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

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Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: WHERE I HAVE BEEN Question: NO QUESTION...SEE ANSWER BOX Answer: JUST RETURNED FROM MAGIC CONVENTION IN BOSTON AND WHILE I WAS THERE I PICKED UP THE UKE MIKE LONGWORTH MADE FOR ME. I NEED A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR MY HEAD TO CLEAR AND THEN I WILL ANSWER ALL THE BACK YAKS AND GIVE YOU A RUNDOWN ON THE LONGWORTH UKE. NEEDLESS TO SAY..IT IS EVERYTHING ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE MAN ON THE TOP...I HAVEN'T PUT IT DOWN YET. I'M GOING TO TALK JIM BELOFF AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO PUT A PIC OF IT ON THE SITE..IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED. KEEP LOOKING, I'LL BE BACK IN FULL SWING TODAY OR TOMORROW. CHUCK - Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Question asked by: bill musick Subject: ghost gibson Question: bill has a style three withought the words "The Gibson " on the headstock and wants to know what it is. Answer: If it looks like a gibson 3 except for the words "The Gibson", It is. Nobody would go to the trouble to make a phony. The headstock name is only a painted on stencil and many of them were lost thru the years. Look inside of the uke..You might find on the body of the uke-stamped with a rubber stamp- U 3....It might be gone as well, but rest assured, it is a 3....Nice catch....chuck - Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Question asked by: charles Subject: favilla and my grandmothers back Question: Charles has a favilla uke that was his great-grandmother's. On the back it says "Favilla Bros/New York N.Y."...What a coincidence...my grandmother back had the words "C.F. Martin"...only kidding..... I can tell you very little. I need to know if it has any trim around the top of the Uke. I also need to know the size. My Grandmother was 5foot2...The fact that the uke has the name on the back is important. Is it a decal or impressed in the wood. Please answer these questions and I will give you a better guess at an exact price. Now there is a sentence. I will tell you one thing about your uke. It was made to give C F Martin competition. Martin was producing less ukes than they needed and Favilla took up the slack. They actualy made a pretty good uke. Not as good as Martin, but they are good sounding ukes..write me....chuck Answer: I did it again..sorry.....chuck - Friday, April 7, 2000

Question asked by: Brentt Brown Subject: busted and repaired kamaka Question: brett found a 1928 version of the pineapple kamaka uke for 8 bucks at a garage sale. Pretty good deal. I'll give you a chance to double your money without seeing it. How's that for generous? Your uke, according to the numbering system, which is never correct, it was made somewhere between l928 and l935.....I wish I had the exact date, but I think the factory just put the numbers there so we- 70 years later- could wonder what the hell they were doing. It is very hard to give you an estimate of the value..The condition is very important and so is the amount of trim. Regardless, it is an important uke and maybe the best sounding soprano uke ever made. Now there is a statement. Those of you who read this colum regularly, know my feelings about kamaka ukes and pineapples in particular. In any condition, if playable, its worth a couple of hundred dollars. But as you say, its not for sale. Play it. I guarantee you will get more than 8 dollars of enjoyment out of it. chuck Answer: I made a mistake and answered it in the question section. I am too lazy to retype the whole thing...so see above for the answer to ...tell me about it....you have to remember, I am in australia...here. everythng is upside down....thanks frets - Friday, April 7, 2000

Question asked by: Dana richardson Subject: mouna loa uke Question: what is it..??? Answer: Nice find...good instrument...possible made by lyon and healy...let me know the shape of the bridge...L&H bridges look like little airplane props...some moana loa ukes have this bridge...wish I had some definite information...Let me know about the trim on the uke and what the tuners look like. all that stuff helps...thanks for writing...alohamounaloa...frets - Friday, April 7, 2000

