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

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Question asked by: Jeb Subject: to pick or not to pick Question: To pick a tiple or strum a tiple? That is the question.. Answer: Either...that is the answer. I really like the sound of a tiple, however, I think it sounds better strummed than picked. I have tried to fingerpick it and I have a feeling if I played better it would make a difference...Call me whacky..but thats my feeling. The Tiple is not easy to get used to after playing a four string uke, but stick with it...It is worth it..You will learn to press all the strings evenly . A tiple is an instrument that I spend half my life trying to tune and the other half playing out of tune...good luck....frets - Thursday, May 4, 2000

Question asked by: Greg Ash Subject: nameless uke Question: The nameless uke that greg ownes is called...."The Classic" What is it? Answer: I ask Greg to send me pics and he did. From what I can tell, I would say that it is made in Japan. There was sushi on the soundhole...Geo. Gershwin 1922. It has the tuners used by almost all the Japanese makers. I have no idea what "The Classic" means, but lets hope it is....good luck...frets.... - Thursday, May 4, 2000

Question asked by: Charles Subject: Favilla Question: Can you help? Answer: I may have answered this before. Here we go again..Favilla ukes with Favilla impressed into the wood on the back of the headstock, are the top of the line. They were made in the 50's 60's as competition for Martin. They did a fairly good job at that. Some are really wonderful sounding. They are not a martin, however, until one comes along, they will do. they made many styles and sizes. They must have made alot of them, because, they pop up all the time. Its hard to tell the value without seeing the instrument, but if it has the white trim around the top, it is worth ( in good condition) 250-300...good score...frets - Thursday, May 4, 2000

Question asked by: Bill Thomson Subject: Tiple Question: Bill found a Martin Tiple in a music shop for $900 bucks. Original hard shell case and wants to know if its a good deal. Answer: Bill..Martin made as many styles of tiples as they did Ukuleles..I would have to know which one it is to give you an exact quote, however, $900 would be a good deal if it were the bottom of the line. They are wonderful instruments and hard to find in the original hard case. I would buy it if I were you and you wanted to play a tiple. If you don't want to play the tiple, it is a silly purchase...I tune mine exactly like a ukulele. The only difference is with 10 strings, it takes 6 times as long. Remember, if you are going to tiple, pull over..don't tiple and drive...chuck - Thursday, May 4, 2000

Question asked by: otie Subject: singing treholipee Question: what can you tell me about it? Answer: Otie..they were made by the Swagerty Specialties Co. of San Clemente, California....50 ish...They came in many colors and lengths...if you wanted to surf, just stick the long end into the sand and hit the water..You say it looks like a good wall hanger...String it up and play it..You wil be surprised..It plays like a wall hanger too..Only kidding, it has a pretty good sound. I refer you pg 46 of Jim Beloff's book.' The Ukulele a Visual History."..There you will see pics of a couple of varities and at the same time, you will own a great book...good readin' to you...frets - Thursday, May 4, 2000

Question asked by: pamela stellwag Subject: Ludwig music co. Question: Pamela has a ukelele from the Ludwig Music House on Washington ave , st louis Mo. Answer: Ludwig was a drum company. They also made banjo's and banjo ukes. To my knowledge they did not make ukes. I have a feeling that the Ludwid Music House is a distributor and they uke could have been made by anyone. I would have to see a picture of the uke to tell you more. Does it still exist? Please try to send me a pic at my personal e mail. cfayne@alphalink.com.au thanks chuck - Sunday, April 30, 2000

Question asked by: howrd finkel Subject: whats a uke guy to do Question: Should I buy a new martin, Kamaka or a vintage example or either? Answer: It's so much a personal thing. If I were in the market, I would go first for the vintage Martin, then the vintage kamaka, the new Kamaka and finally the new Martin. I have not played the new martin, so I am just taking a guess on that one. You ask the reason why? I prefer the sound of the martin soprano over the Kamaka soprano. My absolute first choice in a player would be a Kamaka Pineapple uke series l928...They are a little more difficult to find, but you can't beat the tone. Shop around, there a quite a few really good instrument makers today, they may also have what you are looking for. I have mentioned them in many previous yaks...thanks for the question..frets - Sunday, April 30, 2000

