad not too hey? Ok, it's manky and dusty and needs new strings. It looks like its got paint drips on the back.... but all I THINK it'll need is a bit of a strip down and a decent clean....

Ooooooh....

It'll be naked.... and at my whim.... I can do ANYTHING I desire to it....

And THAT'S where it all started!!!!

Motherfucker!!!!

Now I'm getting ambitious....

What started out as a cheap, possibly throw-away uke, is potentially turning into a gorgeous travelling instrument.

Remove the strings....

A quick wipe down....

Now, these winders can't be difficult to remove....

Maybe now the bridge and the neck....

And the fret wires for ease of sanding....

We'll get it TOTALLY naked.... then refurbish, stain and rebuild....

Aaaaaaand that's a bit fuckin' boring....

I'm gonna fuckin' sticker bomb it as well!!!!

She lands in about 10 days, about the 22nd of August....

Stay tuned for part 2. This could get messy 😓