Uke Yak Fans, Chuck "Frets" Fayne has been the resident expert for "Uke Yak" since 1998. Since that time he has answered almost 6,000 questions related to vintage ukuleles. Over many years, Chuck assembled his own world-class collection of vintage Hawaiian and Mainland ukes, including some amazing one-of-a-kind pieces. It was Chuck’s collection that made up the majority of the ukes in my book, "The Ukulele-A Visual History." Although Chuck has retired from the Uke Yak, his extensive knowledge and unique sense of humor live on in this searchable archive. Enjoy! Search the Uke Yak. Jumpin’ Jim 2015
Flea Market Music Uke Yak (108 of 296) (Chuck "Frets" Fayne has answered the following 5919 questions.)

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Question asked by: Dorthy Subject: Ukulele Pic Question: Hi. I emailed you last night. Received a picture of the ukulele this morning. Made me even more excited about it. It is 24" long. Concert ukulele? Does it need any particular type of strings? Thanks again, Dorthy Photos:      Answer: Yes it is a concert. Are you sure of the age. Looks marvelous. good luck...chuck - Saturday, September 2, 2006

Question asked by: Dorthy Subject: strings Question: Hi,I am receiving a national ukulele. It belonged to to my uncle's uncle. He played it in the 1930's. I am a harmonica and mountain dulcimer player. I know alomost nothing about ukuleles. I am very excited about playing it. I have not seen it yet but it has been described as mint condition. What do I need to know to purchase strings for it? Thanks, Dorthy Answer: Dorothy, take it to a good music store or a good luthier and have them professionally installed. You can use gut or metal strings. I prefer gut. NIce instrument........Is it difficult to play tshe harmonica and the dulcimer at the same time?...thanks for writing in...chuck - Saturday, September 2, 2006

Question asked by: Nitro Newman Subject: minor cracks Question: Hi Chuck: I have some minor cracks on the top surface of an old Kamaka I purchased that are due more from dryness and age rather than anything else. Should I take it to a luthier or is there something I can do to seal them? Super glue, plastic wood? Answer: take it to a luthier..too good a uke to do yourself....chuck - Thursday, August 31, 2006

Question asked by: jim franklin Subject: KAY UKE Question: HAVE A VERY OLD KAY UKE FROM THE CHEEK FAMILY OF MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE FAME IN NASHVILLE. THE KEYS TO TIGHTEN THE STRINGS ARE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HEAD. IT APPEARS TO BE MAHOGANY OR SOME REALLY NICE RED/BROWN WOOD. DEALER SAID VALUE WOULD BE NEAR 1500.00 WHAT KAY UKE MODELS WOULD BE WORTH NEAR THIS KIND OF DOUGH??? THANKS IN ADVANCE JIM FRANKLIN Answer: Ones made of coffee...I have no idea. Ask the dealer how he knows the value. My guess that he doesn't know his uke from a hole in the ground. or something like that...chuck - Monday, July 24, 2006

Question asked by: Lee Gordon Subject: Banjo uke Question: Hi Chuck, I would appreciate some info on this uke. How much it's worth? History? Who made it? Whatever you know would be good. Love you Uke-Yak! Lee x Photos:      Answer: Lee , unfortunatly not a rare instrument. It could have been made by 50 companies. Stock banjo uke...value 150.00....chuck - Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Question asked by: Bernie Klepper Subject: Uke Question: I have my fathers Martin uke and I can't match it to any Martin. On the back where the tuning pegs are, is stamped Martin, it's just legible. In the sound box is with the name and address. I don't have the Uke avaiible now, I am nothome.It also has 18 frets to the sound box. Answer: Bernie need pic to tell you..With a pic I can tell you i a second...chuck - Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Question asked by: Russ Morin Subject: Mysterious Man in Plaid Skirt Question: Yet another photo. Enjoy. Russ Photos:      Answer: don't have a clue....put up pic of label i hope that someone does...chuck - Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Question asked by: John Reynolds Subject: 100 Year Old Bergstrom Music Co. Ukulele Question: I have a Bergstrom Music Co. Ltd. (Made in Honolulu) Aloha Brand Hawaiian Ukulele that is around one hundred years old. It is in rather good condition, with only a slight hairline crack where the body meets the bridge. It is still extremely playable and sounds terrific. I've been doing some research but cant seem to come up with an accurate value for the ukulele. Do you have an accurate estimate for me? Photos:      Answer: john...nice uke ....350-400 range depending on the weather. I like them. There has been alot of speculation who made them because bergstrom is the name of a store not the name of a manufacturer. play it...its a beaut....chuck - Saturday, April 22, 2006

