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 (166 of 296) (Chuck "Frets" Fayne has answered the following 5919 questions.)

Previous Page

Jump to page:      of 296

Next Page

Question asked by: Ed mayo Subject: Vintage Ukes Question: Do you know about the quality of a baritone uke made by a Japanese company in the 70's by the name of "northern." Owner is asking $175 for it. Also can you give me an idea what a Martin tenor that is in good shape should cost? Answer: I have seen Northern Ukes but not in baritone size. I was not impressed. Its very hard to give a price on a Martin Tenor because they made more than one issue of them. Condition plays a big part. Does it have a case? Is it 12 fret or 14 fret? I would need a pic of a specific instrument and then I could tell you. In the meantime, you should expect to pay around 1000.00 for a very good Martin Tenor. It can vary greatly depending on condition. Please send a pic if you have one. Thanks for writing in....frets - Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Question asked by: Chris Subject: Martin Uke Question? Question: Hi Mr Fayne, I was just wondering if you recieved my e-mail I sent you on the 14th about the Martin I have. It had several pictures. It was sent to you at: info@fleamarketmusic.com I don't remember sending it in this format the last time... If not, I can re-send it. If you have a regular e-mail address it would be easier. I have several pictures, and this only leaves a place for one. Thanks in advance, Chris Photos:      Answer: Stye 2k...Early....beautiful ukulele, ....I forgot what the question was. Please re-ask...It is a very fine ukulele and very desirable. It seems to be in great condition. Great case. l930's probably, perhaps even the 20's. Would have to hold it to know. thanks for writing in....frets - Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Question asked by: Jaxon Subject: Banjo Uke Question: Hi Chuck: I bought this banjo uke a few months ago at a flea market and was wondering whether I should use it as a player or simply show it as a collector's piece. As you can see, it has a rather nice, but very dingy, watercolor of two palm trees and a setting sun on the head. I was going to replace the head because I fear that tightening this one will surely crack it. Also, it has no name on it but from my 5-string banjo experience, it reminds me of a B&D Peerless style...do you recognize what make this might be? So, if you were me, would you restore it to play or keep as is and display? Photos:      Answer: It seems to me to be a generic banjo uke from the 40's. They made thousands of them...I wouldn't put alot into it. From the pic it doesn't seem to have a tone ring. That would make a difference. It wouldn't cost much to put on a new head , strings and see what it sounds like. You can always hang it up..No metal strings...Nylon..Let us know how it turns out.....frets - Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Question asked by: don socal Subject: martin so ukes Question: hi chuck...i would like to know... since i have never seen or held a martin s-o, what is the difference in appearance/logo/labeling/marking that tells me new vs. old (vintage)... thanks. Answer: cheap wood, decal different...go to the martin site and you will see it pictured and you can compare to a vintage martin. There are many who like them, I am not one of those people. You can write your question on the bulletin board. They have been discussing the Martin S O a lot lately. Go to the bulletin board and type in the SEARCH Martin S.O. and you will have more information than you want. Thanks for thinking of us...frets - Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Question asked by: John Gudmundson Subject: New KP Cuttaway Question: Hi Chuck, No question, I'm sending out a photo of my latest arrival from Ken Potts. I hope the photo opens up ok. This thing is absolutlely stunning the detail work and finish are flawless. Ken just keeps getting better and better. This instrument has a french polish finish and a radial cut fingerboard. The amazing thing is that it sounds even better than it looks. It exceeds any Ukulele that I have ever owned in sound and playability. Photos:      Answer: John...thanks for sending in the pic..It is beautiful...He's quite a maker.....How are you and its nice to hear from you anytime.,..keep in touch...frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: larry martin Subject: ukr pick up Question: I have a Martin Tenor that I have a pick up installed in, but it seems like I pick up more than just the sound of my uke. Fingers hitting the box are loud and clear. I have tried a microphone, and that is better, guess I am just checking to see if there is a better way to amplify a uke. Enjoy your form, keep up the good work. Larry Answer: Larry, please write back and let me know how you have the pick up installed. The best I have found is with the pickup in the saddle..It isolats the sound so you don't pick up the fingers on the face of the uke..Let me know and I will help...frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: Mark Leonard Subject: Keeping Vintage Ukes Nice Question: Hi Chuck, What are the most important factors you've found in keeping vintage ukuleles (as Martin) from developing cracks? Proper humidity, avoiding baking sunlight, and no harsh bumps, we all know, but there must be other things to watch out for. I want to keep my instruments near-mint, but I also want to continue to play them and utilize them to the fullest. What is the actual leading cause of vintage cracks? Thanks in advance for your answer. Answer: I think sitting on them causes the most cracks. Natural cracks seem to fall along the grain line and I am not sure what you can do to stop that. It happens more with koa than with mahogany. There are all sorts of humidifiers that are made to keep the temp. constant. I'm not sure they work all that well. I have had hundreds of uke and only a few that have developed grain cracks. I would just play them and not worry alot. I hear from the other collectors out there of all sorts of things they use and , as I said, I am not convinced that just luck plays a big part....good luck.....and thanks for writing in...frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: Ali Subject: why ther is no style 4 Question: hello Chuck, we're in year 2004 and I always wanted to know why ther is no martin style 4 ? Do you have an answer ? Happy new year and thanks for