Search found 10 matches

by Rob Collins
Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:38 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Wash tub bass. What have you been impressed by?
Replies: 4
Views: 8757

Re: Wash tub bass. What have you been impressed by?

The best - sounding tub bass I've ever tried was designed by my late and sadly missed friend Marko Van Der Horst. His partner Shelley published instructions here: http://shelleyrickey.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/washtub-bass.html After much research, the best sounding tub was found to be the 90 litre &qu...
by Rob Collins
Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:53 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Shipping an instrument into the USA
Replies: 0
Views: 8188

Shipping an instrument into the USA

Does anyone have any experience of what documentation I'll need to provide, (declaration of woods species, etc) in order to ship a new ukulele to a customer in the USA? I'm pretty clued up on what species to avoid, no shell inlay etc, but I am unsure of how to comply with any paperwork / document re...
by Rob Collins
Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:27 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: neck and setup specs for concert uke
Replies: 6
Views: 11982

Re: neck and setup specs for concert uke

I aim for 2.5-3mm air gap between the string and the fret crown at the 12th fret. (I use a drill bit as a gauge).

My bridges are usually about 7-8 mm tall with the saddle protruding by 2.5mm or so.
by Rob Collins
Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:44 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: General Finishes Waterbase Topcoat - SM is pushing this - anyone tried it?
Replies: 230
Views: 273415

Re: General Finishes Waterbase Topcoat - SM is pushing this - anyone tried it?

The scraps I used were a pre-bent soprano side in koa, a couple of unbent soprano ribs in Brazilian mahogany and a fretboard offcut in Indian rosewood. The pre-bent koa straightened out considerably after applying the waterborne lacquer. One of the flat ribs (16" long by 1/16" thick) I app...
by Rob Collins
Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:25 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: General Finishes Waterbase Topcoat - SM is pushing this - anyone tried it?
Replies: 230
Views: 273415

Re: General Finishes Waterbase Topcoat - SM is pushing this - anyone tried it?

I tried the General Finishes stuff on some scraps yesterday. I don't think it's going to be suitable for use on ukuleles. The water content is enough to cause the thin (1/16") woods to distort quite badly when it is first applied. A wash coat of shellac improved matters a bit, but there was sti...
by Rob Collins
Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:16 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Ukulele bracing questions
Replies: 4
Views: 10613

Re: Ukulele bracing questions

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/251509_1996448504544_1405083_n.jpg?oh=950d081aaab77d3d900ee4f0c74555ab&oe=56E53DBA This is fairly typical bracing for a soprano uke. The brace above the soundhole is flat; the one below is radiused. Likewise I use a radiused caul when g...
by Rob Collins
Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:55 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Tenor Uke nut width
Replies: 4
Views: 8930

Re: Tenor Uke nut width

Yes - 35mm at the nut is pretty standard. My uke necks are 45mm at the body join for all body sizes and 12.5mm string spacing at the bridge.
by Rob Collins
Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:06 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Wendell Hall uke banjo - neck repair
Replies: 3
Views: 4268

Re: Wendell Hall uke banjo - neck repair

Thanks Steve, Michael.

In the end, the owner of the banjo has decided to sell it on in "as-is" condition, so I won't get to do the repair after all :(
by Rob Collins
Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:51 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Wendell Hall uke banjo - neck repair
Replies: 3
Views: 4268

Wendell Hall uke banjo - neck repair

A friend from the British ukulele forum Uke Cosmos has just sent me this uke banjo neck in a very sorry state, hoping that I could simply replace the fretboard and everything would be OK. Unfortunately the neck has many problems beyond merely needing a fretboard replaced. As you can see, the thin (1...

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