Question asked by: Dave Demaree Subject: Identity of Martin Uke Question: Can you tell me if this is a type 0 or 1 uke? Any guess as to vintage? It looks to me like it has binding, maybe tortise shell, around front and back. It has the CFMartin on the head and stamped on the back (as viewed thru the soundhole). I have several more pictures, but they are each nearly 1MB, so I have only sent one, but would be happy to send more if OK with you and if you can tell me how (ie,treat each as separate question?). Thanks for any help you can offer. Photos:      Answer: Dave it is the last incarnation of the style 1 martin soprano mahogany ukulele. I think in many ways the best sounding of all the martin ukes. It was made somewhere around the 50's60's or later. hard to date exactly....play the hell out of it. If you have to have a uke, this is one of the ones to have....best....chuck - Friday, April 21, 2006

Question asked by: Don Reed Subject: old ukulele Question: Hi Chuck, I got this uke off ebay. It has no label (though it looks like there was one at one time). It's sopose to be koa (I think so but not sure). On the back the back of the uke covers the heel of the neck. It looks pretty old (especially the varnish on the headstock). I was looking at some uke pictures and though that it might be a Nunes but realy have no idea. It has a crack on the front that is suposed to be repaired and one on the back that is not repaired. Thank you. Photos:      Answer: Real hard to tell from that picture. Need pics of back, end, headstock back..please send what you have. I agree its Koa. thanks....chuck - Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Question asked by: rubberdog Subject: What did I buy? Question: Hi Chuck,Bought the depicted uke off of Evil-Bay. It is supposedly solid with real inlay as opposed to decal. Not in my hands yet, but do you have any idea what it might be? Photos:      Answer: Look at the neck where it joins the body. Is there a splice so that the neck appears to be two pieces instead of one solid piece. Its definitly solid inlay. I don't think its Hawaiian, it looks mainland made. If you can send me some close up pics of the area where the neck joins the body...taken from the side, I can answer your question. Nice lookin' uke....thanks for writing in....chuck - Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Question asked by: CHUCK FRETS FAYNE Subject: VITA PROTOTYPE Question: NO QUESTION...SEE BELOW Answer: You will find a find selection of pictures at the following: http://members.iinet.net.au/~arch/vita/ MY PERSONAL OPINION: Arch brought this ukulele to my house for me to see. I have handled hundreds of Vita Ukes in the years I have been around Ukuleles. This is not a copy. In my opinion this is definitly a Proto-type. It is the correct size, has the correct tuners and has the sound it should have. I would never have voiced an opinion unless I had it in my hands. It is obvious that the company was testing different methods of manufacture. However, it is almost perfectly true to the final example. Obviously, the wood is not the wood that the Vita Ukes were finally made of. Nobody in their right minds would attempt to make a copy. From a manufacturing standpoint, it is not an easy uke to make. Until another proto-type comes alone, this will stand as unique. Fine score, .....I wish I owned it. Have never seen another and don't expect to. Its the real deal.... - Sunday, April 16, 2006

