Harold O.
Well-known member
I like to think that if I hadn't found this Roy Smeck ukulele, it would have found itself in the trash.
Here in Canoga Park we have a couple of blocks worth of vintage/antique/junk stores lining Sherman Way. It's a good place to spend a few hours, just walking along and looking at old stuff.
In a short pile of who-knows-what, I uncovered a copy of Wolff's Complete Ukulele Instruction Course, circa 1928. Ian Chadwick might have a copy.
Under it was this Roy Smeck soprano. Were they all sopranos back then? I got the book and uke for 20 bucks. Suffice to say, with a little cleaning this is a pretty little instrument. Mahogany construction, plastic fingerboard, friction tuners. I put some low-tension strings on it and strummed away for about thirty eight seconds of glory.
Well, there are several significant cracks along the top grain. I could fix it (I do have a wood shop) but have decided not to mess with it.
While this old uke will hold together, this one is destined to ride out it's days as a conversation set piece. But it ain't in the trash!
Here in Canoga Park we have a couple of blocks worth of vintage/antique/junk stores lining Sherman Way. It's a good place to spend a few hours, just walking along and looking at old stuff.
In a short pile of who-knows-what, I uncovered a copy of Wolff's Complete Ukulele Instruction Course, circa 1928. Ian Chadwick might have a copy.
Under it was this Roy Smeck soprano. Were they all sopranos back then? I got the book and uke for 20 bucks. Suffice to say, with a little cleaning this is a pretty little instrument. Mahogany construction, plastic fingerboard, friction tuners. I put some low-tension strings on it and strummed away for about thirty eight seconds of glory.
Well, there are several significant cracks along the top grain. I could fix it (I do have a wood shop) but have decided not to mess with it.
While this old uke will hold together, this one is destined to ride out it's days as a conversation set piece. But it ain't in the trash!