Uke Fans,I’m particularly thrilled to have Chuck “Frets”
Fayne as the resident expert for “Uke Yak.” Over the years Chuck has assembled a
world class collection of Hawaiian and Mainland ukes, including some wonderful
one-of-a-kind pieces. It was Chuck’s collection that made up the majority of the ukes
in “The Ukulele-A
Visual History.” He’s also promised to take full advantage of all the
collectors he knows in the rare instance when somebody throws him a curve ball.
PLEASE NOTE: If you want a response to your question please send a clear jpeg of the front and back of the entire ukulele.
You may Search the Uke Yak,
or Ask Chuck a Question now!
Yak away!
Jumpin’ Jim
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(Chuck
"Frets" Fayne has answered the following 4869
questions.)
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 Question asked by:
Robert
Subject: Martin Style 3s
Question: Hi Chuck,
I hope you are doing
well. I havn't heard from you in
a while. I thought I would send a
picture of some Martin style 3s
to share with you and your
viewers. I may be putting these
on the market as a collection.
Any idea of price range I should
ask for all. Talk to you soon!
Aloha!
Robert
Answer: any offers. I am still computing...most impressive.....great collection...wish it were mine......will answer soon....best to ya robert......chuck
- Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Question asked by:
Bruce Naylor
Subject: Makea and Kamana Uke
Question: My name is Bruce Naylor.
I am from Bellingen in Australia
I have a ukulele with a "Makea &
Kamana" label on the inside. The
label pictures a round logo with
palm trees and a man playing an
instrument leaning against a palm
tree on the right. The label also
says, "guaranteed genuine koa,
Ukuleles Guitars, Made in Hawaii.
have you ever heard of this
brand.Can estimate when this guitar
was made and by whom? What might
the value of it be. I also have
three of the four original wooden
tuning pegs. Very quaint, but not
the best tuning system! It is
genuine Koa and has a very sweet
mellow sound. I attach a picture of
it. It is very similar to the early
kamaka soprano in inlay etc My
guess is 1930's. It has the
Hawaiian coat of arms decal on the
headstock that Kamaka used to use
pre the 50's
Hope you can help me
Kind Regards Bruce Naylor
Answer: I see that this question has been asked around alot. I have no idea who made the uke. It could have been a lot of makers. I am hoping JOhn King will see this and answer. He might know. I will let you know if I find out anything. thanks..chuck
- Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Question asked by:
David
Subject: Martin - Style 0
Question: I've had the great fortune of
locating and buying 2 Martin
ukuleles in the past month. I have
owned a number of other vintage
beauties (Favilla, Lyon & Healy,
Gretsch, Kamaka, Harmony Johnny
Marvin) but never a Martin. These 2
ukes -- A 50s Style 1 and a Style 0
of unknown vintage -- were priced
so well that I had to thin the herd
to make room. I wanted to see what
your thoughts were on the age of
the uke in the attached pictures.
It is a bit of a weird bird. I know
that the older ukes used bar frets
and had the Martin stamp on the
back of the headstock. Also, the
newer ukes used T-frets and had the
decal on the front of the
headstock. This particular uke has
bar frets AND the decal (on a
headstock that is wider than the
headstock on my Style 1). What
gives? Thoughts on age and value?
Answer: lots of these showed in the transition. I can't tell from the pics but I have owned many of that description. Older headstock newer body. Lots of variations. Its about 1950 ish.....could be a little earlier....c p s. it seems to have the larger fret markers also.
- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Question asked by:
Bruce Gapinski
Subject: Kamaka
Question: This is a pineapple Kamaka "concert ukulele" Is
this rare, by chance?
Respectfully, bruce
Answer: plese send pic of the whole uke...looks like an early one but can't tell from just the label. c
- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Question asked by:
Gerald
Subject: Paul Summers guitar ...
Question: Hello, I'm trying to get
informations on that guitar. I
bought it a few months ago :
I do not see either brand, or
label, or serial number out or in
the guitar:
- back and side > mahogany (i
presume) // wooden nut
- on the head I can read : Paul
Summers / Honolulu.
- original pickguard shape
- nice red & green binding
- very very high action (intended
for Hawaiian lap-style playing?)
Looks like an old Regal made guitar
(binding looks like this old Regal
made tiple :
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Museum/Tiple/RegalTiple/regaltiple.html)
Did Regal made any guitars for Paul
Summers? Can you help ?
