Kamaka Uke with top problem

[Justin]

Hello,

A customer brought in an older Kamaka uke that has some serious problems, but they really want it fixed. As you can see, someone had put half a top on it at one point.

Of course the bridge came off and they want me to fix it. The other things is that they want to preserve some writing that someone scratched into the top as well. I would like to know how some of you would approach this type of repair.

[Paul Verticchio]

Your customer brought you what USED TO BE a Kamaka Uke. Some hack took care of destroying it's value. These kinds of things tend to sour my stomach.

I'd- re-top it (which will include removing the neck), fix the other stuff and cut off & save the "sentimental signatures". They could be 'screwed into' or adhered  with double sided tape to where they used to be, as an overlay. If they don't agree to that plan, I'd pass.

Let your customer know that you essentially have to bring it back from the dead. Feel free to place the blame on the hack that worked on it before you.

If they want to restore some of its value, I highly recommend sending it back to Kamaka for repair.  It will restore some of the value. As I understand, Kamaka gives a very low priority to non warranty repairs.  They essentially get to them "if & when" they have time or feel like it.

Best of luck & charge accordingly :)

[Mark Pollock]

What Paul said, with the addition that this is probably a Spanish heel, so the neck likely won't come off. If you re top it, use some really thin koa for that authentic kamaka sound - I'd be glad to take calipers to my Kamaka ukes if you want some kind of guideline.

There is an off chance that this is a Japanese Kamaka, which would have a very visible dowel for the neck if you look inside at the headblock, but that seems really unlikely, the fretboard doesn't look like one of those.

[Paul Verticchio]

Mark,

Did all the MIJ Kamaka's (The Kamaka Boy?) have smooth, tapered & unfretted FB tongues that were rounded (width-wise) at the ends?

The only MIJ Kamaka I've seen/repaired, had those features. THAT happened a couple of years ago and the memory stayed with me but I have no idea where my car keys are right now. 

Best regards,

Paul :)

[Mark Pollock]

I'm not sure. The Kamaka Keiki's had that rounded extension, which was not attached to the fingerboard, and a dowel neck. They were made in Japan either of mahogany or koa, and had a long single piece for the sides. They aren't bad, but not too great either. I retopped one for my wife, and it is quite nice.

I wonder where all the lost uke tops and bridges are in this world?

[Justin]

Well,

I spoke with my customer about it and gave her the run down. I offered to re-top it and save the portion of the top that she wanted to preserve. That was if she wanted a playable instrument. She did decline the repair as it was going to be a very expensive and time consuming job..... It would have been a real test of my abilities and i was kinda hoping she would have agreed to doing it, but that's how it goes sometimes. I just wish I would have had the chance to see it before the last guy got ahold of it.... I bet at one point it was repairable and could have been fixed quite easily... Who knows... Anyway, thanks for the input... You guys are always a big help.

[Justin]

There was not a dowel visible on the neck block, just so you know.