NoldUD -- Gold label Kamaka

connor013

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I picked up a gold label Kamaka recently; I've always wanted to see how well a vintage K played and sounded.

Here are some crappy pics, courtesy of low-light and an iPad: image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

It's all Koa, save the bridge and nut, which look like rosewood to me.

It has one stable crack running from below the bridge on the treble side to the bottom, and it has a little bit of separation on the back, right where the two sides meet on the bottom. It could also definitely use a bath.

As far as models go, I haven't another soprano with this fretboard, or with a Koa neck and fretboard for that matter, aside from the Ka Lai on Kamaka's site. Mine doesn't have the cool rosette, though, so I'm at a loss for the what and when of this uke.

If anyone has any idea about vintage/model, I'd appreciate any info you have.

My other dilemma: I was hoping this uke would fill a gap between my Timms and my Bruko, but I'm not sold on that idea yet. I did a quick recording of the three, which I guess I'll leave unnamed (just to be a jerk!). If you all feel like guessing that's cool, but I would love some opinions as to whether or not you can even hear a difference between these three.

http://soundcloud.com/user92796094/soprano-1/s-K7S5D

http://soundcloud.com/user92796094/soprano-2/s-42xEk

http://soundcloud.com/user92796094/soprano-3/s-XzumN

All three are strung with Southcoasts mediums, and all three are recorded with the iPad, with the dryer going in the background, and all three are played by yours truly, with apologies.

Cheers.
 
Not that old like a ka lai..but late 50's ...gold label some are good players and many not of this time period.. best played in B- Bb have fun and congrats...
 
I'll stick my neck out and say that #3 is the koa. I'll call #1 the Bruko? #2 is the Timms?

The distinctions are discernible. Sounds like not as dramatic as you wanted, though.
 
Not that old like a ka lai..but late 50's ...gold label some are good players and many not of this time period.. best played in B- Bb have fun and congrats...

Thanks, Stan. That was more or less my guess as to a date.

The Bb tuning is an interesting idea; the body is deeper than my other sopranos by a good cm or two.
 
wow...congrats! I didn't even know there were any of these around!
 
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