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
Flea Market Music Uke Yak (1 page of 190) (Chuck "Frets" Fayne has answered the following 4742 questions.)

Question asked by: WARREN ZAMBRA
Subject: Ukulele Value
Question: HI, Have this ukulele that my dad left me, he had it since new, it's has a label at the top, which has National Triolian on it, at the end of it it has a serial number #662W, I have done a little research on it and it appears to have been made in 1930 and is a Walnut Sunburst? I have not though been able to find a value of it anywhere, as I would like to have it listed on my insurance if it's worth anything, I've been told by some music shops that it could be valuable but should find out from someone in that field. Thank you for any help you can give me. Best Regards Warren (Australia)

Answer: It is valuable. I have seen these go from 1000-`1500. For insurance purposes I would insure it for 2000.00. Dad left you a nice thing. The market is wacky these days and I am not sure what you would get if you listed it for sale. But I am confident if tried to purchase one, it would hurt the pocketbook. best..chuck
- Friday, May 09, 2008

Question asked by: Jeff Mercer
Subject: weissenborn uke
Question: Hi Chuck , hope this finds you well! I just noticed Joan McKees' query re: Weissenborn ukulele. If Joan is able to send a pic, could you please post them, or send them on to me ? I have a kinda ongoing research project on these ukes, a have amassed a large file of images & info, so would be much appreciated..Incidentally, Joan, if you are reading this, the only two W/born ukes without rope-binding were the Style 0- Exremely rare, I know of only one example- which had no fingerboard markers & a single inlaid ring around the soundhole, and was made somewhere between 1929-37, & the Style 1, which had 2 f/board markers parallel to frets 5 & 7, and an ivoroid soundhole inset (I've documented only 4 of these). As for value? There is an obviously refinished Style 10 Tenor on e-bay that the seller wants $16,000 for !! Somewhat more realistically, I've seen a Style 1 at $2,199 and a Style 2 at $1950. The Vintage Guitar Price Guide-which unfortunately has pretty poorly researched vintage uke info-lists around the $12-$1400 mark,but given the rarity of ANY W/born uke, I'd think no less than $2000+ for a style 1 in really good shape. Hope this is of some help , & would LOVE a photo if at all possible! Cheers,Chuck, many thanks for doing what you do..it's appreciated..best, Jeff

Answer: I'm posting this for Joan to read. Joan , if you need any help reaching Jeff, let me know and I will be the matchmaker...best to you both and I hope you will be very happy on your joint quest for weisssenbornknowledge...c
- Saturday, May 03, 2008

Question asked by: Geoffrey Rezek
Subject: Tenor ukulele nut and bridge spacing
Question: What would be the correct center to center string spacing at the nut and bridge for a tenor ukulele banjo for me? I measure some tenor ukuleles 3/8 at the nut and 9/16 at the bride. I have a large XL glove size.

Answer: Geoffrey, ...out of my range of expertise. This question needs to be asked of a fine luthier or if you put the question to the guys at Bulletin board, someone who makes will answer it. I'm from the old school..if it doesn't sound right, I just keep adjusting either me or the uke till I can get a tune out of it. best to ya..chuck
- Friday, May 02, 2008

Question asked by: michael
Subject: needy help with ukulele date n value
Question: Aloha...this old kamaka is tuff for me to date can you help . the only pic of a label i hav found like this 1 and its only 1 was shown as a 1920's era .. however the shape and style seem closer to later ukulele's in the late 30's however the ones i found all hav the pineapple label inside..the ukulele is in great shape and frets show no use or next to none ..Is it Koa or monkeypod ??? kamaka should be koa rite......So I put on new strings ukulele sounds great but a little quiter than my son's kamaka saprano . the pineapple wood is a bit thicker might be why ... A guess as to value please.. And Are there strings that r louder Hee Hee so son dont drowned me out...mahalo michael

Answer: Michael, it is exactly as it should be. The only other thing it could have is the pineapple decal under the strings. It is what's known as the style 3 of the Kamaka pineapples. If I am correct the inside label says 1928 and that should help date it. It was made a few years after that but not many. It has the high sound hole and the wide body, but Kamaka was know for variation in size. I have had them very narrow with the sound hole lower. I like this uke very much. It is Koa, not monkey pod. The label should also have a pencil serial number and if you get that to me I can give you a better date. I would string this uke with the original Kamaka black strings and you can get them from Kamaka. Go to their site and order them. Of all the Kamaka styles this has always been my very favorite. If you appreciate this message as much as you should, you will send me the uke for my birthday. It's only fair. The value is a hard one today because of the fluctuation of the market. It should bring easily 750+. It's very collectible. thanks for sending it in and good strummin',,,frets
- Friday, May 02, 2008

Question asked by: Jim krutz
Subject: washburn Uke
Question: Chuck, could you tell me anything about a Washburn uke with #5315 on the headstock? It's not a fancy instrument but sounds good and has a nice hard shell case. Any idea when it was made? thanks!

