Paint Your Own Ukulele 

Hi!! I spray painted the ukulele and it shows a lot of texture maybe i didnt sand it enough 😭😭 is there any solution to it?? Thanks for the video

@@diptipatil7696 Oh noooo! but don't panic 🤗 Without seeing specifically what the problem is, I recommend lightly sanding and spraying again. If you would like to email me a pic, perhaps I can be of more help to your situation? sethcre8s@me.com

@@sethcre8s thanks you so much! Mailed you!

Taking the instrument apart is easy and putting it back together is equally easy. If anything, it will get you understanding your instrument better.

@@libelle8124 I agree!

Pearl the rebel don’t worry! The first time for anything is always the hardest! Take a deep breath and relax. What is it that really worries you?

same it gives me anxiety, as for beginner like me, I always think that maybe i might put it wrong or ill ruined everything. Will i able to fix it like the original. So many questions on my mind

Tsuchi I apologize for delayed reply! Many things worth doing are often a little scary the first time. I have recommended to some, to find a very cheap ukulele to start on. If it comes out nice you can give it away as a very thoughtful gift. You will learn a few things during the process and discover what you like and don’t like. Then you can move on to a nicer ukulele or many! I have painted nearly 200 now! Take your time and be patient with yourself. If you only ever do what is easy you may never learn what can be great! Let me know if you have specific questions. ~Seth

I have a new video on my page that shows step by step how to re-string your ukulele. Also remember, you can always take your instrument into a music store and ask for help too!

SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG

It is the proper way to say it in Hawaii. 😊🌴 Thanks for watching!

He’s right. It’s ook. Do you sell them?

Baltimore Dude I do not have any in stock, however am happy to do custom orders.

See,, I’ve always said it as you-ku-lay-lee.... hmmmm 🤔🤔

In russian we often say exactly "ookulele". Kinda funny, huh. It's like "укулеле".

Борода Плюшевая thank you Viktor, that is very nice of you to say!

EDcreative super, thanks!

ps4_drifter hi! Thanks for the compliments! Please watch the whole video as I answer both of those questions! There is no limit to the materials you can put on an uke, however, the thicker/heavier the material, the more likely it is to change the sound of the instrument. The materials I use are tried and true, and work best for me without changing the sound of the uke. Feel free to ask more questions if ya need!

@@sethcre8s thanks, thats all Keep on working like that Really cool art!

@@sethcre8s It really makes no difference to the sound? Playing them before and after for comparison would have helped. For anybody into their music, it's important to know. Most of the sound stems from the top board from what I read.

XxkillerslumberXx X awesome!

Lucien Midnight yea same! I’ve already customised one and I have another that I wanna make a pride one, what should I use so the paint doesn’t chip? Someone said hairspray is that true

I was gonna make a bi one but my family doesn’t know I’m bi yet so I’m not doing it ;-;

@@stars_3. maybe try making it bi patterned and then doing an overlay of like a mountain scene twilight thingy ? like with the colors of a twilight sky and then with mountains over it? I've done it before ':>

Powder Keg update: I’m not bi, I’m a lesbian now 😌

Yay! Do it!!!

haha! I recommend having an ukulele! Could change your life!

Mish Poli thank you and keep up the good work with your young one! ❤️

Candice M thank you, it’s a daily practice of making today better than yesterday and helping others whenever possible!

Wonderful!

Julia Fliier hi! I’m so glad you found this video and comments helpful 😊👍 To be honest, I was very surprised at how many people are afraid of taking their uke apart. I’m more afraid of oncoming traffic! 🤷‍♂️ There is a recent video I posted that goes over re-stringing an uke that you might find helpful too. Best wishes and happy playing!

Stella, I love your message and I will certainly consider making another video. In the meantime, you can't suck at art. It is simply a self expressive form of communication! It's interpreted different by everyone! If I draw a stick figure it might not be considered good art these days, but when the first one was put on a cave wall, it was the best art anyone had ever seen! Make your mark and be proud of anything you make because you are the only one that can do it the way you do! The hardest part is just starting, even for me, every project is the same because we all have the same silly little voice that tries to tell us what we can't do. Don't listen to it! Just create! The more you make, the more you learn and find the things that you like. I am still learning every day, but only if I try something new! -Seth

Geometric designs are simple to perform and VERY customizable! You can put painters tape in any way you like, and then sponge on the colors with acrylics so the colors don't become super thick but opaque! Take off the tape and you're left with pretty geometric art :)

Swaggercat thanks!

