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Uke Fans,Im 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 Chucks collection that made up the majority of the ukes
in The Ukulele-A
Visual History. Hes 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 5450
questions.)
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Question asked by:
Susan Hill Newton
Subject: Bruko, West Germany
Question: Hello.
I picked up a Bruko ukulele at a flea market
for $18. The stamp inside notes it was made
in West Germany, just to give you a sense of
the age. It's in perfect condition, and looks to
be similar to cedar models that they currently
make.
Due to the age, any thoughts on the value?
Answer:
tthey are a well made uke fron the 60's. value about 200 dollars. thanks..chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Eric B
Subject: Still searching for maker of New Orleans Uke
Question: Maker of my Uke?
Greetings. Recently you answered
a question about a New Orleans
Uke on page 3 of 272. (June)
I am still trying to find the
Maker of the Uke? And also... how
would I fix the crack in the
front... would it be worth it?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Eric B.
Lakewood, CO
Here are the posts: and Pics
(hopefully.)
Blumer question-New Orleans uke ID
Question: After a bit of Google
research, I'd guess the name
stamped in the instrument
is "Philip Werlein," a big music
publisher and music store in New
Orleans in the 19th & 20th
centuries. Werlein's not listed
as a manufacturer, so probably
the uke was made for him and
stamped with the store's name.
Here's a link to a Wiki article
on "P P Werlein": [link]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._P.
_Werle in[/link]
Answer: Thanks Allen...Its always
appreciated when yakkers send in
answers I don't have. Keep up the
good research....chuck
- Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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Question asked by: Jim Tranquada
Subject: New Orleans uke
Question: Chuck: The stamp on the
New Orleans uke likely
says "Philip Werlein Ltd.," a
music retailer in New Orleans and
Jackson. Miss., who jumped on the
ukulele bandwagon around 1916-
1917. So far as I know Werlein
was a retailer, not a
manufacturer. Jim T.
Answer: Thanks Jim and how are
you??? Nice to hear from you
again. Thanks for the info.
Always appreciated. chuck
- Wednesday, June 23, 2010
New Orleans stamp
Question: Greetings. I bought
this at an estate sale. The only
stamp is inside, I cannot read it
completely. It says Philip Weil,
or Wend... or Weilin... not sure.
It has an address I believe 306
Canal Street New Orleans. Please
let me know what you can about
this make, history. It has a
crack unfortunately on the front
wood. Any advice would be
appreciated. Thank you.
Photos:
Answer: Eric...I have no idea who
that maker is. It seems to be
well made and I hope one of the
yakkers out there will know who
it is. I will keep trying to find
out an write when I have
smething...thanks...chuck
- Sunday, June 20, 2010
Answer: Eric...I still have no idea who made it. Have the crack fixed by a good luthier. Shop around the guitar repairmen and pick one. They will know...thanks for writing in...chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Eileen
Subject: 1927 uke/leona chellis
Question: It sounds like it could be my
mothers. Any way to find out?
Answer:
what am I missing? Please help me...chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Dennis Arnold
Subject: Another mystery uke....cont.
Question: P.S. One thing I forgot to
mention about this uke that might
help. It has 14 brass frets...12
to the body and two actually on
the body. It's strung with two-
tone twisted gut, which may be
the original strings...very old.
Thanks again
Dennis
Answer: No help...sorry.
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Dennis Arnold
Subject: Another mystery uke
Question: Hi Chuck,
I have another mystery uke for
you to identify for me. It's
solid koa, with wood inlay around
the top and wood inlay rosette.
It appears to be hand made, the
neck is one carved piece, and the
friction tuners are all hand
carved, as well. It has a gently
curved back that varies almost a
half inch in depth from top to
bottom. I've never seen the
inlayed logo on the headstock
anywhere before, and I'm hoping
you have. If you need more pics
let me know. I'm hoping you can
identify the maker and
approximate age.
Thanks for all you do for us
lowly uke strummers...
Dennis
Photos:
Answer:
sorry Dennis...it is very poor quality wood and a ver generic look. Don't have any ide who the maker is. Sound is most important, how does it play.