all you do. A fan from Paris. Answer: I do not have an answer. I have seen one uke that was a combination of a style 2 and a style 3....It wasn't either. But Martin, to my knowledge never offered a uke between a 3 and a 5....I have seen special order ukes that don't fall into any catagory, but as I said they are special order. Happy 2004 to you and I hope you find the style 4 that has been missing all these years....frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: RyanC Subject: Wolff's Complete Uke Course Book Question: Frets- was wondering value on a 1928 edition of Wolff's Complete Ukulele Instruction Course. It is in very good shape with one blemish on the cover. All pages are intact and in good shape Any range in price you could give me would be great, and I also saw a little info about it in Jim's Book. Thanks for your help Answer: Unfortunatly, they are as common as ants. There is little value as they are the ones most often found. Learn to play the songs and have a good time. frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: jerryl Subject: giannin concert uke Question: i was wondering if i made a good purchase. gcsm3j 05/93. they say that it is a worth more then i bought it for ($65) and it is in good shape. what do you think. Answer: Any Giannin uke for 65 dollars a good deal...How does it sound. I think you did well.....play it.....frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: Barry Steelman Subject: Pickup Question: I just finished a refurbish on what I believe to be a mid 40s Bruno tiple (the label is missing but it has all the earmarks of being a Bruno), and I'll post a separate, illustrated, narrative of that adventure, but in this missive I want to tell you folks about the pickup I put in it and all my ukes. It all starts at Radio Shack (OK stop cringing) you'll be out the door for less than $2. They sell a part there called”Piezo Transducer" part # 273-073a, $1.78 for the last one I bought. This is exactly the same little piezo element that they charge you $100 for at the music shop to glue to the under side of your sound board. It comes encased in a small plastic housing that I carefully cut apart with a pair of small wire cutters. Once you've got the plastic off you'll have a small disk of brass and ceramic with 2 leads coming off of it. Get out your soldering iron (NOT GUN) and remove the leads and replace them with a piece of thin, flexible, shielded cable. I happen to work at a TV station so we have lots but any bit of good coax will do (headphone cable works well). I assume they have some at the Shack, but I've never looked. In any case you only need 5 or 8 inches, and impendence is not a consideration because the length is so short. Attach the shield to the brass where the black wire was, and the center conductor(s) to the ceramic where the red wire was. Go to Stumac.com and get your output jack (I use the stereo endpin jack stumac pn 1521). Hopefully you'll have done this before starting the procedure, but anyway, measure how long your cable actually needs to be, cut it, and solder the center conductor to the shortest pin and the shield to the sleeve /strain relief. Plug it into your amp and tap lightly on the element; you should hear it from the amp. Get out your 1/2" BRAD POINT DRILL BIT, use only this type of bit to drill through the heel of your uke, locate and drill the hole. I say a little prayer at that point. I use a long handled curved pair of hemostats to place the jack. I set the depth of the rear nut and screw down the ferrule, then hold the uke with the head pointing at the floor and run the jack up though the sound hole and through the 1/2" hole for the jack. Put the outer hardware on and tighten up the jack. I have been using Gel type super glue to attach the elements and have been placing most of them between the brace just under the sound hole and the bridge, so smear a little of this gunk on the brass side of the pickup and place it. Yeah I get a little glue on my fingers (DON’T TOUCH THE FINISH OF YOUR UKE) but once you've done it your set. They are not fishman under saddle pickups, but they're not bad at all. I play in a hula band and for live performance they can't be beat. Very feed back resistant and LOUD. Sound board mount pickups like these turn the entire top of your instrument into a microphone so anything you do to the top or the strings will be translated into audio and sent to the amp. These are not quite as sensitive to string noise, and translate more of the character of the top than the under saddle types. As with all piezo pickups, a little mid band eq helps. I have one of these in my Oscar Shmidt OU3, my Radio Star tiple, my new tiple, and my Favilla Baritone. I’ll be putting one in my Kumu Hula’s Kamaka soprano this weekend, and our lead uke player has one in his Bruno tiple. I’ve also put some in other ukes from around the halau, everybody loves them. Your uke is electrified for under $15. Answer: Thanks barry...chuck - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: Mark Dixon Subject: Aloha Royale ukulele Question: Dear Chuck: Recently, I came across a ukulele with a decal of "Aloha Royale" on the peghead. While a very plain instrument, it looks as though it might make a decent instrument with some repair. I would appreciate any information you might be able to share with me regarding this particular brand of ukulele. In advance, thank you for any information you may be able to provide. Sincerely, Mark Dixon Answer: Mark...there were may instruments made with the decal "Aloha Roya." I would have to see a pic of the uke to let you know if it is worth fixing up. You don't want to throw alot of money into a uke that won't be worth it when its finished. Please send me a pic to my home emai...cfayne@swiftdsl.com.au and I will get back to you and post on uke yak....thanks for writing in...frets - Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Question asked by: Chris Subject: Harmony Concert Ukulele? Question: Just bought the pictured uke which is said to be a concert scale. (on evil-bay for $42) - it is said to be 24 inches long and 8 inches wide. Other than the chunk of fingerboard missing after the 12th fret, it is said to be in good condition. Have you seen any of these? Is my excitement justified? Photos:      Answer: yes your excitement is justified. Nice uke..the Mahogany set of Harmonys are possibly the best. Nice looking and good price....you did well...frets - Thursday, January 15, 2004