Thanks
Best Regards
Gerald
Answer: Nice guitar....I have owned many Paul summers guitars and they have always had the staggered pins for the strings. I have no idea what this is....never saw a summers that wasn't koa.. don't know who made it but my guess it wasn't the summer bros....c
- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Question asked by:
Jeff Mercer
Subject: Aero-uke
Question: Hi, Chuck. A couple of days ago
an old Harmony- or whoever made
them- Aero Uke turned up on Ebay
with a 'Buy it now' of only
$495 ! Unsurprisingly, it did'nt
last long..but thats GOT to be a
steal, yeah ? What would you
value one at ? Thanks as always,
Jeff.
Answer: I just saw one sell for 5000.00....I thin 495 is a steal...I wish I found it...c
- Monday, August 25, 2008
Question asked by:
Herb
Subject: Dixie Banjo Uke
Question: Hi Chuck, Hope all is well down
under. I finally broke down and
bought a Dixie Banjo Uke. My wife
likes the way they look. I put
Worth CL strings on it and it
sounds better than I expected. My
question is has anyone definitively
determined who made these things
and when (30's, 40's, 50's)?
Thanks, Herb
Answer: Herb...I have seen the advertised in almost every catalog. Popular because of their looks not their sound. I used to call them the worlds largest cheese slicer. If you have one that sounds better than expected..hang on. My guess is the 50's.....don't find them advertised much before that...best to ya...chuck
- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Question asked by:
Tom Bassett
Subject: Uke ID
Question: Theuke
Answer: It is definitely a Harmony. The pegs gave it away...good strummin chuck
- Saturday, August 23, 2008
Question asked by:
Bruce Huss
Subject: Tombo Ukulet
Question: Hi,
Just came across a Tombo Ukulet at
a garage sale and couldn't resist.
Can you tell me what a
cosmetically good Ukulet with case
(the amp is built into the case,
like the old Sears
Silvertones...how cool!) might be
worth? The pickup works, but the
amp only pops when I turn it on, so
no sound yet. I'll take it in
tomorrow and see if my shop can get
it working...it's pretty darned
simple, so I don't imagine it'll be
too difficult to get functioning.
I can't seem to find much info on
these, but it sure looks
fascinating. It needs one tuning
post plus the gear for the same on
the back of the headstock, but
otherwise it's in pretty decent
shape. Is there much interest in
these? Yeah, I know it's not
really a uke, but your site was one
of the few that seemed to know
anything about four stringed small
instruments. I'm a performing
acoustic guitarist (
http://www.myspace.com/brucehuss )
and I might keep it to record with
or just sell it once I get the
missing tuning peg replaced. I did
see a pristine one going for big
bucks on the internet, but I don't
think this one is quite in that
class yet. Any info would be
appreciated. --Bruce
Answer: Bruce. I sold mine about 10 years ago for 300 dollars. I have not seen one since. I think they are very cool.....Not the greatest sound but certainly collectible.
best...best chuck
- Saturday, August 23, 2008
Question asked by:
Tom Bassett
Subject: Uke ID
Question: Chuck, I found this uke at consignment store to
be sold as a wall-hanger. It is mahogany and
sounds great. Looks like there was a sticker
inside but it's gone now. Do you know what
company made this uke and its market value?
Thanks very much. Tom
Answer: Tom...its hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like a harmony. If it is,m the market value is about 250......if you want to send some close up pics I will try again...chuck
- Friday, August 22, 2008
Question asked by:
paula
Subject: tiple uke
Question: Could you tell me what brand of
uke this Tiple Uke is? I believe
it's from the 1920s.
Answer: If you sent a picture, It didn't make it...if you didn't then you must think I am some kind of magician. Send pic, front and back and I will help......
- Friday, August 22, 2008
Question asked by:
LIndsey
Subject: polka-lele
Question: Do you have any info on the polka-
lele? I found in recently and
would like to know more.
Thanks,
Lindsey
Answer: My favorite part about your question is the rodent warning on the Chicago trash cans. I never would have thought of that as the background for a ukulele picture, but I will use nothing else now that I have found out how effective it is. type Polk-a-lele into google and you will find avid collectors of the instrument. As odd as they look, they sound pretty good. They are also known under other names (surf-a lele) and you will find that as well. If you don't have enough info after all that...write back...will help..chuck
P.S. I don't think shutting lids on trash bins will eliminate rodents..It it would, somebody would have spread the word already.....
