Today, my wife and I went over to Willie's to check out the 1925 Martin 2K ukulele. I figured that if it is as wonderful as I have read about those old 1920s ukuleles supposedly can be, I might be able to make a deal, or worst case - at least I got to try one of the "legends". Well, I played it and compared to a new Martin 2K they had there, along with a Kamaka HF-1L (long neck soprano) and a few other soprano ukuleles, as well as a Blackbird (not sure what it was, but bigger than a soprano).
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING came close to the sound of that old Martin. I have not heard a soprano sound like this instrument. It has that higher pitch typical of sopranos, but none of the "plinkiness". It was alive and has a sort of richness around each note (fullness, growl, something anyway) that none of the others had. All of the others sounded very good. In fact, there was a "thickness" to the Blackbird sound that I found appealing. But the Martin is the one would haunt me.
I read in several sites that talk about the old Martins, that not all of them sound alive. You have to find those. This is one. I would rather have this than the 3K or 5K not only because of the price points, but because I really don't want all that "bling". I prefer a plainer look - that understated elegance that my other ukuleles have. I do like gorgeous wood though, and this one is really about as "mint" and gorgeous as an old instrument can be. It is all original (no refinish, replaced parts, etc.) and has the original case in decent condition.
Also, I mentioned in another thread how out of tune the Kamaka I had played at Gitar Center was, and wondered if that is a problem common to soprano ukuleles with their short scale. I am happy to report that NONE of the ukuleles at Willie's showed any hint of that problem, soprano or otherwise. I think Janeray1940 was right that I had just found a not-so-good example that day.
With that Martin wide fretboard and wide string spacing, even with only 12 frets to the body, it works well for fingerpicking. I do not intend to alter this instrument in any way (i.e. adding a pickup or strap buttons because I don't want to risk losing that sound). If I am going to have a soprano, this must be it.
The only issue I have is that I have to learn how to hold this instrument without benefit of a strap. I will find some Youtube videos that show how to hold it in the bend of my arm as I play.
So, my wife said we have already paid all the insurance for her trip to the Mayo Clinic and that we had more than enough to justify the Martin, and that I should just buy it...
So, here are the requisite pics:
Tony
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING came close to the sound of that old Martin. I have not heard a soprano sound like this instrument. It has that higher pitch typical of sopranos, but none of the "plinkiness". It was alive and has a sort of richness around each note (fullness, growl, something anyway) that none of the others had. All of the others sounded very good. In fact, there was a "thickness" to the Blackbird sound that I found appealing. But the Martin is the one would haunt me.
I read in several sites that talk about the old Martins, that not all of them sound alive. You have to find those. This is one. I would rather have this than the 3K or 5K not only because of the price points, but because I really don't want all that "bling". I prefer a plainer look - that understated elegance that my other ukuleles have. I do like gorgeous wood though, and this one is really about as "mint" and gorgeous as an old instrument can be. It is all original (no refinish, replaced parts, etc.) and has the original case in decent condition.
Also, I mentioned in another thread how out of tune the Kamaka I had played at Gitar Center was, and wondered if that is a problem common to soprano ukuleles with their short scale. I am happy to report that NONE of the ukuleles at Willie's showed any hint of that problem, soprano or otherwise. I think Janeray1940 was right that I had just found a not-so-good example that day.
With that Martin wide fretboard and wide string spacing, even with only 12 frets to the body, it works well for fingerpicking. I do not intend to alter this instrument in any way (i.e. adding a pickup or strap buttons because I don't want to risk losing that sound). If I am going to have a soprano, this must be it.
The only issue I have is that I have to learn how to hold this instrument without benefit of a strap. I will find some Youtube videos that show how to hold it in the bend of my arm as I play.
So, my wife said we have already paid all the insurance for her trip to the Mayo Clinic and that we had more than enough to justify the Martin, and that I should just buy it...
So, here are the requisite pics:
Tony