Unexpected NUD, Black Bear Baritone #146

Jim Hanks said:

Congrats! I like the 19" scale on my Bruko better than the 20+ scale on my previous Lanikai, although I'm leaning towards thinner tenor necks as a preference also. How do you like the neck on this one?

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JonThysell said:

So I'm at Dusty Strings looking at uke/banjo books and I'm about to leave when I see this bari beauty across the room. I usually just give the bari area a glance cause they've had the same Kalas/Ponos for a long time now.

It was a 2002 Black Bear on consignment. Koa back and sides, spruce top, 19" scale, planetary tuners with these sweet amber orange buttons, compensated saddle and bridge pins.

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A few dings here and there, dirty and definitely been played, but no deal killers. I played it for about 20 minutes, and even amidst the xmas crowd, and with aquillas, I loved it.

Took it home, cleaned off the grime, oiled the fretboard, put on some Southcoasts- I love it. I've been looking at lighter, custom 19" baris for a while now, and this was half the price of what I've been looking at. So excited!

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JonThysell said:

Of course I had to look up info on Black Bear ukes, and I found the ebay listing for this uke.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Bear-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I had a feeling that the pick guard was a cover up job, and though I definitely paid more than what the uke sold for 11 days ago + parts + labor for that guard, I'm not that upset. With the kind of abuse and damage this uke must have seen, I feel like I rescued it.

Black Bear #146, you're safe now.

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