Question asked by: soybean Subject: Your Book Question: Hi Chuck! Can you give us a little more info about your upcoming book? Is it a history of the ukulele, a photo gallery of your collection, or something completely different? Answer: Dan..something different. But I will leave it as a surprise. I promise you a good time, lots of laughs and intresting stories....thanks for asking...frets - Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Question asked by: Kiko Go Subject: RE: Martn Style 2 Question: Hi Chuck! Thank you very much for your kind response. I should have checked old questions you already answered before I ask... Mine is not Ditson style 2, but I have found a couple of other Martin ukes pics when I was browsing internet are marked at 9 - and they all have wood friction pegs - so I guess Martin used to mark the dot at 9 in early years. Thanks again! Kiko Answer: thanks for writing in....I have seen both ways 9 and 10....keep strummin" Frets - Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Question asked by: John Park Subject: a word of thanks Question: Chuck, Just wanted to thank you for all the knowledge that you have imparted to everyone who uses this site, myself included. JP Answer: thanks John...nice to know...best frets - Monday, January 12, 2004

Question asked by: BillZ Subject: Just a thanks. Question: Hello Frets, I did not read that article that supposedly disrespected you and have no intention of doing so. I just wanted to write you and tell you how much I appreciate your writing, your patience and your expertise when it comes to all things uke. I’ve always enjoyed your responses and your sense of humor that really shows in all of your reply’s. I just had to let you know that your efforts are in fact very much appreciated. Answer: Thanks for your kind words. They are appreciated....chuck - Monday, January 12, 2004

Question asked by: Aujouret Subject: Thank you Question: Hi Chuck. I have no question, but I wanted to say thank you. I have just ordered a new Fluke and I can't wait to break it in. I am a new ukulele player and I learn so much from your advice. Bless you, Frets. Answer: thanks for reporting in..thanks for the kind words...always appreciated...frets - Monday, January 12, 2004

Question asked by: Kiko Go Subject: Martin Style 2 Question: Hi Chuck, I have a Martin Style 2 estimated dating 1916 - 1922. I recently realized that one of the finger position dots (near joint) is positioned at the 9th fret while my other Style 2 and 2K's are all positioned at the 10th fret. Was this wrongly positioned in production or did Martin once position the dot marker on the 9th fret? Thanks, Kiko Photos:      Answer: Kiko...This question has come up before. I owned a ditson style 2 that had the dot at 9. I asked Mike Longworth and he said there was no real explanation...If you look on page 158 of the Gruhn and Carter Acoustic Guitar book, you will see an older style 3 and an older style 3k taropatch both having the last fretmarker at 9. On the following page you will find as 3k concert with the exact fingrboard , except the last dot is at 10. The style 2 on page 158 is exactly the same vintage as yours and has the last dot at 10. If all this hasn't confused you, please let me know and I will write some more. I can't see all of your ukulele, is there a possibility that it is as style 2 ditson shape? Please let me know...Frets - Monday, January 12, 2004

Question asked by: Mick Subject: Nothing Much Question: Hi Chuck, no Question, just hope you are well and I am looking forward to this book you say you are writing, sounds like a blast. Best, Mick Answer: I am well thank you and I am looking forward to the book also. Writin' is a tough business. I will be glad when I finish culling almost 2500 questions and answers. Not bad for a guy who just found out he knows nothing. Please stay tuned for my next 2500 incorrect answers. Till then..Look for the book. thanks for the kind words.....your fan....frets - Monday, January 12, 2004

Previous Page

Jump to page:      of 296

Next Page