1920s/2020 The Dandy Line Electric Ukulele Conversion

This was another trade-in towards repairs. It's a '20s Globe Music-made banjo-ukulele in a rare, red paint color. It has "The Dandy Line" branding at the headstock. This is a typical, basic catalog banjo-uke for the time and I've worked-on tons of them so I figured I might as well do something fun with this instead of just be slightly-underwhelmed when done with it.

So... I converted it over to an electric, steel-string ukulele (something the neck is happy with -- it looks like it'd been strung-up with steel since it was new, as it had '20s ball-end steel strings still on it). I recut the "shelf" that the skin head would've sat on and put in a new, plywood top. Then  set-about installing a pickup and wiring harness, making the neck joint more rock-solid, and doing setup-side work after.

Post-work it plays perfectly and has a charming, ringing tone. Played clean it's sweet and clear and with a bit of drive it's a lot chunkier and works well for chop chords.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, plywood top insert, new tuners at the headstock, pickup and wiring install, replacement (mandolin-style, compensated) bridge, side dots install, cleaning, and setup.

Setup notes: the neck is straight and action is a fast 1/16" at the 12th fret. Strings are tuned high-G uke (GCEA) per normal but with steel -- gauges 13, 26w, 20w, 12 low to high and nickel-wrapped on the wound strings.

Scale length: 13"

Nut width: 1 1/4"

String spacing at nut: 15/16"

String spacing at bridge: 1 3/8"

Body diameter: 7"

Side depth: 2"

Body wood: poplar
Neck wood: poplar

Resonator wood: maple?

Bridge: vintage maple

Neck feel: slim-medium C-shape, flat board

Condition notes: clearly, it's been modified and has many unoriginal parts. I did retain the original  black metal "tension hoop" for the head, though, and the new bridge is an older '20s one. The back used to be glued to the rim but was mostly-detached when it got here. I removed it and then used 3 screws to secure it instead -- making it easy to access the wiring if need-be. Players will want to use a right-angle 1/4" insert on the instrument side of their cable so it dangles nicely from the front of the body. Aside from a repaired hairline crack on the back resonator plate, there's no other damage on the uke.