1960s Russian Balalaika Tenor Ukulele Conversion

Overview: A customer walked-in the other day with this balalaika and I bought it on the spot because I wanted to try this mod out. We have a number of other similar balalaikas upstairs and I figured this might be a good thing to do but wanted to try it out on one of my own first. The answer is...? Yes, it's amazing. It has tons of volume, a quick neck, and a big old sound.

Interesting features: The headstock tuner arrangement is curious because I reused the 3 original pegholes and just added a 4th to the treble side. Interestingly, the string pull is still pretty straight over the nut, which is what I was hoping for. To lighten-up the top on this one, I also removed a couple of the very thin top braces (which was tricky through that tiny soundhole). The result is excellent volume and the tension is low enough from the uke strings that it's not complaining structurally at all.

Repairs included: I swapped the tuners, gave it a level/dress of the frets, drilled some new holes for string mounts on the rear deck/tailpiece area, and set it up. Thankfully, the original bridge was reusable for this purpose. It's playing quick and easy and is ready to go!

• Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
• Scale length: 17 3/16"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: slim-medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 47/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 49/64"
• Body width: 17 1/8"
• Body depth: 4 1/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid maple or birch?
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: maple or similar
• Fretboard: ebonized maple or similar
• Neck wood: maple or similar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: D'Addario EJ99T (tenor ukulele strings)
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: It's all-original save the modded stringing setup at the tailpiece area and the tuners at the headstock. I added side dots. It's, of course, also converted into a different stringing/instrument. There are light scratches, scuffs, nicks, and dings here and there throughout. The tuners are new GraphTech units with 4:1 gearing for ease of use.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: JW