Poll: Vintage Ukes

pdxuke · Dec 21, 2010

I just added a third vintage uke to my fleet, and I must say, I'm rather taken with the idea of playing old instruments.

It got me to wondering: how many of you have a vintage uke in your collection? Let's call vintage anything before 1980.

After voting, tell me what you've got! Pictures would be fun, too!

dnewton2 · Dec 21, 2010

None but i would like a White lablel Kamaka pineapple and/or an old Kumelea (sp?) one day. I think I will get me a Kamaka one day mut I might go for and old school repo for a soprano.

RyanMFT · Dec 21, 2010

I feel a little sad that vintage is pre-1980 because I always thought "vintage" was something much older, from a time well before I was alive....I remember 1980 pretty well.

I really prefer vintage uke's. I have pictures of all of mine in my gallery on my home page. Here is a picture of a Richter....likely made in the 40's/50's. A pretty good player, likely built by Regal and painted by Richter.

cletus · Dec 21, 2010

RyanMFT said:
I feel a little sad that vintage is pre-1980 because I always thought "vintage" was something much older, from a time well before I was alive....I remember 1980 pretty well.

We used to sell vintage eyewear, and had to carry 1980's stock for our younger clienteles "vintage look".

janeray1940 · Dec 21, 2010

pdxuke said:
Let's call vintage anything before 1980.

Something so much younger than I am can't possibly be vintage! Ah well, at least you didn't call me "antique"

I've got a 1920s mahogany Columbia uke. Despite a quality restoration, it's got some intonation issues which make me hesitant to ever buy a vintage instrument again. Still fun to play though!

Chris Tarman · Dec 21, 2010

Let's see... late '20s or early '30s Martin Style 2; '50s Martin Style 1; '50s Maccaferri Islander Baritone; '50s Maccaferri Islander Soprano; '40s (I believe) Green "Canoe" Harmony; '30s or '20s Criterion soprano; '20s Mouna Loa soprano. So seven, I guess. Wow. I didn't realize I had quite that many!

TCK · Dec 21, 2010

Can we call vintage a little older than 1980?
1940 (pretty certain on year) Martin 3M
1920's May Bell Banjo Uke
- too bad we aren't counting all instruments- my holding goes up to 20 immediately O:

Chris Tarman · Dec 21, 2010

TCK said:
Can we call vintage a little older than 1980?
1940 (pretty certain on year) Martin 3M
1920's May Bell Banjo Uke
- too bad we aren't counting all instruments- my holding goes up to 20 immediately O:

Yeah, if that was the case, I could add 2 basses and an acoustic guitar. I have SOCKS that are pre-1980 fer cryin' out loud. Ok not really. But I COULD have.

kamakakid · Dec 21, 2010

The one and only uke I have is a 1976 Kamaka Soprano.

bt93 · Dec 21, 2010

I would love a vintage uke. Old things really fascinate me but I just haven't found that "right" vintage uke...

TCK · Dec 21, 2010

Chris Tarman said:
Yeah, if that was the case, I could add 2 basses and an acoustic guitar. I have SOCKS that are pre-1980 fer cryin' out loud. Ok not really. But I COULD have.

Haha- pretty sure I could find a pair from 1990 laying around.
My others are all accordions- it seems once you tell people you play them, they begin to reproduce. Wish someone would give me really old Ukes now (wait...)

bobby b · Dec 21, 2010

I've had a bit of luck up here in Vancouver

1974 Northern JCD-4. I bought it from someone that had it in a case in storage for 30 years!! ( mint cond. )

White label Soprano Kamaka Pineapple. Spent most of it's life in a case too. ( not sure of exact year but mint cond. too )

:music:

pdxuke · Dec 21, 2010

I used the 1980 date because some collect Kamakas from the 70s and I wanted them included

But by my own definition, I'm waaaay vintage, since 1954!

ld:

bobby b · Dec 21, 2010

Gonna go have a look at an old , circa 1927, Banjo Uke this weekend.
Dont know too much about it but has pearloid fingerboard and a pearloid 'gumby' headstock.
I'll keep ya posted...

Chris Tarman · Dec 21, 2010

bobby b said:
I've had a bit of luck up here in Vancouver

1974 Northern JCD-4. I bought it from someone that had it in a case in storage for 30 years!! ( mint cond. )

White label Soprano Kamaka Pineapple. Spent most of it's life in a case too. ( not sure of exact year but mint cond. too )

:music:

I would love to have one of those Northerns. Or a Kamaka pineapple! Oh, who am I kidding... I'd like BOTH!

OldePhart · Dec 21, 2010

Wow, this poll is pretty balanced, so far!

I chose none and not interested. It's not that I'd turn down a really good player if it fell into my lap - I just don't see any magic in old instruments. Sure, some of them are great - but for every one of those there are probably several "hangar queens" that are only in great shape for their age because they were distinctly average to begin with.

John

RyanMFT · Dec 21, 2010

Hey Chris, I would like a Kamaka Pineapple too! Here is a pic of my oldest uke, built around 1900, maybe a bit earlier. As of now, the builder is still unknown.

KamakOzzie · Dec 21, 2010

The ukes in my sig. except for the concert, one tenor, the U-bass and the bari. Also have two more 20's-30's banjo ukes.
Vintage non-uke instruments;
4 basses
3 banjos
2 guitars
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree !!!!

pdxuke · Dec 21, 2010

RyanMFT said:
Hey Chris, I would like a Kamaka Pineapple too! Here is a pic of my oldest uke, built around 1900, maybe a bit earlier. As of now, the builder is still unknown.

:drool::drool:

That looks like a Gryphon Strings find based on the pic. Is it?

RyanMFT · Dec 21, 2010

Ha! Good eye....the picture is from Gryphon but not the uke. They asked me to bring it in to photograph for their archives. I brought my Royal Hawaiian uke as well and they took pictures of it as well.

I didn't realize they had an online archive of vintage uke's until they asked to photograph it for the archive. If you like vintage uke's, check it out, it is fun.http://www.gryphonstrings.com/pages/Vintage.php?inst=Ukuleles

Poll: Vintage Ukes

How many vintage ukes in your collection?

None, and I'm not really interested

5 or under

Over 5

None, but I want one someday

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