Owen Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) I have a Thoman Deco Uke Bass which works fine and dandy [url="http://s8.photobucket.com/user/peredur/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160818_210746_zpskigkrbsa.jpg.html"][/url] I have a DB which has seen MUCH better days - check the screw hole in the fingerboard [url="http://s8.photobucket.com/user/peredur/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160818_210729_zpsbwufej3m.jpg.html"][/url] and the neck [url="http://s8.photobucket.com/user/peredur/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160818_210720_zpskr84oc1r.jpg.html"][/url] I have the bridge [url="http://s8.photobucket.com/user/peredur/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160818_210736_zpsswwhgo0u.jpg.html"][/url] What I fancy doing is taking the fingerboard and nut off the DB and slapping them onto the the fingerboard on the Uke. I also will cut the bridge up so that it will slot into where the present bridge lies on the piezo pickup. What could possibly go wrong? I am open to suggestions. Please pile in as I have NO expereince doing this stuff but just want to try it. I mean, how hard can it be? I reserve the right to take an AWFULLY long time doing it. Thanks to Scojack for the name idea a long time ago. Edited August 18, 2016 by owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Well......I will be watching with interest.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 I Inderstand what you're planning to do but I'm not sure why you're doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1471631427' post='3114667'] I Inderstand what you're planning to do but I'm not sure why you're doing it! [/quote] Because I can! Actually, we will see about that. I like playing with my right hand in the DB position and thought this would be an interesting experiment as the bass Uke does give a DB-esque thud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 ...and I'm not sure I do understand what you are planning to do....or how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1471631656' post='3114673'] ...and I'm not sure I do understand what you are planning to do....or how. [/quote] I am aiming to take the fingerboard and nut off the DB, cut the fingerboard down and glue it onto the present fingerboard of the Uke. I will need a curved bridge so will cut that down and shape it so that it will sit in the slot that the present bridge sits in so that I can use the piezo. This will give me a small EUB. In theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 [quote name='owen' timestamp='1471632219' post='3114683'] I am aiming to take the fingerboard and nut off the DB, cut the fingerboard down and glue it onto the present fingerboard of the Uke. I will need a curved bridge so will cut that down and shape it so that it will sit in the slot that the present bridge sits in so that I can use the piezo. This will give me a small EUB. In theory. [/quote] Ah...OK - got it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlefeeder Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Looking at the practical aspects, if the DB bridge is higher than the Uke bridge, and the DB fingoerboard is higher than the Uke fretboard/fingerboard, then you will need longer strings than you currently have - That's £20 before you even start making sawdust. Also, a DB pickup tends to be under one foot, so the under-bridge rod will give you much more body noise and much less string vibration signal, assuming that you can carve the DB bridge so that it makes contact with it. I'd suggest building up the thickness of the Uke fretboard/fingerboard with an appropriate wood of your choice, and then cutting it back to a radius that suits you. Replace the current bridge with a taller one, and cut it to suit the new fingerboard radius. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Thanks for the practical thoughts, however "cutting it back to a radius that suits you" tells me that we clearly live at opposite ends of the woodworking food chain I even have to get my father in law to put shelves up for me However it is a fun project which will cost me approx £30 so I cannot resist trying it. The point about longer strings makes sense. I will measure up before cutting anything. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Mad project, i love it. I once had the idea to turn an old violin into a bass uke type thing, that was way before i had started building anything remotely serious so that idea never got anywhere... still gnawing at the back of my mind though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 (edited) I understand the desire to do it, and I shall watch this one with interest My guess is that the back edge of the body might be uncomfortable? I say this because I have an Ashbory. Its strap is tied to the headstock just above the nut, and the strap goes round my neck so that the instrument sits nearly vertical with my left hand up by my jaw and the right hand about level with my diaphragm. I had to remove the upper strap button as it was too uncomfortable to play. So I'm thinking the neck fillet of the uke might be unpleasant. Edited August 20, 2016 by alyctes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Are you going to play it upright? I'm still having trouble picturing it so will be interested to see how it progresses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 Yep, I hope it will sit upright on my knee. I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 So a DB uke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 If a DB is double bass, what fraction bass will yours be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='owen' timestamp='1471798376' post='3115972'] Yep, I hope it will sit upright on my knee. I hope. [/quote] I had no idea you were this weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 30, 2016 Author Share Posted August 30, 2016 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1471809552' post='3116086'] I had no idea you were this weird. [/quote] Believe it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 30, 2016 Author Share Posted August 30, 2016 A hot knife. Sadly not going as fast as a hot knife through butter. [URL=http://s8.photobucket.com/user/peredur/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160829_165201_zpskhvjamad.jpg.html][IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/peredur/Mobile%20Uploads/20160829_165201_zpskhvjamad.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Last time I tried to get even a standard size fretboard off, it took AGES!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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