The 'Falcate' uke

[Clancy]

If you missed the story it starts here
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4312
There's even some sound clips there if you really wish to torture your ears with my playing.

And finally there's these to complete the 'picture'

Englemann Spruce & Black Hearted Sassafras
Bound in Gidgee
Australian Desert Oak fingerboard
BRW/CF/BRW bridge

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The end.
...or is it...

[68matts]

Good to see and hear it finished Craig. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to document this build. Looking forward to the next one.

[J.F. Custom]

Thanks for the pics Craig - I've been waiting to see how it all came together.

Beautiful Sassafras and fine work indeed.

Oh and that bridge did match the fretboard and binding didn't it ? Handy.

Two quick questions -

What finish did you apply and what strings did you try out ?

Congrats.

Jeremy.

[Clancy]

Thanks guys.

Strings are D'Addario J53's.
Allen put me on to them but I hadn't gotten around to trying them out till now.

Finish is my good old Ubeaut Hard Shellac, applied with my psuedo french polishing method.
I will get around to spraying nitroc again, but it's been a while now & I still had some Hard Shellac in the bottle.

[charangohabsburg]

Beautiful wood and excellent craftsmanship! Very clean work...
...and it looks like a uke. Who would think there is a falcate bracing beneath the hood!

[J.F. Custom]

Finish is my good old Ubeaut Hard Shellac, applied with my psuedo french polishing method.
I will get around to spraying nitroc again, but it's been a while now & I still had some Hard Shellac in the bottle.

It's funny you say that - I'm looking at the opposite at present!

For two reasons; somewhat for toxicity but also due to weather restrictions.

I get about four months of solid rain or 98% humidity here to go along with -4˚ to 12˚C days and nights. Not conducive conditions to spraying nitro outdoors... I do have a dry room, but not a spray booth. Therefore having a method of finish that did not require waiting for the right weather conditions is a primary concern, given those conditions can literally take 3 months to come about here.

A difficult one to explain to customers.

Jeremy.

[charangohabsburg]

Jeremy, just tell your customers that you switched to shellac because it is mystical an magical. And as we all know the sound of a musical instrument depends solely on its varnish!

[Allen]

It's all very stylish Craig. And who would know what sort of voodoo was going on inside.

[MBP]

Finish is my good old Ubeaut Hard Shellac, applied with my psuedo french polishing method.
I will get around to spraying nitroc again, but it's been a while now & I still had some Hard Shellac in the bottle.

It's funny you say that - I'm looking at the opposite at present!

For two reasons; somewhat for toxicity but also due to weather restrictions.

I get about four months of solid rain or 98% humidity here to go along with -4˚ to 12˚C days and nights. Not conducive conditions to spraying nitro outdoors... I do have a dry room, but not a spray booth. Therefore having a method of finish that did not require waiting for the right weather conditions is a primary concern, given those conditions can literally take 3 months to come about here.

A difficult one to explain to customers.

Jeremy.

Very Similar to where I am instead of 4 months its been like that for the last 3-4 years. Before that it was a drought. I use 100IMS and have no problems at all french polishing when its raining. We have/had a spray booth but my father has become very sensitive to Nitro/thinners based Lacquer over the years and can not be around it or use it. I just do the polishing in the dry room and it is fine.

[Clancy]

I have to admit that I've enjoyed being able to apply the Hard Shellac while being with the family.
It's like bringing the workshop inside the house.
I also find the french polishing relaxing & meditative.

Took the uke along to my first Uke Club meeting - thankfully a "3 chord night".
They liked the look, they liked the tone, they thought it was a bit heavy.
Wonder what they'll say when I bolt some metal blocks in it!