I'm looking at purchasing an M. Nunes uke to have it restored. It's being sold by a semi-local thrift shop and the shop person has given me what information he has, but it's not much. Basically cut and paste from online resources about Nunes. His photos aren't very good either, I've asked for some of the neck/back/fretboard, and he said he'll send them, but it may not be until Wednesday when the shop reopens.
I have to drive within an hour and a half of the place on Wednesday and was planning to go look at the uke then if I had a better idea of what shape it's in and what it needs to be restored.
From what I've found online, it's one of his more ornate models as it has the rope binding around both the sound hole and the edge of the body. It was distributed by Lyon & Healy according to the label inside, and it's the only Nunes I've been able to find a photo of with the extended fretboard.
It's got a good size crack in the soundboard. I don't know at this point if there are others on the back/sides. The tuners look to have been changed but whether it was reamed for this I don't know, there's also an eye hook screwed into the uke to run some cord through for a strap. I can't tell if the bridge has been reglued, replaced, or is just dirty.
The images aren't the best, but they're all I've got until I can get the uke in hand. And as far as I'm driving it's going to either be a buy or pass situation. I don't want to mull over it and have to repeat a long round trip. I'm primarily looking to buy it to restore an early uke to its intended playing condition. I'm not a collector but would love to have this one for the history behind it.
My question to you folks is…do you think the top crack looks easily repaired by a competent luthier, and is it worth the $270 plus repair costs to get it back to playing condition? I want it to be a functional piece of history. Something I can play and enjoy.
Your opinions are greatly appreciated as I'm heading up there in a couple days.
I have to drive within an hour and a half of the place on Wednesday and was planning to go look at the uke then if I had a better idea of what shape it's in and what it needs to be restored.
From what I've found online, it's one of his more ornate models as it has the rope binding around both the sound hole and the edge of the body. It was distributed by Lyon & Healy according to the label inside, and it's the only Nunes I've been able to find a photo of with the extended fretboard.
It's got a good size crack in the soundboard. I don't know at this point if there are others on the back/sides. The tuners look to have been changed but whether it was reamed for this I don't know, there's also an eye hook screwed into the uke to run some cord through for a strap. I can't tell if the bridge has been reglued, replaced, or is just dirty.
The images aren't the best, but they're all I've got until I can get the uke in hand. And as far as I'm driving it's going to either be a buy or pass situation. I don't want to mull over it and have to repeat a long round trip. I'm primarily looking to buy it to restore an early uke to its intended playing condition. I'm not a collector but would love to have this one for the history behind it.
My question to you folks is…do you think the top crack looks easily repaired by a competent luthier, and is it worth the $270 plus repair costs to get it back to playing condition? I want it to be a functional piece of history. Something I can play and enjoy.
Your opinions are greatly appreciated as I'm heading up there in a couple days.