Question asked by: paul kraus Subject: australian woods Question: Are there any good uke builders in Australia? Are there woods unique to australia? Answer: I have been here almost 3 years and have yet to meet a uke builder. I wish there was one and I have attempted to get the major company ( Maton) to enter the market, but as of now, they still make only guitars. Good guitars, I might add. Perhaps you could write them and ask them to make a uke..Might strengthen my request. Wood???I think the most beautiful wood in Australia is Blackwood. It looks like a cross between Koa and Rosewood. It has the grain of Koa but sort of the color of Rosewood. I have seen Blackwood that has fooled me. It did a great card trick...( just a joke)..It looked so much like koa I thought it was. I am hoping to get some blackwood and send to Harry Eibert..for those of you who don't know Harry Eibert, please look at pg 109 in the Beloff book, The Ukulele a Visual History. Harry made the harp uke for me pictured on that page. He is a fabulous craftsman and takes on very unusual projects. He made the harp uke and an airplane uke inspired by the harmony airplane uke of the l940's. In case you would ike to contact harry..his addres is 4136 Howlett Hills Rd. syracuse. NY 13215....and to finish this long sentence..have harry make me a uke. Did I answer your questions somewhere in this rambling????chuck - Friday, April 28, 2000

Question asked by: paul lowe Subject: how old my uke... Question: paul has a kamaka with 2 k's on the headstock and a gold foil label with black letters but the k's are in red. He wants to know the year the instrument was made. Answer: Me too. I have written many times about the kamaka system of labels. My best guess would be from the 50-70's. To pinpoint a year would be impossible. I still believe they used the label that was the closest. They have made the same ukes for so long that it would take the keen eye of the maker himself to come close to the year. The one thing that is always the same about Kamaka is that nothing is always the same...except the quality... keep it....play it.....frets - Friday, April 28, 2000

Question asked by: Patrick Beggs Subject: La Pacific Question: Patrick has a La Pacific banjolele..needs information.. Answer: I think if you look closer, it will say " La Pacifica"..not La Pacific...If it does, it is a banjo uke made in the 40.'s. There were millions of them made. It is about a middle grade..not valuable, but they can sound good. I do not know the manufacturer, but I have seen them offered by almost all the dealers of the time. Get a canoe, racoon coat, full moon, willing partner...and sail away....chuck - Sunday, April 23, 2000

Question asked by: Jim Beheler Subject: THE VIOLIN UKE STRIKES AGAIN. Question: The usual question...what is it, whats it worth, ....and where is New Troy, Mich. Answer: Jim..Jim...Jim...you have one of those..If you will read back in my uke yaks past...you will find numerous references to the VIOLIN UKE. To begin with it is neither a violin or a uke. It must have looked good on paper...Probably sounded good on paper also. When the earth is no more again, two things will have survived..the Cockroach and the Marxochime Violin Uke. Ya can't kill them...Impossible to tune, impossible to play, but impossible to throw away. If yours is like all the others, it should be in pretty good condition. This is not because of a love of the instrument. but rather the result of not being able to tune or play it. People put them back in the original box and being unable to toss them out, kept them. I must get 25 questions a year about them. I love the line on the label that reads " guaranteed for five years" This is a misprint....It should read " Guaranteed for life"..They look like they ought to sound great...Like Pia Zadora ( sp?). Have fun....frets - Sunday, April 23, 2000

Question asked by: william weldon Subject: Hawaiian chords Question: Need Hawaiian instrumental music....see Jimpin' Jim goes Hawaiian...on this site...It will get you going...I would haunt the old music stores and you will find old Hawaiian sheet music with the chords you are looking for. Most good public libraries will have a music section and there you will also find a reasonable selection of hawaiian music....best, chuck Answer: see above....I hcve a question? does anyone know who published a book on hawaiian sheet music around l935. I have seen a copy, but have never been able to purchase one. Ben Elder, if you are reading this...and ideas? frets fayne..... - Sunday, April 23, 2000

Question asked by: willliam weldon Subject: two baritones and a tenor Question: william wants to know about pineapple shape v.s. normal shaped ukes... Answer: You say you have seen in print that pineapple ukes don't sound as good as normal shaped ukes. I would like the name of that author. Some ukes sound good some bad...doesn't matter who made them. However, as a rule of thumb ( thats the strumming up finger in the triple role or the one used for hitchin a ride)..the pineapple is a fuller sound. I prefer the sound of the pineapple, however I would find it difficult to say that any uke shape was better than any other. I think I have said before, when selecting a Ukulele as a piece of wall art, the eye is very important. When selectng the uke as a player... close your eyes. I have a friend ( yes I do) and he has a no name uke, not particularly well made but the most remarkable sound I have ever heard. Take your time and shop around....I see that you are looking for a tenor. I don't know of a maker of tenor pineapple ukes, you might have to special order one. The only one I have ever seen I own and it has a huge sound. I will try to find the maker and let you know. till then..I remain.... - Sunday, April 23, 2000