Nayday thank you! I’d love to see what you come up with!

Thank you

@@sethcre8s no problem

Billie eilish fann💗

I am very happy to her that! And thank you for the compliment. I wish you well. ~Seth

Very glad to hear it has been helpful for you!

Vittoriana Bronzi thank you! 😊

Thanks!

You are very welcome, thank you for the compliment! ~ Seth

Pamela diez I am so happy this brings new ideas for you! I would love to see what you create! Let me know if you have questions, I’d be glad to help.

Thank you! I’m so glad you found it helpful! ~Seth

Thank you and congratulations! Keep up the good work! ~Seth 🤙

Lexinator 😊👍 thanks! ~Seth

Thank you!

Elizabeth Blackey thanks! Give it a try! Ya never know until ya try! Maybe use some stencils for your first project? Just have fun, that’s what’s important! ~Seth

Thank you! I hope you create something fun too!

I am so glad!

Becaye Balde thank you, very kind of you 😊

sethcre8s you’re welcome 😊

Thank you 🤙

Jean Anderson thank you! How awesome that you’ve made a few ukes!

@@sethcre8s thanks. I have been fixing violins etc for years so not afraid to take anything apart. Those Makalas are decent inexpensive ukuleles. I have several kalas. Great for the price.

Jean Anderson 🤙

Pearl the rebel thank you. I put this video together because I believe anyone can do it! Including you!

Blossom, I admire your commitment to keep trying! Can you tell me what happened that “ruined” your ukuleles? Perhaps I can help?

You possibly could sand it and stand fresh.

A decale would be goof proof.

Thanks! I’m glad the tutorial is helpful. The sanding part of the process is to help the paint stick. Most ukes have some kind of sealant, stain, or gloss coating when they are new. I wanted my painted ukes to last and be played. Wear and tear is natural if you play a lot. So, I found that sanding before painting really helps. You don’t have to take off the entire finish, it just needs to be lightly sanded with a fine grit. Sand paper that is too rough will leave deep scratch marks. My next best recommendation is to have fun! Experiment! My first uke was very precious (I still have it) but I’ve painted MANY since.

Thank you! I will try to help... 1. Take apart the uke. 2. Prepare uke for paint by sanding lightly. 3. Mask off areas you don't want to paint. 4. Draw on uke with pencil. 5. Paint with acrylic, markers, pencils, etc... (I prefer water based materials) The pens I am using in this video are made by Posca (I am quite sure they are available in Brazil, I have to order mine on-line). Allow to dry thuroughly! 6. Clear coat - I use a clear spray, however, there are some that you can brush on (just be careful not to smear your painting). Allow to dry thuroughly! 7. Remove masking tape carefully and use light sandpaper to clean up edges. 8. Re-assemble your uke, tune it up, and play! If you have other questions, let me know! -Seth

sandim koushik thank you.

sarah marie I’m so glad you like my video! If come up with any questions, let me know! I’d love to see the uke you paint for your boyfriend when you finish! Happy holidays! ~Seth

Thank you! Do you ever paint the backs and sides of your ukes? I really wanted to paint at least the back too but since it will need to sound nice I don’t want to mess that up. Thanks for your advice!

sarah marie absolutely! Paint the whole thing if you like! The only part I stay away from painting is the fret board, the saddle, and the nut. It’s a little tricky painting the curved sides but looks really unique when the design wraps all the way around the instrument. When clear coating the whole uke, I found it easiest to hang the uke from a hook through the tuning peg hole. I made hooks of out wire clothing hangers. See my “sethcre8s” Facebook page, in my “painted objects” album for some reference pics if you like!

Thanks! I actually really like how it looks with just the front painted. My issue has been finding something to use that will properly write or whatever on the spray paint other than my spray paint since I want to be more detailed than stenciling will allow. I got some nice water based markers and they don’t stay and just bead up on the spray painted surface. I’ll probably have to use acrylic paint and brushes despite not really wanting to. So set backs but otherwise everything has gone smoothly.

