Cool Vintage Kamaka on Reverb

[rhiggie]

I'm not the seller but in my ukulele searching I love seeing the variations on name brand ukes. This tenor Kamaka Liliu has several components you rarely see on one uke. For sure it's not a carved into the top pick guard, the grains are completely different, but still a cool feature to look at (I bet it takes away from the sound). It's listed at a "collectors" price and maybe rightfully so. Shame there isn't more of the story behind it. Anyway, enjoy... Rick

Custom Kamaka Lili'u 6-String Tenor Ukulele - 1950's Gold Label - Prototype? | Reverb

Up for sale is a very rare and very unique vintage Kamaka ukulele. I am far from an expert on ukuleles, but based on the characteristics of this uke, I believe it must be a one-of-a-kind Custom order (or possibly a prototype or employee build). This ukulele measures 26" total length,...

reverb.com

 

[badhabits]

So much going on there! That could be one for Shawn Yacavone.

 

[Ad-LowG]

Wil be interested to see what can be crowd-sourced about this one. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ghostrdr]

I'm not the seller but in my ukulele searching I love seeing the variations on name brand ukes. This tenor Kamaka Liliu has several components you rarely see on one uke. For sure it's not a carved into the top pick guard, the grains are completely different, but still a cool feature to look at (I bet it takes away from the sound). It's listed at a "collectors" price and maybe rightfully so. Shame there isn't more of the story behind it. Anyway, enjoy... Rick

Custom Kamaka Lili'u 6-String Tenor Ukulele - 1950's Gold Label - Prototype? | Reverb

Up for sale is a very rare and very unique vintage Kamaka ukulele. I am far from an expert on ukuleles, but based on the characteristics of this uke, I believe it must be a one-of-a-kind Custom order (or possibly a prototype or employee build). This ukulele measures 26" total length,...

reverb.com

That’s pretty cool. I don’t understand the pick guard thing. Is it possible that they Shaved down that area of the soundboard and attached a pick guard which later fell off?

 

[merlin666]

I would call this unique and not rare. Though the Lili'u was officially invented in 1959 this is likely an early design or even prototype where they tested out a few features. A much simpler prototype is featured on the Kamaka site:

Historic Kamaka Ukes

www.kamakahawaii.com