Answer: If you send me a picture, I will tell you exactly what you have. There is a Washburn book with bad pictures of every uke they made, almost. Thanks and send pic....c
- Friday, May 02, 2008

Question asked by: joan mckee
Subject: weissenborn uke
Question: hi chuck, i'm joan. i'm a student of fred thompson in san diego ca. i have a weissenborn uke that i'd like to know the value of. i'd like to send you images in the mail...do you have a po box or something? ii don't have the ability to send photos on the computer. it doesn't have the rope binding. it's in tact and signed inside. i hope to hear from you. sincerely joan mckee

Answer: IF you have pics you can take them to any Internet cafe and they will scan them to me. If you can't do that, please send me a detailed description of the uke. length, number of dots on the fingerboard (if any)...small little piece of what looks like ivory on the side of the fingerboard. I would prefer the pics but that will help and I will help you..thanks..chuk
- Friday, May 02, 2008

Question asked by: andy
Subject: Baritone harmony question
Question: Hello CHuck, I am looking into purchasing a good condition Harmony Baritone Ukulele for me and my son to learn on. The instrument needs new strings - any suggestions? Any help you could offer would be appreciated. Also for fun we would like to build our own uke a concert size or tenor - any recommendations for decent sounding kits once they are done? Best regards, Abndy and Thomas Basso

Answer: If you are going to play only Baritone uke, it is fine to learn on. But it's sort of backwards. I suggest learning on a soprano and once thats done, switch to the larger ukes. Its hard to go backwards when you are used to the size of the larger baritone. I don't know who carries kits but if you type your wants into google, I am sure you will find what you are looking for. Best ....chuck
- Friday, May 02, 2008

Question asked by: Joel eckhaus
Subject: martin 3m
Question: A customer just brought in her mother's late 20's martin 3m, in excellent condition, w/original case, for repair. There's a couple unrepaired hairline cracks in the top, and one in the side, lower bout. I want to give her an accurate current value on it. What are these going for these days? Thanks

Answer: Hey Joel....750+ depending on the severity of the cracks. The market is nuts now and it could sell for more or not sell at all. Depends on the wind. Best and nice to hear from you....c
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Jeff Wolf
Subject: Harmony Tailfin tuner
Question: Hey Chuck, Did Harmony make more than on type of "tailfin" tuner? In the attached pic the top one is the type I’ve always seen. The bottom one is from a set I am selling on Ebay which I pulled off a vintage Harmony Roy Smeck soprano that had been refinished. I have no idea whether they were original to the uke, or even if they are Harmony. They do look to be of better quaity, which leads me to believe that they are older, possibly prewar. Could you please shed some light on this?

Answer: both vintage both ok ..seen them both and they are just variations. The color of the white is different and the feel of the knob is different. Don't know much else...chuock
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: John
Subject: Long Term Storage
Question: I'm going to be putting two of my Kamaka ukes away for a while, maybe as much as a year, while I concentrate on other instruments. I live in Southern California about 10 miles from the beach and I wanted to get your suggestions on any appropriate storage techniques for that period of time.

Answer: I lived in Los Angeles 10 miles from the beach for 50 years. Had hundreds of ukes in cases and nothing ever happened to them. Seems that they agree with the climate. They will be be ok...c Mine were in cases, I would suggest you store them that way. Need help go to McCabes guitar shop in Santa Monica on Pico Blvd. They will help you...best....c
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: William K Hackman
Subject: Martin Uke
Question: Third times a Charm. 1920's Martin I think. Appraisal please.

Answer: William, I am not avoiding you honest. YOu need someone to help you send a picture. They are not coming through. Please try again and I will be happy to help....c
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Curtis
Subject: old C.F. martin need info.
Question: Hello, Can you tell me around what year this uku was made and what is the value of this uku.If you need more photos i can send more. Thank you.

Answer: I appears to be an early (1920) martin style 0 without the position dots. 400+ if it is a soprano..Have seen them without dots before. c
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Steven Sylce
Subject: A pair of Nunes Ukes
Question: Can you tell me anything about the value of these?

Answer: Steven....they are not ukuleles in the pure sense of the word. They are taropatches. The one on the right ( with decal) is made by Manuel Nunes around 1910. The one on the left is made by his son Leonardo about 1920-1920. They are not easy instruments to sell because people find them difficult to keep in tune. However from a collecting point of view they are desirable. I would guess most fine collections have one or the other or both in the collection. However, I am sure there are people looking for them. 500 on the Leonardo and 750 on the Manuel and don't hold me to that. I could have given you an exact figure 5 years ago, but the market is so weird that it could go anywhere. good luck, they are both very nice instruments...I would have the crack on the leonardo fixed before it spreads to the soundhole...If it does you will have a real problem and it will decrease the value a lot. best...chuck
- Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: George
Subject: S&H Greenstamps Uke
Question: This soprano ukulele was purchased with S&H Green Stamps in the late 50's. Do you have any idea as to maker or value. Thanks.

Answer: I have no idea the maker, a guess would be Regal due to the shape of the headstock. It doesn't matter who made it, the S&H Stamp story is great. I am old enough to remember the stamps, I bought my fish for the fish tank by sneaking my mother's greens stamp books and trading them in at the pet shop. Kinda wish I had known you could get a Ukulele that way. I think your uke is great. No great value, it is a cheapie, which I guess it should have been considering what they were actually selling them for. Find a green stamp book to go with it and you have a complete package...thanks..chuck
- Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: Chris Kemp
Subject: Krupp uke
Question: Hey Chuck, I've recently acquired a Krupp ukulele. As no one has heard of Krupp, I'm wondering if you can give me any more information, using these photos. I don't have the ukulele yet, but here are some images I DO have. I'll have to send them separately as this only allows attachment of one image. Thanks --ck

Answer: Chris. I have seen about a half dozen Krupp ukes through the years which of course doesn't mean I have any idea who made them. They have all been as plain as yours but have beautiful proportions. I don't remember playing one . When you actually take possession of the uke, please measure it top to bottom and across the bouts and let me know the measurements. I remember them being larger than a standard soprano uke. Whats the story with the case..original????Please keep me photographically informed. Boy, thats a long word. I am very interested in the uke. Nice score, no matter what it is. thsnks for writing in....c
- Wednesday, April 23, 2008