- Friday, August 22, 2008
Question asked by:
Brownie
Subject: 1926-7 martin tiple-18
Question: Hello Sir, I have just stumbled
upon this seductive creature at a
car boot sale, I think we're in
love. Any idea of her value?? ya
know...just in case things don't
work out. Thanks ahead for your
time and wisdom,, Brownie
Answer: Please send picture..........c
- Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Question asked by:
Robert Davis
Subject: Martin Uke
Question: You ask for front and back but it
only allows me to send one picture.
It is a Martin that was a gift to
me in 1950-51. I would like to know
what year it was made (ie: is it
much older than that or would it
have been new then?) ...and perhaps
it's value. I could send more
pictures but in a phrase, it is in
EXCELLENT condition. Not perfect
but very close. The case is the
original case but it is in only
fair-good condition.
Thank you, Bob Davis
Answer: It is a style 0 martin uke made in the 50's. It is in very nice condition and worth 500+. best..chuck
- Monday, August 18, 2008
Question asked by:
Brad
Subject: Uke Case
Question: Hi Chuck. Thanks for identifying
my L&H Venetian. It came with a
canvas case (green felt-like
lining) which is dirty and
stained. Have you ever heard of
anyone trying to clean the
canvas, and if so, how. Thanks.
Answer: i'D LEAVE IT ALONE...CANVASS JUST FALLS APART.....BEST...CHUCK
- Sunday, August 10, 2008
Question asked by:
Dennis Arnold
Subject: Taro Patch Uke
Question: Hi again Chuck,
Here is the back of that Taro
Patch uke I asked about. As you
can see, it does have the one-
piece back, including the neck
butt-plate, like many Hawaiian
ukes. It is extremely well made,
and the binding and inlay work is
beautifully done. I'll probably
clean it up and keep it, but I
would like to find out more about
it if I can.
Thanks again, my friend
Dennis
Answer: I wish I had more info...but no luck...c
- Friday, August 22, 2008
Question asked by:
Dennis Arnold
Subject: Is this what I think it is?
Question: Hey Chuck,
I'm back again with the same
old question. I recently acquired
this uke and while I think it is
a "taropatch", I am unsure as to
the maker. It shows signs of
being a Kamaka, but I wanted to
show it to the expert for
verification. Your thoughts on
its origin and possible value?
Thanks again for all you do for
us lowly strummers...
Mahalo nui loa, my friend
Dennis Arnold
Answer: Dennis it is definitely a taropatch. I have never seen an island uke with the little piece at the bottom of the fingerboard. I would say its mainland make in the l930's...sure a beauty...love to see a pic of the back side on where the neck meets the body. that will tell me a lot. best..chuck
- Friday, August 08, 2008
Question asked by:
Manny Festo
Subject: Tenor Uke Strings
Question: I have a tenor Fluke, and I like to
tune it down, to DGBE, and
sometimes even a half-step lower.
I'm wondering if you can recommend
strings for best results. Thanks!
Answer: manny....write this question to the the guys at bulletin board. They will know the answer....chucki
- Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Question asked by:
Brad
Subject: Uke ID help
Question: Hi Chuck. I'm not sure my first
ques. went through, so I'm re-
sending. I recently picked up
this uke and the only identifying
marks are "pat. apld. for" on the
back of the headstock and the
number 430 stamped inside. It has
wooden friction tuners and a
wooden nut. It came with a bottom
loading canvas case. Thanks.
Answer: It is a Lyon and Healy uke made about 1930 ish. It is known as the "Venetian Uke" IN spite of their narrow size, they had a very good sound. nice uke..chuck
- Thursday, August 07, 2008
Question asked by:
bassclar
Subject: what instrument is Ian Anderson playing?
Question: I heard Ian Anderson perform this
evening. I could identify his
flute, but not his lute. Could it
be a flat-backed mandolin??
(public domain image taken from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Ian_Anderson.jpg
)
Sorry, I don't have an image of the
back.
Answer: It is in the guitar family, not the mandolin. It is probably either South American or a modern reproduction of a early French guitar. How did it sound....chuck
- Thursday, August 07, 2008
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