Back [in black]

Did I ever say this blog is a warts-and-all narrative of my building escapades? I did didn't I. So be prepared for a few all-warts posts then. The truth is I have received the first known Argapa in need of a neck reset. Sensitive viewers be warned, there will be pics from the operating theatre. I don't know yet how much text there will be mitigating the impact of the pictures, to be honest it's quite difficult to write about it. 

About the neck in question, I blame it on a simple curse from cruel gods who got pissed off by my hubris earlier this year. 

But first let me show you the good news that after all exists - the shruti box pedal is done and it works. 

Now a couple of gruesome pics. 

Wait, it gets worse!

Fanx for reading. Peace. 

From triumph to doubt to something else

I think I have shipped my last uke. From now on, if I build any more ukes, they will have to be tested and collected at my place. 

So today I started on a pedal for my shruti box. I nicked the concept online. 

A few glamour shots

First I want to show the gloss on Argapa 100. I modified my shellac finishing method, it got a bit awkward in the middle of the process but the result is good. 

I took a bit of a leap with the string spacing at the bridge, but it works perfectly. Quite easy to imagine the strings colliding but I don't think they ever do. 

And still, the flat bottom shape that I made nine years ago on my first soprano to facilitate glueing the end block. I like it, it's mine and I won't change it. 

Andy's reso, number 95. With pinstripe fret markers. 

The Dr. Who motifs on Kris's uke, no. 96 (a very nice number, you can turn it upside down).

The behemoth mother of pearl inlay project and f-holes for Brian, a.k.a Popmonkey. 

Brian's again, and Argapas 98 and 99. The latter is for Mike Krabbers and the first is for a hitherto secret customer. 

The pearl inlays on Mike's uke are made from the scraps from Brian's fretboard. The shark bite is Mike's own. 

And the last, Argapa 101, with the domino fret markers. To the right in the pic you can see a part of the very well managed register of all ukes I've built.