Kamaka Special Concert size ukulele, Early 1920,made in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Lui1 · Aug 3, 2021

I have an early1920s Kamaka Koa wood body Ukulele, with Light & dark wood.
It is in condition with straight neck,good playing action, and almost no play wear
(it has grain crack from the bottom left to mid-way)

I would like to part with this Uke,
as it is an early Ukulele I am finding it hard to put a price on.

CPG · Aug 3, 2021

Might want to get in touch with these folks to see what they think it's worth as they appear to have a similar one.

https://ukulelefriend.com/ukes/kamaka-special-concert-ukulele/

hawaii 50 · Aug 4, 2021

yes Shawn at Ukulele Friend is a good person to get info on this uke..looks like there are cracks or bad seams on it so to repair going be expensive looks like it is refinished with a heavy coat of lacquer...but if you selling it Shawn is a good place to start

Ernie · Aug 4, 2021

That's a rarity, and I believe that finish may be original. If the crack hasn't been poorly repaired in the past, it should be a straightforward and clean repair. Shouldn't be too expensive, though I would have a very skilled luthier do the work for a piece this rare.
I had potentially invisible crack repairs botched on a Kamaka concert and a Martin 3k by reputable LA luthiers, seriously devaluing both instruments.

RosieKamozie · Aug 5, 2021

Won’t Kamaka repair it??

Ernie · Aug 5, 2021

If anyone (including Kamaka) offers to refinish it, please decline the offer.

Lui1 · Jan 1, 2022

Thank you all for your guidance on the UKULELE. I took it to a luthier, who has done some work on it. I was also informed it is a rare Kamaka, apparently the crack along the grain does not impact on it's value; given it's age, it is in good condition. I am informed that the crack does not impact on the price.
Now to sell it....

Ernie2 · Jan 1, 2022

Congrats. What work did the luthier do? Can you share pics?

Junie Moon · Jan 1, 2022

Yes, more pix please! What a beauty!

merlin666 · Jan 1, 2022

How did you date this to the the 1920s? I thought that by then Kamaka already extended fretboard over the body. Or did they start that in the 30s?

Neil_O · Jan 1, 2022

Super cool uke. Thanks for showing it. I'll have to think about an offer.

Cracks will always devalue something that was made without cracks, including instruments. Take anything a luthier says with a grain of salt if they said that a crack would not lower the estimated value from where it would have been valued if it was intact.

richntacoma · Jan 2, 2022

Neil_O said:
Super cool uke. Thanks for showing it. I'll have to think about an offer.

Cracks will always devalue something that was made without cracks, including instruments. Take anything a luthier says with a grain of salt if they said that a crack would not lower the estimated value from where it would have been valued if it was intact.

Just what I was thinking. A crack free uke is certainly worth more than one with, that is just a fact.

Kamaka Special Concert size ukulele, Early 1920,made in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

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