You can try lightly sanding the spray paint or using a matte finish spray paint. Basically when painting on any surface, especially with water based materials, that surface needs to be have something for the paint to grab onto. In other words, water based materials have a hard time adhering to glossy surfaces. You can also try paint pens.

Lemon Bee congratulations! You can certainly do some decorating without taking it apart. I’d recommend some kind of permanent marker like a Sharpie or similar. Whatever you do, just have fun with it and don’t worry too much! Many people have told me they are scared to take apart their precious ukes... I was scared the first time too. I was also scared the first time I rode a bike or drove a car... It’s not that scary once you try!... it can even be fun! I have another video that shows you step by step how to re-string your uke. If all else fails, you can always ask for help or take it to a local music shop where someone will be happy to assist. 😊👍 good luck! ~Seth

Perhaps you could just use stencils with a makeup sponge without changing the backround, if you are happy with the look of wood in general.

BENJA MIN thank you!

Paul Mendoza I don’t see why not! Could be a very cool technique. However, I would certainly not want to dip a quality uke in water. I’d love to see how it turns out!

Alya Kusumaningrum hi! I’m glad you like the video and find it helpful! You have a good question and the simple answer is yes, you can brush on a clear varnish over acrylic paint. I chose not to with these ukuleles because the paint pens I used will sometimes smudge with brush on varnish. Hope this helps! Have fun and let me know if you have any other questions! ~Seth

strawberry galaxies the sanding is an extra step that insures the paint will stick as best as possible. You can certainly paint without sanding, however the paint may scratch or peel off with time and use.

valentina scalzi than you! No, I don’t have any birds as pets. I think you may have heard a small grey cheeked parrot, they are around in the morning. 😊

Jolie Pagan awesome! If you are painting only the back of the uke then there is no need to take the strings or tuning pegs off. Simply tape off the areas that you do not want to get paint on. Good luck & have fun!

I’m not really an expert, I’ve been playing for 3 years and I recently painted my uke. I’d say, as long as your careful, this would totally work on a guitar! Just my thoughts tho.

The Girl With The Uke I would think the same process would apply for a guitar, but with my luck I’ll ruin the poor guitar. I may try a ukulele first then go to a guitar and see what happens. Thanks for answering me though!💕

Hi! Thank you! Yes, the same steps do apply. I have painted several guitars using the same techniques. ~Seth

I'm doing the same thing for my friends birthday, how did yours turn out?

Hi Cam, thanks for the message! I originally made this video because I believe anyone can make a beautiful custom painted uke... including YOU! I have had several people comment similarly with anxiety over this kind of project. This tells me that your uke is special to you and that’s a good thing! I was nervous with my first custom uke too. Now that I’ve painted nearly 200, I hardly think about those days anymore. I may first suggest trying to experiment with a cheaper uke if you’re not comfortable working on your special one. A decent sounding uke can be purchased between $30-$50. (And would make a nice gift for someone!) While taking it apart and putting it back together may seem tricky, it is easier than you think... but you’ll never know unless you try! I did include all of these steps in this video, however if you find yourself stuck and don’t feel you are able to re-string the uke, just take it into any stringed instrument shop and they should be happy to help! Be sure to have them help you do it. If they do it for you, you won’t learn how to do it yourself! Re-stringing an uke is important to learn if you play your instrument often, as the strings will get old and dull and won’t sound as nice as new ones. I replace the strings on my main uke about every three months (I play it a lot!). Last thing I can say is, DO IT!!! Don’t worry! We do the most growing when we try something that makes us uncomfortable! I’d love to hear how it works out for you! Good luck! ~Seth

sethcre8s thank you so much for the advice and the quick reply!! Your words make me want to just give it a go! I’ll make sure to update you on whatever I end up doing, might try out what you said about buying a uke, customize it and make it a gift! Loved that idea! You’re right about having to learn about changing the strings, I hadn’t thought about the fact I’d have to learn either way to keep my uke sounding good at all times, thank you for that! This comment and video helped a lot, its is very much appreciated, and you seem like a nice guy! Thank you, again 🖤🖤

Glad I could help!

