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Reso Uke Build
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10104&t=32459		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Reso Uke Build
I've been saving offcuts for years waiting for the chance/time to build a uke and finally someone ordered one! One of my customers sent me a big chunk of Koa to use for a lap steel and when I saw it I asked what he wanted to do with all the extra wood. He said, "How about a uke?" and I said, "How about a resonator uke?" and he said....uh, well you get the idea.
The steel is nearly done and ready for finish so this weekend I started working on it. It's a tenor with a 16.7" scale. The body is a 12" long and the bouts are 6.3" and 9" wide.

Here's the joined top and the side mold.
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The untrimmed sides.
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The neck with an ebony 'truss'.
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And the fretboard.
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Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
All right!
Can't wait to see all the details of this build Mike.

Gonna be resonatin', :D
Joe
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Finally got back to this. Bent up the sides, glued on the top and braced the back.
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Need to order the cone and cover this morning.
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
After a hiatus waiting for parts and working on other stuff I'm back at the uke.
Top with cover
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Inside with the cone in place
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The top is routed to set the cover flush.
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The inside. You can see the hole for the single neck bolt and where the braces are notched for the back braces.
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Author:  Mike Dotson [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Binding done but still needs scraped and sanded down some.

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Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Thanks for all the inside pics Mike, it's looking great!
I love the bold rope binding on the fretboard and body.
Really gives it a 20's/30's feel.

Joe
Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 4:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
That will be so cool when it's finished!
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Thanks guys. I really dig the rope binding, I got it from Shane (and I'm almost out).
It's crazy stuff, once hot it bends like buttah but if you go just past 'hot enough' it basically falls apart. Once cooled though it sticks into whatever curve it's bent to.
I used it once before on a Weiss-style guitar and that was so easy it wasn't funny. The uke was a little more of a challenge, especially on the upper bouts. I don't have a bending form for this shape so what I did was to clamp a strip starting at the butt end and used a small heat blanket and block of wood and just bent it right to the body. I stopped about 1/3 of the way, taped and CA'd that area and then went on when it had set. Had a couple kinks but it all worked out.
Author:  cphanna [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
I know next to nothing about ukes, and even less about reso instruments, but it sure looks wicked-cool to me! Keep the posts coming!
Patrick
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
A little further along. Waiting for the tuners so I can finish off the back of the headstock, and still have to cut some sound holes in the top.
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Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
That's just got to be a cowboy uke Mike! :D

Joe
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
A nah bruddah, ain't no haole uke! :mrgreen:
Author:  Jim Watts [ Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
That really pretty cool, way to go. Hope post a recording of it if you can.
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Idiot spammer....

Nothing perks up your day like taking a drill and router to a perfectly good body. But at least now the thing will be able to breathe a bit.
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Author:  Mike Dotson [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Now this is some cool machine work. These look just like old-style ebony tuning pegs but are actually aluminum filled with 4:1 planetary gears! They weigh almost nothing, something like 24 grams total for all 4.
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And that about completes the 'build' part. Just need to smooth everything up and start the finishing.
Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
That is one cool Uke-onator! Another vote for a sound clip here.
Author:  Beth Mayer [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Very cool, Mike! What temp did you use bending that rope?
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
No idea Beth, just heated it till it bent.
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
No finished pics yet but my daughter Jessie got a hold of the uke last night. Notice that she said she'd only played it for about 20 minutes? She wasn't kidding......the little rat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YgNLdJ-QzA
Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Lovely young lady with a great voice Mike! And makes your uke sound pretty good also.
Next time maybe you can bribe her to show the uke a bit. :D

Joe
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
No kidding, she's gonna lose her product placement deal if she doesn't shape up!

She did two last night, here's the other.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jldotson101 ... ovcEGC47H8
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Sent it out this morning.
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Author:  Jim_H [ Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
THAT.IS.AWESOME.!!!
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Reso Uke Build
Heh-heh, thanks Jim. I could used to building these little things.
Author:  Darryl Young [ Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Reso Uke Build
I love it! Looks great and I can't wait to get home and listen to the YouTube clips. I've never heard one before.
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