Question asked by: George Blum Subject: Ukulele Question: George has an extra fancy Koa SSStewart uke and wants to know about it. Answer: SSStewart was a banjo manufacturer in the late l800. The conmpany went thru many changes during the next century and in the l930's and 40's was making all kinds of instruments. Ukuleles were just one of these. I suspect, by that time the SSStewart company was having the ukes made by other companies. I know for sure that Martin made for SSStewart. I cannot tell you where your instrument was made withought seeing it, however I can tell you it was not island made. I don't believe that Hawaiian manufacturers ever made for Stewart. The one you have sounds wonderful, especially the fact that it is stamped on the back of the peghead. Many of the stewart Ukes were just Ukes with labels inside. This could be anything. Please send me your uke as a present. I so rarely get mail these days. Its lonely down here near the south pole ..Be sure an include a good dill pickle...they are rare too...good luck..you have a fine uke...play it.....jet lag fayne.... - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: Derrick Quan Subject: kamaka longboard Question: Derrick has a Kamaka soprano ( Gold Label) without an extended fingerboard. Answer: Derrick...Kamaka has made,in its extended history, almost every variety of uke imaginable. This is the plain jane model, but I would guess without playing it, you will never notice the loss of a couple of frets. It will play as all of them do...wonderfully. Thank you for the nice words about my colum ...its nice to hear. frets the humble...... - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: LONGWORTH UKE Question: NO QUESTION...JUST A REPORT Answer: AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT THE MIKE LONGWORTH UKULELE HE MADE FOR ME. IT IS BREATHTAKING. IT IS CONCERT SIZED, KOA, DITSON SHAPE AND INLAY TO DIE FOR. ONLY MIKE COULD HAVE MADE THIS UKE. OH YEH...IT PLAYS JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS. MIKE DOESN'T MAKE ALOT OF UKES THESE DAYS AND IT WOULD TAKE ALOT OF CONVINCING TO GET HIM TO MAKE ONE. HOWEVER, IF I DIDN'T ALREADY OWN ONE, NOTHING WOULD KEEP ME FROM TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM TO MAKE ME ONE. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I SOLD THE MAJOR PART OF MY COLLECTION ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IF THE LONGWORTH UKE HAD TO BE INCLUDED, I WOULD STILL OWN THE COLLECTION...ON THE CATCH AND RELEASE WEB SITE..YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME PICS OF MIKES UKES...THE PICS DO NOT DO THE INSTRUMENT JUSTICE, HOWEVER IT DOES GIVE A GOOD ACCOUNT OF MIKES HISTORY IN THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FIELD. HE IS TRULY A MAN AT THE PEAK OF HIS PROFESSION AND I FEEL HONORED TO OWN ONE OF HIS CREATIONS. THANKS MIKE.......CHUCK - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: David Turner Subject: buying my neighbors banjo uke Question: what is it and whats it worth? Answer: David has located a Mauna Loa banjo uke . Decorated resonator ( palm filagrie) and textured steel. Inlay wood fret markers, five layer wood around head. One missing knob and stained a dark brown. David, it is a little hard to picture, but it sounds a cut above most Mauna Loa banjo ukes I have seen. You say it also comes with a piece of newspaper dated Oct 25th l932..."govenor Roosevelt is hailed by large crowds in N.C." The Banjo Uke is worth probably around the 200.00 dollar mark...depending again on condition, however the newspaper is priceless. I would by the uke just to get the newspaper. thanks for the question...please keep in touch...for those of you who keep asking if frets is my real name..no, I changed it from Fretboardsky in the l930/s...too hard to spell...Thanks chuck - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: Kevin Casey Subject: Korean Uke saga Question: Kevin bought a Korean Uke that was described as good condition but arrived with no nut, and a loose neck. ( I would be thankful that it a uke and not the description of a good friend.) Answer: A good Korean Uke...Hard to imagine..but then who'd a thunk that Kate Smith would have that voice?...To answer your question...since you paid 26.00 for it and it looks nice, I would hang it on the wall and look at it. It would cost you many times that to make it play well. The only way I could think of to accomplish this would be to take off the neck and the body ..and put whats left on a martin uke. ( the strings)..now you have an instrument...enjoy the artwork...chuck - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: Drew F Hines Subject: Pegs and separations Question: Drew needs pegs for his Kumalae and a luthier to fix his separation. Answer: The slight separation at the lower bout can be fixed by any decent luthier..I don't know where you live but just shop around and you will find the right person for the job. You ask about Stew Mac pegs. I would shop around for a more original peg. You can write John Bernunzio at BVI@servtech.com. He might have the pegs that will do the job. John is known amongst those that know him best as "Peg man John" So I guess that would be the place to start. Thanks for the question..chuck - Friday, April 21, 2000

Question asked by: GARY NEWKIRK Subject: martin's neck Question: when did the martin tenor neck go from 12 frets to 14 and other related stuff? Answer: Gary...the Longworth Martin book just says" At some point Martin went from a 12 fret neck to a 14 fret neck" I don't have a specific year, however my guess would be in the 50's...I don't know why that is my guess, except that other things changed as well...the finish color is darker and the instrument seems heavier to me. It is certainly, as you suspect, prior to l962. It is one of Matin's finest...enjoy...frets - Friday, April 21, 2000

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