Ash Bowser thank you, that is the proper Hawaiian annunciation.

@@sethcre8s oh really? I'm sorry I didn't know that 😂 I wasn't trying to be mean tho I just liked the way it's pronounced

Ash Bowser no problem, there is a different way to pronounce many things!

Lorien Alvar thank you! That’s a good question! The purpose of the sandpaper is to “scuff up” the finished and often slick surface that is on a finished uke. Without scuffing that surface the paint doesn’t have as likely a chance of sticking. So, without sandpaper, you may be able to use a scouring pad (pot scrubber) or something like that? You should visibly be able to see that the surface of the uke has been finely scratched up. If this doesn’t help or work for you, send me your address and I’ll put some sandpaper in the mail for ya!

sethcre8s Thank you for the suggestion! I’d like to see if it works, crossing my fingers!

Karen VanDerburgh thank you! The sealer is recommended to help protect any artwork that you put on the uke. It can also give it a nice gloss finish. However, it is not necessary for the uke to be enjoyable/playable. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions. ~Seth

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UZjoJmp-9xQ.html

I used Rustoleum brand spray paint and sealant, as well as Poscas pens.

Fin Day, hi! Thanks for your comment. The pronunciation I use for ukulele is based on the traditional Hawaiian use of the word. Ask Siri, Alexa, Google RU-vid, Wikipedia... or whoever you do trust. 😊👍 Doesn’t matter how ya say it as long as you’re enjoying yourself! If you have any questions about painting an uke, I’m happy to try to help. ~Seth

@@sethcre8s This is such a funny yet professional response

Hi! First of all, don’t worry, I mess up all the time! Sometimes the mess ups turn into the best new idea! The purpose for sanding the ukulele is to prep the surface for paint. If your laminate surface is very slick or shiny, I would suggest sanding it lightly so the paint will stick better. I hope this helps! Have fun!

Does sanding affect the sound quality?

Teaspoon The Gremlin that is mostly correct.

I like both spray paint and acrylic. Generally speaking, acrylics are water based. What ever you do, have fun with it and you can’t go wrong!

Thank you! I hope you find what you are looking for, but if you can’t, then maybe you can make one the way you want. ~Seth

SLIME N' GAMES With Jasmine and Kaden hi, thanks for the message! First of all, you don’t HAVE to do anything 😉 You can certainly paint right on your uke and acrylic would be fine for that. The purpose of sanding is to give the paint a better surface to stick to. Without sanding the paint should go on fine, however it may scratch off easily. If the uke is going to be a decoration (not to be played) you can basically skip the sanding and clear coating AND you can paint the fretboard. If the uke is going to be played and you still want to decorate it, without sanding, I recommend using Sharpie markers or something similar. They won’t scratch off easily. Hope this helps! Good luck! ~Seth

sethcre8s oh, and one more thing. If you’d paint the ukulele, does it affect the sound quality?

SLIME N' GAMES With Jasmine and Kaden you would have to put a whole lot of thick paint on there before there would be a noticeable difference in sound.

sethcre8s thank you for your time to answer my questions!

Don’t worry!!! Absolutely worst case scenario, you can take it into a music shop and the should help you with the strings.

Aloha Nicolò, you do not need to remove the original finish. I do recommend giving it light sanding though. This helps the fresh paint stick better and will prevent chipping and peeling later. Hope that helps! Good luck! -Seth

Hi! Only dumb questions are the ones that don’t get asked! It is best to lightly prep the surface of the uke with a fine sandpaper. This helps the paint stick. The clear coat then helps protect the paint (I use a spray on clear coat by Rustoleum). Typically, without the light sanding, the varnish and paint can scratch off. Hope this helps! Have fun! ~seth

@@sethcre8s thank you so much!

El Pinguinito Chingon hi! To a highly discerning ear the sound may change, very little. I have painted lots of ukes and quite a few guitars, they all still sound great! In fact the uke and guitar that you hear in this soundtrack are both painted. If you’re still worried, pick up a $100 guitar and/or a $50 uke and paint them as an experiment before moving on to a nicer instrument. Acrylics are great! Hope this helps 👍 ~Seth

El Pinguinito Chingon you would need to sand any part that you want to paint and clear coat.

sethcre8s thank you very much for your reply! The video was amazing and I love your art. Have a nice day ahead! ❤️❤️

El Pinguinito Chingon thank you!