Question asked by: John Thompson Subject: bracing a concert pineapple uke Question: how is a concert pineapple top braced Answer: John , your going to have to ask this question on the bulletin board where the makers reside. YOu will find someone who will be willing to answer your question. The only braces I am familiar with are the ones that were on my teeth 40 years ago. Wish they would take them off already. lisping frets - Sunday, April 16, 2006

Question asked by: Scott Subject: Banjo Uke Maker? Question: Chuck, A friend brought me a banjo uke to check out, and we'd like to know the maker of it. There is no idenifying data anywhere on this banjo uke. I found a picture of one just like it to send to you. It was described as a "California Style banjo uke." This pic is not of his uke, of course, but the one he brought me is just like it except for the colorful scene painted on it. Can you tell us the maker and approximate age and value? We're guessing it's from the 1920's, but the maker and value are mysteries. Thanks. --Scott Photos:      Answer: Could have been made by any one of hundreds of banjo uke makers in the 30's. Cheapie.....Seen them hundreds of times. they normally sound ok..value is not much ....Wish I had better news, but I don't frets - Sunday, April 16, 2006

Question asked by: Jim Currence Subject: Unusual Martin? Question: Chuck, I have a Martin 0 that has both the front decal and rear stamp on the headstock. It has bar frets and black patent pegs. The previous owner says it was purchased prior to March 1930 but no earlier than late 1929. I know there’s rarely a consensus on dating these things, but the information I’ve found suggests that when Martin switched to decals they still had an inventory of previously stamped materials that ended up getting the new decals. Also the decal is a little bit larger than my two newer (post 1961) Martins. My question is, how rare are these double-tagged ukes, and are they more valuable? Mine is in mint condition and is my favorite player. I’m continuously tempted to drill it for a strap peg, since that’s my preferred way to play. But I hate to do anything that would alter it, especially if it’s particularly rare. Thanks, Jim Answer: Double marked ukes are fairly rare. Not more valuable but interesting. Dont drill it. How would you like it if someone drilled into your neck. Stick a strap around the top two tuners and use it that way. There are many straps made today. Go to uke sites and you will find wht you want....frets - Sunday, April 16, 2006

Question asked by: Scott Subject: tonk brothers sterling banjo uke Question: I am wondering about this very nice banjo uke. It has a label That has T.B.Co and below that is has sterling. can you tell me anything about this uke, when made, by who, etc. Thanks for any info Photos:      Answer: Scott, regardless of the label, it is one of thousands of banjo ukes made that look exactly like this one..They were mass produced on the thousands. They were distributed by most companies. Does not mean they can't be good, they usually are as long as you don't put metal strings on them.....thanks..chuck - Sunday, April 16, 2006

Question asked by: Paul Westmeyer Subject: ukulele trademark Question: Can you identify this trademark? A friend of mine has an old ukulele with this mark on the neck. Photos:      Answer: Paul...never saw that mark...interesting. I'll put it up and see if anyone out there has any knowledge. thanks for sharing....chuck - Saturday, April 15, 2006

Question asked by: Nelly Subject: Standard Approved Question: What can you tell me about the "Standad Approoved" ukuleles? Are they players and are they worth anything? Answer: Nelly...it was a label used primarily by Harmony Ukuleles. I'd have to see the uke to help with the value.....chuck - Saturday, April 15, 2006

Question asked by: michael Subject: Old 2m martin neck heel?? Question: I have come across this old 2M wooden pegs ... stamp on back of headstock.. no fret markers... and a unusual prfile neck heel AAny clues??value age its headstock is short also. Michael Photos:      Answer: doesn't look odd to me......age 30's 40's but I need a picture to see the whole uke..please send one and I will help you...thanks...chuck - Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Question asked by: Nitro Newman Subject: kamakas Question: What is the difference between a gold lable and a white lable Kamaka? Answer: Other than the color????? they were white originally l928 vintage. then gold...l940'50's and the more modern ones are white. hope that helps. Its very hard to date a Kamaka uke by the color of the label, because they overlap so much.....chuck - Thursday, March 30, 2006

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