Tommy B
Well-known member
Hi everyone. I'm doing some spring cleaning, and I've decided to sell all my project ukes and everything that doesn't get played. First up is a set of four vintage sopranos that I've been holding onto. I bought these over the years with the plan of learning to do my own repairs, but I've decided that day isn't going to come. Maybe someone else can resurrect these faded beauties. I'm asking $100 for all four ukes, plus actual shipping.
This set includes a vintage Hawaiian pineapple, a 1920s rope-bound Supertone, a no-name mainland soprano, and an Aria soprano from Japan. The pineapple alone cost me more than what I'm asking for the lot.
Details:
The pineapple is vintage Hawaiian. I'm guessing 1940s. Its shape and body construction resemble my '28 Kamaka's, but the rounded headstock reminds me of another maker (Gaspar?). The wood looks to be koa or monkeypod. The soundboard grain has the strangest pattern I've seen. The back is beautifully arched. No side cracks, but there are grain splits on the back. This is the only uke I ever tried fixing (many years ago), and I ended up giving up because I didn't have the skill or temperament to work on instruments. As a result, there are some sloppy, but reversible, repairs done to this uke. Needs violin-style tuners.
The Supertone has multiple grain splits on the back, and the bridge has been reglued by someone using gobs of unknown adhesive. Beautiful mahogany and rope binding. Needs tuners.
The no-name mainland uke has a "Gumby" style headstock. It's a dark stain over what looks to be a birch body. No cracks on this one. Original bridge is nice and solid. Needs tuners. Neck is a little loose (dowel construction, I think). Slight waviness in the back panel. Clear coat is starting to flake off. Easy fix!
The Aria looks completely intact and ready to play, although the bridge is strange. No cracks on this one. The uke is likely laminate, probably from the 1960s or '70s. The bridge is solid but looks strange.
I forgot to photograph the little paper with my name and the date on it. But if you click on the Flickr albums below to see the other photos, I included it there.
Here are more photos (no album of the Aria, sorry).
(Pineapple) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632993673123/
(Supertone)http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632998036542/
(No-name mainland)http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632993665871/
This set includes a vintage Hawaiian pineapple, a 1920s rope-bound Supertone, a no-name mainland soprano, and an Aria soprano from Japan. The pineapple alone cost me more than what I'm asking for the lot.
Details:
The pineapple is vintage Hawaiian. I'm guessing 1940s. Its shape and body construction resemble my '28 Kamaka's, but the rounded headstock reminds me of another maker (Gaspar?). The wood looks to be koa or monkeypod. The soundboard grain has the strangest pattern I've seen. The back is beautifully arched. No side cracks, but there are grain splits on the back. This is the only uke I ever tried fixing (many years ago), and I ended up giving up because I didn't have the skill or temperament to work on instruments. As a result, there are some sloppy, but reversible, repairs done to this uke. Needs violin-style tuners.
The Supertone has multiple grain splits on the back, and the bridge has been reglued by someone using gobs of unknown adhesive. Beautiful mahogany and rope binding. Needs tuners.
The no-name mainland uke has a "Gumby" style headstock. It's a dark stain over what looks to be a birch body. No cracks on this one. Original bridge is nice and solid. Needs tuners. Neck is a little loose (dowel construction, I think). Slight waviness in the back panel. Clear coat is starting to flake off. Easy fix!
The Aria looks completely intact and ready to play, although the bridge is strange. No cracks on this one. The uke is likely laminate, probably from the 1960s or '70s. The bridge is solid but looks strange.
I forgot to photograph the little paper with my name and the date on it. But if you click on the Flickr albums below to see the other photos, I included it there.
Here are more photos (no album of the Aria, sorry).
(Pineapple) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632993673123/
(Supertone)http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632998036542/
(No-name mainland)http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterbutt/sets/72157632993665871/