Kryptonite hi! You can usually find a clear coat spray at most hardware or paint stores. As for hairspray, that works on drawings done with graphite or charcoal or paper. I wouldn’t recommend that for your custom uke paint job. Good luck 👍

sethcre8s thank you!

Basically Skeptical I am not in California and I’m not sure I understand your question. Am happy to help if you can clarify what you want to know.

@@sethcre8s Like. Around how much would you want to be paid to paint a ukulele for someone?

Basically Skeptical my custom painted ukuleles start at $300 for a soprano with a simple design. Prices go up from there depending on complexity of the paint job, and size and style of uke. There are many other examples on my Instagram page @sethcre8s.

@@sethcre8s OK cool. Thank you.

Thank you! Gold leaf would look amazing! I don’t see why not!

@@sethcre8s Thank you. I got a hold of a few batches 24 carat gold leaf many years ago and after watching your video I thought that adding some of that would look great. I just feel the world could do with a ukulele adorned with gold leaf. I know that I can't use any varnish on gold leaf, but I get special advise on that.

@@libelle8124 awesome! I’d love to see how it comes out!

Jean Anderson absolutely! I have painted a ubass. Zebra wood is lovely though, may consider letting some of it show through your design.

@@sethcre8s It's just a thought right now. Don't have a design in mind yet but it would most likely just be on the top.

Jm Tagalag purple, dark blue, & teal.

Aloha Garrett, thank you for the kind words! Yes, you can apply these same techniques with brush and acrylic paints.

@@sethcre8s thanks man appreciate it

Hi! I have never used modge podge, but another viewer said they had great success with it. 😊👍 For sanding, its best to just lightly sand until you don’t see any more glossy surface where you plan to paint. Good luck, have fun!

Rebecca Rogers hi, I run into this problem from time to time. It can mean a few things... 1. It’s possible the surface wasn’t sanded enough for the paint to stick thoroughly. When the clear coat goes on and dries it pulls at the surface of the paint, making it crack. 2. It’s possible the clear coat went on too thick and wasn’t able to cure evenly. If the clear-coat is thick, the surface can dry faster than what’s underneath. My best suggestion is a very light sanding with 220 grit paper. Paint over any cracked areas that are real bad. When clear-coating, make sure temperature and humidity are within labeled guidelines. Also, try to apply thinly in multiple layers. Hope this helps! ~Seth

Jake Mendibles good eye! I think you are probably referring to the uke at the beginning of the vid with the wave inlay? If so, that was a special custom made Uke by Ana’ole on Oahu.

sethcre8s okay thank you I see, I assumed they were all the same. But what uke do you recommend getting to paint and possibly learn to play?

Jake Mendibles I recommend the Kala Brand, Makala (soprano or concert size) ukes. Same ones I’ve demonstrated paintIng in this video 😊👍

Kate Henriksen hi, thanks for the message! My best recommendation based on years of painting ukes is Kala Brand’s “Makala” series. They can cost around $35-$50 for a soprano, have decent intonation and are very playable. You can use any spray paint you like, however, I use Rustoleum regularly as it is good quality paint and easy to find. The finish is never “required”, just recommended to further protect your paint job. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have other questions.

Try thinking of colors that you like, instead of images.

Hi and thanks! Due to wear from playing, that is a difficult part of the instrument to paint. If the uke is just for decoration, you could definitely cover it with whatever you like. If you plan on playing it, then perhaps it would be best to use a permanent ink that may seep into the grain a little. I'd be curious to hear about your results!

@@sethcre8s I play my ukulele every day so I want something that last, what do you think about posca pens? Is a good option? Thanks for Answer btw :)

@@yokoday no problem, though I don't think I'm much help with this question! I have not experimented enough with painting the fretboard to give you a confident answer. I use posca on just about everything else though, so why not!?!

