Conversion from Mando to Armadillolele

[Neal Carey]

This is just completed for someone in the 'ukuele club I belong to.

This started out as an Armadillo Mandolin, although before that it was likely some central/south American instrument, like an 8-string charango? It was later converted to a Mandolin and top got severely cracked, braces were very crude, neck and headstock were quite thick. The owner really wanted to convert it to an 'ukulele. So, it has gone from an 8-string mandolin to a 4-string ukulele with a new top, slightly thinned neck and headstock, new veneer and inlay on headstock.

The owner is quite enthusiastic about armadillos and sent me a drawing that he did of one and asked me to inlay it in the headstock. It sounds good, not quite like most 'ukuleles, but then again I didn't expect it to. It is quite loud. All in all I'm pleased with the way it came out. The inlay isn't as tight as I would like, but it actually looks better in person than the photo shows. Sometimes photos show too many 'warts'.

[Neal Carey]

More pics.

[Mark Swanson]

That's nice! When I am doing inlay like that- of multiple pieces that need to fit together- I find it easier to make the inlay, and glue everything together and then inlay the whole piece. That lets me get all of the pieces to fit well with no gaps in-between before I glue them together.

[Steve Senseney]

Nice!

Can you explain what you did to prep the Armadillo?

[Clay Schaeffer]

I think the segmented and slight misalignment adds to the armadillo inlay. Cool little uke!
Many years ago, in the days before schools were air conditioned I once accidentally caused the evacuation of my high school with an armadillo. I built one out of clay and stuffed the body with newspaper as is commonly done to hold it's shape. When the art teacher fired the piece in the kiln she had the windows open and didn't notice the small amount of smoke the burning paper created. A teacher on the second floor above did, pulled the fire alarm and called the local fire department!

[Patrick Hanna]

What a concept!

[Neal Carey]

Thanks all.

Steve, I didn't do anything to the shell. Whatever was done was a long time ago, I simply removed the fingerboard and the broken, caved-in top and braces. There is a lining which is attached by glue and nails, which are then bent over, and an oversized (IMHO) heel block also attached with nails. Both the lining and the heel block are quite 'rough'. There are several places where there is heavy copper wire holding the 'rows' of the armadillo plates together, and the wire is twisted on the inside to tighten it.

Thanks Clay. I will just keep trying different things to get the inlays tighter along the outside edges. Funny thing is most have been better, and I did another inlay right after this which is fairly tight.