Uke'n Talk Episode 9 - The Rutan ukulele

blue_knight_usa

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Uke’n Talk Episode 9 is now posted.
This month’s vintage beauty is the Rutan from good old Kansas City, U.SA, circa 1930’s.
We hope you enjoy this fairly rare uke with style 3 appointments reminiscent of the Martin style 3, but definitely not the Martin copy as it has been sometimes compared to. See why it’s not a copy here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RME2JDKDO_A

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Episode 1: http://youtu.be/czCWhg5qb9E
Episode 2: http://youtu.be/9ztxolKVO5U
Episode 3: http://youtu.be/nQEXzrdIyKw
Episode 4: http://youtu.be/924hBx1u_t4
Episode 5: http://youtu.be/XxEx-hI0G20
Episode 6: http://youtu.be/MRED7S5c0xI
Episode 7: http://youtu.be/Zcs0qmaqdvc
Episode 8: http://youtu.be/4cFfWmPkojk
 
Rutans have been on my search list for some time. Thanks!
 
That's a fine ukulele, Jay and Ryan.

I really like the sound sample and looks at these ukuleles. Your videos are top quality.

I think giving more information about the company would have been useful. For instance, you say the location of the company in the banner at the beginning, but never in the video. I had to do my own google search after this video to find out the history of the company owner, John Rutan (his name was mentioned once in your video) , the years it was in business, why he started it, and the great fire that ended the Rutan Company. I also had to search images to see if Rutan made, beside this style 2, other "Martin"-styled instruments (they did, and in koa, too). Some of the googled information that I found was actually from past UU threads. Anyhow, I came away from the video loving the views and sounds of this old, uncommon instrument, but knowing nothing further about the instrument's "roots"; information that I am sure Ryan and you know from researching this instrument in depth.

I appreciate the time and effort that you and Ryan give to these vintage wonders. They deserve such recognition.
 
That's a fine ukulele, Jay and Ryan.

I really like the sound sample and looks at these ukuleles. Your videos are top quality.

I think giving more information about the company would have been useful. For instance, you say the location of the company in the banner at the beginning, but never in the video. I had to do my own google search after this video to find out the history of the company owner, John Rutan (his name was mentioned once in your video) , the years it was in business, why he started it, and the great fire that ended the Rutan Company. I also had to search images to see if Rutan made, beside this style 2, other "Martin"-styled instruments (they did, and in koa, too). Some of the googled information that I found was actually from past UU threads. Anyhow, I came away from the video loving the views and sounds of this old, uncommon instrument, but knowing nothing further about the instrument's "roots"; information that I am sure Ryan and you know from researching this instrument in depth.

I appreciate the time and effort that you and Ryan give to these vintage wonders. They deserve such recognition.

Thanks Steve, great feedback. We'll make sure to include a bit more about the builder. We have a lot more great instruments on the way throughout 2014.
Thanks for watching!
 
That's a fine ukulele, Jay and Ryan.

I really like the sound sample and looks at these ukuleles. Your videos are top quality.

I think giving more information about the company would have been useful. For instance, you say the location of the company in the banner at the beginning, but never in the video. I had to do my own google search after this video to find out the history of the company owner, John Rutan (his name was mentioned once in your video) , the years it was in business, why he started it, and the great fire that ended the Rutan Company. I also had to search images to see if Rutan made, beside this style 2, other "Martin"-styled instruments (they did, and in koa, too). Some of the googled information that I found was actually from past UU threads. Anyhow, I came away from the video loving the views and sounds of this old, uncommon instrument, but knowing nothing further about the instrument's "roots"; information that I am sure Ryan and you know from researching this instrument in depth.

I appreciate the time and effort that you and Ryan give to these vintage wonders. They deserve such recognition.

For me, it was a conscious decision, as information about Rutan and his company are very limited. I have been in contact with one of his family members, and I had more information about his history than she did. I have searched for records and articles about the Rutan factory fire, but I find none. It doesn't mean they are not out there, but I have yet to find anything. I only find references to there having been a fire which was the end of Rutan which seems to be the conventional wisdom, but where that information originally came from, I do not know.

As with so many builders, information is limited. I'd like to know who did the actual building of the Rutan instruments, as the quality is so good. Must have been experienced builders, perhaps overseen by someone who came from Martin or Gibson, as there is no information that John Rutan was a luthier, but then again, there is no information that he was not one either. I didn't want to pass on information that really isn't very confirm-able.

John Rutan was 60 years old at the 1940 census, was renting his home, and working as a retail sales clerk in a music store, I do not think the instrument building business was kind to him. He died on March 18, 1957.
 
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Thanks for the input, Jay. And the videos; you sure have the quality of sound and sights down ideally now.

Wow, interesting, Ryan. Thanks for that info, and the John Rutan later life (i.e. 1940) update. That is a tale of melancholy, for certain. Almost like he could have been the Martin for ukes, but it was never to be as misfortune be-felled him. When one googles Rutan ukulele, this thread (and your video) will come up, just as I found your thread on UU when you bought that baby.

Antebellum had that koa style 1, so I am wondering if there was a style 2 koa, and was there ever a style 3 (there must have been...even Gibby had a 3)? Fascinating stuff. Something tells me that I know a fellow that would want a hog 1 or a koa 1 or 2...UU'er RyanMFT. :)
http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2009/12/c1920-martin-style-koa-soprano-ukulele.html

Edit: UU'er Lardy has some additional tidbits here, which I'm sure you have seen, Ryan. Mentions style 2 (but not the once Antebellum-owned koa 1). This is fascinating. If someone knew where in Kansas City MO the factory was (e.g. what county), the Midwest tends to pride itself on its historical societies, and I would guess that the local historical society has information and photos about Mr. Rutan.
http://database.ukulelecorner.co.uk/site/ukulelemakers/multi/pre-war-small-us-firms/us-pre-3

Edit 2: Here is another Rutan type 2 (bottom of page). Starting to make me wonder if the Antebellum Rutan is a Rutan or an old knock off.
http://www.ukulele.org/?Vintage_Ukulele_Q_&_A
 
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I'm not sure where Lardy got that info, but he is very thorough, so I wouldn't be surprised if his investigation is far better than mine. However, I usually see Rutan ukuleles in a much more basic style "O", and my ukulele is more of a cross between a Martin Style 2 and a Style 3, if we are basing this on the Martin designations.

I am not looking for another Rutan, but if one fell in my lap, I wouldn't toss it away. What is crazy is that an elderly neighbor of mine tells me that she has her mother's ukulele in the closet, and it has a beautiful rope inlay. She said she wants to take it to someone who can tell her about it.....I told her that I happen to be one of the vintage ukulele fanatics on the West Coast. She says I can come have a look after she returns from a cruise in a month! Funny that there is a vintage uke around the corner from me. I'd bet it would like some friends.....
 
I do see from your video, Ryan, that yours is sort of a cross btwn a 2 and a 3. Almost like a Gibson 3 in it's white fretboard binding, if I remember your video properly. They made an "O" style, too, huh, at old Rutan.

Astonishing that the elderly woman neighbor of yours has some vintage uke in her closet. A Regal or a Rutan? Hmm. Regals are more common, but a Martin or Gibson might be more common with a woman that can afford a one month cruise! Will be interesting to see what crawls out when you kick over that stone.

You sure get some sweet ukuleles. You must have quite a collection. Thank you for sharing on Jay's video series.
 
My pleasure brother....there is still a surprise or two waiting to be filmed....
 
Wow....the blog on vintage ukes is fascinating...thanks!
 
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