2000s Unmarked US-Made Electric Ukulele

February 08, 2021

2000s Unmarked US-Made Electric Ukulele

I got the "husk" of this cute little electric ukulele in trade with a buddy of mine. I asked him if he knew the maker but our conclusions were vague. It's US-made, but otherwise he couldn't remember. I've already traded it on again, so if the uke can talk and tell us itself, I no longer have access to its story firsthand.

When it came, it looked mostly like this except the tuners at the headstock were friction pegs and the bridge was a piezo-equipped, broken, maple (wood) thing. Said piezo element was damaged, anyway, so I simply removed the remains of that bridge.

I then converted this into a steel-string electric uke and fit an "undercover" magnetic pickup (a beefy-output Telecaster neck pickup, to be exact) under the original "pickguard" near the neck. An old black '80s dome knob and a "bespoke" (cut from scrap brass stock and fit with spare-parts saddles) custom bridge finished its kitting-out on the electric-style side. The headstock now wears "Tune-A-Lele" 4:1 geared planet pegs.

Tone is clean and sweet with good clarity. Because the pickup's so far recessed, its overall output is a bit like an old '60s Danelectro -- low, but incredibly satisfying to smack with a bunch of drive. It plays quick and easy, too.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, new wiring harness, rout body and fit electric pickup, craft bridge, new bone nut, new tuners, setup.

Made by: unknown

Made in: USA

Body wood: unknown

Bridge: brass plate/import-style Fender-ish saddles

Fretboard: integral with neck (maple)

Neck wood: maple

Pickups: 1x Telecaster (Mexican) neck pickup, 2000s era

Tone: clean, sweet, clear, warm

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (hair under -- fast)
String gauges: 13, 20w, 17, 12 low to high (gCEA tuning, flatwound 20w)

Neck shape: medium c

Board radius: flat