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i thought the burst idea was fine....it just needed...um, a bit better execution.
maybe try making a "template" out of cardboard that is the same shape of the body, but say 2" smaller all around. then, stand that cardboard template off the top on pillars(dowels or something), maybe 3 inches, then hit it with the rattle can, from a distance of maybe 14", from various angles, but always angled a bit to the outer edge
the cardboard will act as a paint blocker for the interior of the top, and allow you to get a symetrical and "blurry" or faded burst.
any of that make sense? i have never tried it, but if i was trying a burst with a rattle can thats what i'd try. experiment first

That is what I did. It is harder than it sounds!
I'm gonna punch this uke right in it's face. I may not get to use the abalone rosette, but I will make a functioning uke.

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instead of a sunburst, then how about a painted repeating pattern applied with a stamp(s) or something? you can buy decorative stamps at crafts stores, or make one . seriously. it might look cool.

Sorry. Couldnt help myself.

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PMoMC

lolz. ok, you're on your own pal

edit: when i was talkng about "stamps", i was referring to bold pattern of some sort, as coverup. like this, but wider/cooler/more interesting:

That is a patient dog.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Ah, NO, it's Thor. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Ha! Nice dog...I mean Thor!


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So this is where I'm at right now:
Last night I removed the binding and I am either going to retop with spruce or add purfling to the top and bind it again.

I don't want to do a retop with spruce because then this will not be an all koa uke and I do not have enough koa left to make another koa soundboard. However, this seems like the most viable option.

Adding some purfling to the soundboard to cover up the messed up area is not a great option since the screw up is .25" wide. I would need to add some serious purfling to cover it up.

I was digging through my wood pile last night and I have plenty of wood I have gotten for free including some sitka, Lutz, and even one engelmann soundboard.
The binding came off relatively easily with a chisel but the soundboard will not separate from the rim without some serious negotiations and time in court. A mediator will not cut it. I feel a destructive, and possibly violent divorce is looming on the horizon for this pair. Unfortunately Dominic Barbara, bloated attorney, has been disbarred so I can't even consult him.

I am getting the feeling this ukulele is going to have a spruce top. Much to my chagrin. Unless I decide to use a soundboard that is not book matched. I don't want to do that.

I won't be able to work on it for a couple of days anyway, so hopefully I will make a decision by the time I can get back into the shop.

I want to thank everyone for their criticism and comments. Despite the fact that I knew it did not look good, I had, for a short time, convinced myself that the burst was not horrific. It was. Sometimes it is hardest to be honest with yourself and see your own flaws. I don't have any physical or personality flaws, so I guess I had to screw up something else!

One last option that just came to me. A three piece top with a wide center section and two small wings would allow me to use the remaining koa I have and possibly not look bad. I will have to see.

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PMoMC

If you have enough Koa for a 3-piece top that would be a good option.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NTIC

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Of course not. I need to see how well I can piece together a three piece top to make it look good. I will now also require a new rosette.

So here is a question....do my trashed parts come off of my expense report for this thing?

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PMoMC

its all done with stamps these days.

Yes, they come off the expense report. You wouldn't charge a customer for parts you messed up so why would you charge yourself? You aren't counting the black lacquer you sanded off are you? What you can’t do is claim the top as free because it is pieced together from scraps since they are scraps of the top you punched in the face. IMHO you just charge yourself for the original top piece. You could probably inlay the rosette, so no additional cost. Now if you use a new rossete, you charge yourself for only that one.

NTIC

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I agree with Bryan, but I don't see that it matters. You're not even close to the limit, and nobody cares anyway!
Sometimes nobody caring is not a bad thing.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

The limit matters because (if he actually manages to get this thing put together in time) he intends to fill it full of those tone enhancing BRW kerfs that Costa Guitars is so famous for. He already intends to sell them to hiself at a heafty discount and call it a buisness loss so he can really pack them in.

I'm just glad he is using koa scraps instead of doing the obvious -- laminating these BRW Kerfs into a top. None of us would stand a chance then! If he had done this in the first place, the router mishap would not have been visible.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I'm cracking up. Too funny!


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PMoMC

He has already discussed how his head doesn't shrink. Totally useless for ukes and archtops.


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PMoMC

Why not just use a wide purfling? I can see a few things working: balls and lozenges in 'mastic', wide rope, simple multiple strips, etc. Ukes are supposed to be folky looking.

When I see swoops and stuff cut into a top, it always looks like a mistake to me, even if it wasn't.

A sunburst could still save it, but it takes practice. Maybe get an airbrush and build it up slowly. There's good advice and tutorials on the various electric forums. If all else fails, I think a solid color uke with a sparkle finish would be really cool.

This ain't no '70s disco uke! But that does sound intriguing for a future project!


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Tony

Why not inlay a palm tree into the top with the leafs covering the bad area.

Bob

Think I'm just gonna retop Bob. I have been thinking about it for a while and while it's not my preferred route, it's the one that's is right to get the look I want.


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It's the costa doing business, Tony

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Hahaha!!!! I hope it doesn't costa lot to fix!


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