I always wanted a Risa ukulele. I mostly wanted one because I thinks it's a really clever design and for the novelty value. (Generally, I don't even like the way electric ukuleles sound.) But at a price tag of nearly $400, I didn't want it that much. This cost be about $25 to build.I actually looked for ways to improve the design but I couldn't find any room for improvement.You just can't beat German engineering.
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The pick up is installed right under the saddle. You can't tell from this picture but the wood under the saddle is only about a 1/4" thick and the piezo rod is embedded in it.
I thought about moving tuners like you suggested but I didn't want the tuners leaning against my leg if I was sitting down.
The problem that came up that I didn't think of is that I built it out of 3/4" thick wood and that doesn't give me quite enough space to recess the cable jack into the body. I'm going to add a piece of 1/4" to the back to make it wide enough to fit it.
The only thing I don't like about that Risa design is that the highest strings come off the tuners at a big angle. Wondering why they didn't do 2 per side instead of 4 in line.
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Aaah...of course, that's why they do it that way
Hi Glenn,
The pick up is installed right under the saddle. You can't tell from this picture but the wood under the saddle is only about a 1/4" thick and the piezo rod is embedded in it.
I thought about moving tuners like you suggested but I didn't want the tuners leaning against my leg if I was sitting down.
The problem that came up that I didn't think of is that I built it out of 3/4" thick wood and that doesn't give me quite enough space to recess the cable jack into the body. I'm going to add a piece of 1/4" to the back to make it wide enough to fit it.
The only thing I don't like about that Risa design is that the highest strings come off the tuners at a big angle. Wondering why they didn't do 2 per side instead of 4 in line.
Cool. Where is the pickup going?
That is great. I've made something similar myself. They are fun. :)