Project UKE - Part 2

Well.... that was quick!

The new uke landed today, the 15th August. A LOT earlier than anticipated. And she's a tad smaller than anticipated. Not that the ad had any measurements in it, but I was expecting one the same size as my others. No biggie though.

Ok, so I knew it was a Mahalo, but really nothing else other than it was dusty, needed new strings and had what looked like a few splotches of paint on the back and front. What arrived was a nice, tidy Mahalo UK320 that just need some TLC. A quick bit of research found the retail price of this young lady is around the $80 mark. 

Fuckin' BONUS!!!!

Oh... hang on.... should I still strip it back and sticker-bomb it?

Fuckin' oath!!!!

Although.......

The new addition on arrival.
(Pen for scale)

A close-up of the paint on her back.

On close and personal inspection, it's only really the main body that needs some work. The neck and fret-board look like new. No marks, paint or real reason to touch them at all. Hmmmmm might need a slight adjustment to my plan. Well, THAT and some advice from a good friend that sticker-bombing it would probably "interfere with the body's resonance therefore the tone of the uke" kinda swayed my thinking. Some further research and it's seems she's probably right. 

Damn you Jay Be for being so intelligent and knowledgeable and... and... right! 

Damn you and your facts!

BUT my research also revealed that, as it's the FRONT of the instrument that makes up 90% of it's tone and resonance, the sides and back are still fair game for the bombing of the stickers. OK, I can dig it. No reason why we can't follow that bit of logic, plus clean up the front so it's all pretty and theoretically I'm on a winner.

So as it's a public holiday today, there's no reason why I can't spend some time downstairs now and get it all started. No need to bother that all I've got is the uke and some sandpaper as yet. I can get it all prepped for when the stickers arrive in the next few weeks. We've got a long weekend coming up soon (coincidentally, it's also my birthday), and I can finish it then. If all goes well, I'll get it stripped down today, get some matt spray varnish on the weekend, give it quick coat or two on the sanded areas just to protect it a bit and as the stickers arrive I can map out a few possible ideas on how/where I'll lay them out....

Easy!

As you can see by the following before and after pics, it was actually. I've over-sanded in a few places to try and give her a worn look. Yeah some of you probably won't like it, butt fuck it, I do. I've refurbished a few timber pieces in the past and I always seem to give them a weathered, knocked around feel. I also see it as a practical finish. That way, if she receives a few 'battle scars' along the way, they'll fit in right nicely 😀

Now, the fronts all ready for a few quick protective sprays of matt varnish, the back and sides have been lightly roughed up to give the stickers a decent surface to adhere to (although I MAY give them a quick spray first as well) and all she needs is a decent wipe down to get rid of any loose dust/sawdust.

Now.... we wait for the stickers and the strings and the strap and the tape!

Oh yeah, I've also ordered some glow in the dark tape to trim some of the edges with. 😝😎

Stay tuned for the final episode in the epic trilogy.... 'PROJECT UKE'!

I tried to 'oversand' the sections that get the most handling