For two and a half years I scoured eBay and craigslist and online listings looking for a real vita. I did not want to pay what people were asking. They are virtually all cracked unless restored. That’s because they were built so light. I finally found one with no strings, frozen tuners, cracks and a badly glued on bridge for under 200 dollars. My plan was to get it restored. Instead I got the tuners working, cleaned it up, put strings on it and it actually plays great. A friend has two and did something similar but one he fully restored. A real vita is special and hunting for one can be fun.
Pete howlett is a gifted and experienced builder. For what you get from him his prices are very reasonable. I commissioned a vita in concert size from him and it is the best of the 3 howlett’s that I have. It’s a wonderful uke but not the same as a true vita but much more like it than the Ohana. The ukiyo is a truer copy but my favorite copy is the howlett.
If, like me, you have an irrational love of the vita uke, then you must go on a quest to find a real one. If you want the best uke in that shape then get one from Pete howlett.