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Chris
Subject: Moana Baritone Uke
Question: Hi Chuck, I recently bought this
lovely baritone uke. How much is it
approx. actual worth? (No, I don't
want to sell it, it's a present for
my daughter (13yo, great uke player!)
Kind regards, Chris
Photos:
Answer:
chris...well made and very nice....200-300... nice score....chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Rusty Whitman
Subject: My unknown uke
Question: Chuck - thanks for the information.
Here is a picture of the headstock
and what's left of the decal at the
top along with a better picture of
the full instrument. Hope this
helps to identify it.
Photos:
Answer: It looks very much like a stella. Decals ane right,so is the mother of toilet seat. Anyone out there know for sure....chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Phreddcatt
Subject: Harmony Martin Copy
Question: Hi Chuck,
I believe I have a Harmony Martin
Soprano copy. It has no labels or
markings anywhere. I took a
closeup of the friction tuners
because they are unique and I'm
hoping it will help to date it. It
is in a Geib Economo case. Both
Uke and Case are in fantastic
shape. What do you think? Is it a
Harmony circa 1930s? If so, what
do you think its worth? Thanks
Chuck. Fred
Photos:
Answer: I assume you mean it is a Martin Ukulele. It appears to be an early stylel o. The tuners are not unique, oddly enough common. They appear on many makes. The case is common also. I'm a little confused but I hope this helps..
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Tom Favilla
Subject: Doug's Baritone Uke
Question: Hi Chuck,
Just saw Dougs posting about his
Favilla Baritone Uke. Its an early
to mid 1950's manufacture. Very
early Baritone's 1940's to 1953
had no serial numbers. Serial
numbers were first used 1953 to
1957. After 1959 the familiar gold
label inside the body bore the
model and serial number. Best,
Tom
P.S. Really enjoying retirement
Photos:
Answer: Thanks Top as usual....just relax and enjoy thanks for helping...chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Steve
Subject: unknown maker - koa tenor / bariton
Question: Chuck regarding the Shiny Tenor 5k,
I bought a soprano version from
"Ray Bernard" formerly Chair of the
George Formby Society, who was
selling a couple via John Croft.
It was made by respected luthier Lu
Liang Chan from Taiwan as a batch
of 8(including a concert and a
tenor) These were not the factory
made ones, which may by now be
doing the rounds.
I suspect he's used much heavier
woods than a real 5k and yes you
can use the finish as a mirror ;o)
Mine came with a nice hard case and
was around £300. Nearest I'll ever
get to a real on I suspect.
Steve
Photos:
Answer: Thanks for sharing. beautiful uke...why don't you hae the finish removed...It will help..chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Rusty Whitman
Subject: Kamaka Pineapple
Question: I'm trying to date this Kamaka
Pineapple which I think is 30's or
40's. There is a number written by
hand at the bottom of the label
that says 8528. It has two cracks
on the back and another on the
front which I'm planning to have
repaired. Belonged to my father,
case is original.
Photos:
Answer: Nice and valuaable uke. from the 30's most likely ....can you send me a pic of the label...might be earlier...thanks...chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Mathew Robinson
Subject: Kamaka Ukulele
Question: Chuck,
Thank you for getting back to me. In regards
to your response, and questions about
measurements, here is what I found:
Full Length of Ukulele - 2 ft.
Widest body measurement - 8"
Second widest body measurement - 6"
Fret Length - 9.5"
Body Depth - 2.5"
Hope this helps.... let me know if there are
other measurements you need. I also
included a picture of the case I had
mentioned. Thanks!
Photos:
Answer: at 24 inches its a tenor. nice uke...thanks...chuck
- Sunday, August 29, 2010
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Question asked by:
Russell Golobic
Subject: Unknown Instrument
Question: Hi Chuck! It's been a while. A
local estate sale place has a
weekly auction that they post
picture for and I always look for
ukes in the pictures. I haven't
seen any until today. Actually, I
am not sure if it is a uke. Do you
have any idea what this instrument
is? Any idea as to the maker or
value? Thank you, as always! P.S.
