c.1925/2011 Resonator Ukulele

Update 2015: I got this uke back in trade and summarily modified it a bit more. I've updated the description where needed and have updated all of the pictures and included a soundclip. 

I need to also mention that this uke has a scale length slightly shorter than regular soprano at a hair longer than 11 3/4" -- this makes it roughly comparable to the ~12" Gibson banjo uke scale. What does this mean? It means that if you want to play in standard GCEA tuning a heavier set of strings is suggested (Worth heavies, maybe) but for ADF#B tuning or even the slightly jazzier BbEbGC tuning (both of which were somewhat popular in the 20s) this thing really sings. Don't get me wrong -- GCEA sounds just fine with the regular soprano "Super Nylgut" that's installed right now, but it sure starts pumping a bit more tuned up to ADF#B. Now back to the original post info...

So... I picked up this nice little mahogany-necked banjo uke, c.1920s... with a rather messed up fretboard... and I had these new uke resonators hanging around... and the coverplate for said resonator happened to fit perfectly in the routed-out banjo head mounting area... and I just happened to have a spare mandolin-scale fretboard on hand... you get the picture.

While the body and neck are old, the rest is new hardware... and I had to cut a bunch of rim out to get the resonator in at the right level, but now that it's all done... what a fun project!

Turned out very cool, too -- this is a reso uke that has volume between a wood and banjo-headed instrument, with a sweeter overtone -- and has fret access all the way up the neck into places most ukes don't even have. 

New rosewood fretboard, MOP dots, new banjo-style frets.

Rosewood biscuit on 6" spun cone, nice gleaming coverplate.  

Update: the coverplate screws are now longer and more substantial.

The pot itself is poplar, though the inlaid sides are veneered with mahogany.

Neck is one-piece mahogany with inlaid stripes on the face of the headstock. Zero fre1t, bone nut.

The backplate of the rim has f-hole soundholes and is made from a solid piece of 1/8" thick mahogany. Looks really snazzy.

Update: the tuners are now vintage guitar-style Kluson units as the owner who had this a while didn't like friction pegs. They look smart and work well despite 2 turning in "reverse" to get them to squeeze on the headstock correctly.

While doing all the other work I also reset the neck with a bit of glue and an extra bolt-reinforcement.

Here you can see the side dots and little bit of a joint left over from the worn edges of the original neck/board.

Gotta love the pretty red-brown mahogany on this uke. The finish looks great for all those years, too!

The strap button is on-center but there are a couple patched screwholes from trying different tailpiece ideas out.