I found this Uke in my buddies shed, don't know much about it

kamakakid

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Like I said, I found it in a shed, it was in a cardboard box wrapped in newspapers from Hawaii from the 70's the head has 2 lowercase k's on top of eachother its called kamaka. It even had a receipt from the original purchase! Just wondering how good this is or its worth. It has a little warping damage, in the body the backside has come up a bit, and there are a couple buzzing frets. I am a guitar player, have slowly been learning to play the uke with this.
 
Could you put some pics of your find and trouble spots on the forum?
 
Aloha Kamaka Kid,
My God son, You struck gold......a great find...You're talking top of the food chain of ukuleles....take in and get it fixed and playable ...will be well worth it...send us some pics...we're always intrested
and plus it's a kamaka...Good Luck!! and Have fun!!! Maybe then best present for Christmas this year for you....Happy Holidays!!! MM Stan...
 
B-I-N-G-O! Welcome to the UU
 
Thats a great find. Hope you enjoy playing that uke.
 
ok here are a few pics of the damages, if anyone can give me an estimate of how much it will cost, i can give a timeline on how soon it will be back to its true epicness.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0385.jpg Here is where I am most concerned, its about the width of a nickel, and it just bows up right there for some reason

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0384.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0383.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0382.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0381.jpg The logo has a bit of paint gone

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Jerichoswall/IMG_0387.jpg I think that this is glue or something, I'm unsure really
 
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So you likely have a '70's "White Label" Kamaka Soprano.

http://www.kamakahawaii.com/ukedating.html

Your image "IMG_0382.jpg" seems to show a crack to the left of the "G" string alongside the soundhole & fretboard. A competent luthier can fix it as well as the back separation & I'd bet for less than $200 - it would likely sell as it is on eBay for $300 - $600 (I've seen lesser shape Kamaka's go for more occasionally.) Kamaka can do it as well w/at least a year wait time.

If it was mine, I'd get that wound C string off - seldom see or need a wound string on a soprano.

Great find, though! It will be sweet to see how it looks when you get it repaired.
 
the so called crack on the head of the uke is actually just a dark line in the wood.
 
that seems kind of cheap considering these ukes brand new from the manufacturer are like $1000 and up. Now don't get me wrong I will never sell this, I can't it would be like selling a child on the black market, which I would be more apt to do than part with this.
 
Nice find! Going to check the neighbors shed now!
 
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