theabsurdman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2013
- Messages
- 101
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I've been hooked on the look and sound of old lightly-built mahogany ukes since strumming a friend's vintage Martin last year but didn't fancy the inflated prices and so have been casting around for affordable alternatives.
In the summer I grabbed an original Favilla Marca Aquila which has been fantastic (after a bit of initial patching-up) but which didn't entirely cure my UAS.
Having been outbid on a Ken Timms model last month I took a gamble on a plausible-looking soprano from the USA which according to the seller is 50+ years old (wall-hanger for the last 15) and which arrived yesterday:
As you can see it's very well-made in beautiful honey-coloured mahogany with a pronounced arch to the back; no cracks or damage, except a bit if rub wear to the fretboard edges. The fretboard is also a very light honey colour (too light for rosewood?) and the friction tuners have white (plastic?) handles. It's also relatively light in weight: 343g, compared to 254.6g for my Favilla (which saves weight by lacking a raised fretboard).
Sounds very nice to my ear in play, considering the clear strings on it are at least 15 years old; not quite as loud or as much sustain as the Favilla but great tone, note-separation and intonation. I'm planning to put Martin 600 clears on it next and see what difference that makes. Comparing it to the nice modern Mainland and Hamano mahogany ukuleles I own, it's in another league.
In summary, I think to my untrained ear it's right up there in quality with Martin etc. and is such a nice instrument that it's hard to believe that it wouldn't have a maker's mark on it somewhere, but it doesn't!
There's a faint rectangle mark behind the headstock where a label might have sat but that's all.
I was thinking possible Regal or Harmony? or maybe it's just a luthier one-off?
Ring bells for anybody?
In the summer I grabbed an original Favilla Marca Aquila which has been fantastic (after a bit of initial patching-up) but which didn't entirely cure my UAS.
Having been outbid on a Ken Timms model last month I took a gamble on a plausible-looking soprano from the USA which according to the seller is 50+ years old (wall-hanger for the last 15) and which arrived yesterday:
As you can see it's very well-made in beautiful honey-coloured mahogany with a pronounced arch to the back; no cracks or damage, except a bit if rub wear to the fretboard edges. The fretboard is also a very light honey colour (too light for rosewood?) and the friction tuners have white (plastic?) handles. It's also relatively light in weight: 343g, compared to 254.6g for my Favilla (which saves weight by lacking a raised fretboard).
Sounds very nice to my ear in play, considering the clear strings on it are at least 15 years old; not quite as loud or as much sustain as the Favilla but great tone, note-separation and intonation. I'm planning to put Martin 600 clears on it next and see what difference that makes. Comparing it to the nice modern Mainland and Hamano mahogany ukuleles I own, it's in another league.
In summary, I think to my untrained ear it's right up there in quality with Martin etc. and is such a nice instrument that it's hard to believe that it wouldn't have a maker's mark on it somewhere, but it doesn't!
There's a faint rectangle mark behind the headstock where a label might have sat but that's all.
I was thinking possible Regal or Harmony? or maybe it's just a luthier one-off?
Ring bells for anybody?