Vintage Ukes

Vintage instruments can be a money-pit if you don't buy from someone who really knows what they're doing. Lots of times there are undisclosed issues that the seller didn't know about or understand - which leaves it up to you to do the neck reset/bridge replacement/crack repair, etc.

That's one reason to buy from a reputable dealer. Neil Harpe is one such dealer. They do terrfic repair/restoration and you can be sure he deals honestly and knowledgably. Mostly he deals in vintage Stella guitars, but he's got some others as well as a few ukes, mandolins and banjos.

This one's a cool banjo-uke:
www.stellaguitars.com/banjo6.htm

And then this very nice all koa Oscar Schmidt from the 1920's:
www.stellaguitars.com/schmidt koa uke.htm

Oooh love the old wooden case for the banjo uke.

I've purchase a few old ukes from ebayers. The main problem I run across is the neck separating from the body. But, if you use a little Elmer's wood glue and set it with a bunch of rubber bands overnight (loosen the strings, of course!) and all is well!

Many times the problem with the neck is unnoticed until you put new strings on it. The seller can't always be faulted for not knowing what they're selling. Still "Let the buyer beware" is the rule with old uke purchases.