The auction is tomorrow. - Russ
Photos:
Answer: russ, its a tiple...a 10 string instrument tuned like a ukulele. I can't tell the maker....if its a really good maker....500....give it a shot...chuck
- Thursday, August 26, 2010
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Question asked by:
Dave Geissinger
Subject: Regal Baritone Uke
Question: I bought this Regal Baritone in a pawn shop
about 40 years ago. It seems to be higher
quality than most Regals I've seen; spruce
top, mahogany sides and back, rosewood ?
fret board and bridge, very good finish. Still
plays and sounds good. To me, the only
jarring note is the black plastic head which is
3-ply black white black. The name has been
routed through the top black layer to expose
the white. The shape of the word Regal
suggests the early 1960's, but I haven't seen
anything like this instrument anywhere.
Photos:
Answer: dave..its what you think...a 60's baritone. I have seen them but know little about price. thanks..chuck
- Thursday, August 26, 2010
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Question asked by:
David
Subject: Johnny Marvin - Prince of Wales
Question: Hey Chuck -
I might be interested in selling this
uke. Any thoughts on value? Thanks -
David
Photos:
Answer: David...the last one I know of that sold was around 1000...good luck its a fabulous and quite rare instrument.
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Question asked by:
connie knowles
Subject: fuludore ukulele
Question: the lable inside says Fuludore
Enterprise, Model number says 12,
it is so hard to read with black
label and light gold letters. It
has a place for serial number but
can not see any numbers there. I
love the look and sound, but
would love to know where it came
from? Only thing I found on the
net is that they also made a
strat copy of guitars, according
to one post, but no info on the
company. Thanks for anything you
have on it, connie sue
Photos:
Answer: I believe its Japanese, other than that I know nothing..thanks for writing in and if anyone out there knows..please write in....chuck
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Question asked by:
Andreas
Subject: unknown maker - koa tenor / bariton
Question: Hi Chuck,
I found this solid koa uke in a
shop in London a little while
ago. It was sold as a tenor (by
unknown American maker) though it
seems a bit large for a tenor to
me and I tune it as a bariton
(sounds great). The uke hasn't
got a label (a blob of glue in
the inside seems to suggest that
there may have been one once).
Please have a look at the head
inlay which looks to me identical
with the inlay in the picture of
a Martin 5M Custom attached to
email from from Robert. You
thought that it looked like the
work of Mike Longworth. The uke
has a slighty arched back. Can
you tell me anything about this
uke?
Thanks any information you may
have much appreciated.
Andreas
Photos:
Answer: Andrea...the first thing you have to do is get that finish off the uke. it needs to be satin finish so that the Koa or whatever wood it is, can show. It is a copy of a style 5 martin, but I can tell more when the finish is off. Nice instrument , as of now I have no idea who made it. Please have a qualified luthier (guitar) take the finish off. It looks like a table top in a Chinese Restaurant. I just made myself hungry....chow...chuck
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Question asked by:
john
Subject: vintage regal uke
Question: I would like to find out more as to
the date of manufacture of this
regal ukelele. it was willed to us
and is in very good shape with no
scratches or cracks..the only thing
missing is a string.it came with an
arthur godfrey uke player still in
its box along with a uke song book
from 1929.the case has no rips as
well and appears to be leather and
felt lined. thank you for any
information on this uke and its
value..john r.
Photos:
Answer: John, pleae send me the measurements, total length please, it looks like a baritone. I can tell you more when I know which model it is.
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Question asked by:
Doug
Subject: unmarked ukulele
Question: I am buying a uke but it has no
label on it. Just a label on back
with number BU527. Any ideas?
Photos:
Answer: From the tuners and the label, it looks Japanese....thanks...chuck
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Question asked by:
doug
Subject: Favilla Baritone B2
Question: I have a Favilla B2 as mentioned.
It has a burned in stamp on the
inside with a 5 digit serial number
starting 122XX. I thought they all
had 6 digit serial numbers. Does
this put it closer to early 1950's?
Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!
Photos:
Answer: Tom ...any ideas....I am putting this to Mr Favilla....."Tom" who never fails me. Will write when I get the answer...
- Sunday, August 22, 2010
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