@@sethcre8s ok :) thank you so much, actually you Help me a lot!! With your video and your Answers. As soon i'm done with my ukulele I will let you know If a mess up 😅 Thanks again Have an awesome day! Love from México 🇲🇽💛

__uteki hi! So happy to hear from another happy new uker! I would say that sanding the uke is not necessary. However, it is helpful if you want your artwork to be more permanent. You can certainly paint it without sanding. 😊👍 I hope this helps! Have fun! ~Seth

I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for checking it out. Perhaps there are other, wonderful things you can draw that have never been drawn before!. Or perhaps there is a flower drawing video that you could practice with?

@@sethcre8s you’re too kind. Are you selling those ukuleles? I might want to get one in the near future

@@Ethan-xy4ih thank you, be kind to yourself too! You can do anything you set your mind and heart to! These ukes sold already but I am always happy to make more 🤙

@@sethcre8s awesome. I’ll keep you in mind when I think that my playing is worth a real nice uke!

Awesome! These are Makala Soprano Ukuleles, made by Kala Brand.

Okay ty!

About an hour, edges are inevitable unless the paint is very light. A light sanding with a fine grit will bring them down.

ugh.jxli.aaa._ well that’s a tough one. My first suggestion would be to go with it, rather than fight it. Go ahead and paint the sides! Why not? Just remember to mask off any areas where you don’t want paint. Unless your ukulele sides have a hi-gloss finish, it will be difficult to remove paint. You can try paint removers, or “goo-gone”, or very fine sandpaper... all of these things may damage the finish on the sides of the uke.

_•{FuLanSuki}•_ _LoveIsLife_ that is a reasonable concern. I have painted a lot of ukuleles, if there is any change in tone at all, it is extremely subtle. Paint it up!

@@sethcre8s Thank you so much for your answer and the video!

You are very welcome! Let me know if you have more questions. Good luck and have fun!

poetry hi! I would recommend acrylic rather than water color. However, it’s possible, if the uke is sanded enough, (pretty much bare wood, with no finish) watercolor paints may act like a stain and could look pretty cool! I have no experience with this, so it would be a fun experiment! Perhaps find a very cheap uke or even a scrap of wood to test it on. Good luck! I’d love to know how it works out for you! ~Seth

If you want to paint the fret board, I would still suggest giving it a light sanding before painting, and then seal it after. If the instrument is to be played, then it’s likely you can expect some wear on the painted fret board over time. Good luck!

@@sethcre8s ah tysm for responding. Im trying to paint my ukulele to be similar to Steven's ukulele in Steven Universe, and the fret board is a peach-ish colour. I dont think Ill paint it now though, Id rather not have the wear on the paint on the fret board. Ty so much for the response, I bet I would have ended up doing some crazy thing to it, lol.

khánh ngọc phạm I would recommend acrylic rather than oil.

Possibly, though I am not familiar with the product.

sethcre8s I actually tried it and it came out amazingly great

Yay! That’s great to hear! Thanks for letting me know!

Yeet Boi yes, I use a variety of sized tips.

You can, it may leave scratch marks. I would suggest using it lightly.

@@lethiwemwendwa5655 awesome! Great questions... If the entire uke has been painted, I typically clear coat the whole instrument at one time. I mask off the fret board, sound hole, and sometimes the bridge (if I haven't already removed it). I then suspend the ukulele with hooks (made from wire clothing hanger) and lightly clear spay the whole instrument in several layers. I start with the headstock, then the sides, then the back, then front, and finish with the neck. Perhaps I should do another video?! If you'd like to email me at sethcre8s@me.com, I'd be happy to send you some more info and pics of this process.

@@lethiwemwendwa5655 glad to help 😊👍

MatCanal, not unless you are extremely harsh with your strumming. I have ukes that I painted nearly ten years ago, that get played pretty regularly, as well as go on camping, beach, airplane trips... all still have the paint on them! 👍

In this video, I use spray on clear gloss by Rustoleum. There are many brands that make a clear spray. You can also brush on a clear varnish, but you may get smudging with your painting (depending on the material used). Hope this helps! Good luck! -Seth

@@sethcre8s thanks! Absolutely love ur content btw :)

Isabelle Scheiberlich thank you 😊 👍

Thank you! Yes, these all sold long ago 🤙