Question asked by: Gerry Poling Subject: tuning a uke Question: what is the easiest and most cost effective accessory available to tune a uke. I have been asked to be funny if I must, but to be serious as well. Answer: O.K. first the funny answer. Fine a friend with perfect pitch who loves to talk on the telephone. Now the serious answer. A pitch Pipe. Available in fine and not so fine music stores all over the world. They are four little dodads you blow into and they give you the pitch for the uke strings. With prices as they are today, I would guess you can buy one for a couple of bucks. The most costly way, is to go to England and wait for Big Ben to Chime. I understand the 5th note is "G"...Have a nice flight Sir Frets....... - Monday, March 27, 2000

Question asked by: jeb Subject: tuning a tiple Question: How? Answer: You need to take your tiple to a good music store and purchase a set of Tiple strings. I would, and do, have my tiple strung by someone who does it all the time. I can do it myself, but I hate it. Too many strings and life is precious. I can tune a uke because its easy. I know that the instrument was introduced in the l920's by William J Smith to the Martin Company. It was originally a South American instrument with the same number of strings but tuned differently. Since Martin had a lot of bodies they wern't using for anything and came up with a ukulele tuning that sounded good, they began to manufacture tiples. I like them very much and love the full sound. I have a couple of them and play them often. Sometimes at the same time. frets ( fingers) fayne - Monday, March 27, 2000

Question asked by: Jim Duron Subject: tiple Question: Was there an earlier model than the T 15. Answer: The T 18 was made in l923. The T 15 Was first made in 1949. I would suggest you get a copy of Mike Longworth's book "Martin and Company, A History". Thanks..Chuck - Monday, March 27, 2000

Question asked by: keaka Subject: lyrics Question: Do I have any lyrics. Answer: I have had many, but at present only one. I have a 3/4 sized weissenborn shaped lyric lap guitar. I have had their ukuleles. I know they were distributed by the schiershon music company but I do not know for sure who made them. Not a bad uke. Wish I knew more...Lyrics...chuck - Monday, March 27, 2000

Question asked by: a mcentee Subject: j chalmers doane Question: info on doans Answer: Canadian builder and teacher..May still be doing both. Published lesson books that were used in the schools. Designed and built one of the oddest shaped ukes ever... Art Deco. Real odd..concert sized. Good Player. Real durable. When we moved to Australia, we found them being used in the school system here. I have had two of them and both have been good players, I am looking for another as we type. Hope I've helped. Frets - Monday, March 27, 2000

Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: much needed rest and beloff family fix Question: NO QUESTION...SEE BELOW Answer: UKE YAK CLOSED..GONE FISHIN' WILL BE IN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES UNTIL 21 OF MARCH ...I WILL ANSWER ALL THE YAK QUESTIONS THEN..IF I GET A CHANCE WHILE IN LOS ANGELES, I WILL ANSWER THEM....KEEP THE QUESTIONS COMING..NEED THE TYPING EXPERIENCE. TYPO FAYNE - Saturday, March 4, 2000

Question asked by: frank york Subject: black kamaka strings Question: what are the best strings for a concert or tenor? Where can I purchase Black Kamaka Strings. Answer: Frank...see answer to question below. There is Kamaka's telephone number. Kamaka black strings are sold in almost every music store in the world. They are very popular and they will also answer your question about what you should use. They are marked on the package..concert, tenor etc. Just follow your nose. If you are having trouble finding the strings, call the Kamaka Factory and they will tell you where they can be purchased. thanks..Chuck - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: dave taksna Subject: kamaka Question: tele number of kamaka? do martin style o's have the same size peghead holes as the new grover tuners? Answer: KAMAKA....808-5313165....about the grover peg head holes...I have no idea. A good music store or a good luthier will be able to answer that question...chuck - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: ernie candelaria Subject: the king and queen Question: Ernie has a uke that has on the headstock a decal of a king and queen and the phrase "LA MAL MAFA OKA AINAIKA POHO.' Answer: Ernie hasn't really asked a question, however I think if he had it would have been...what does that phrase mean. Well Ernie..its your lucky day. I know what is means. It means" Honey, go get me the calamine lotion, this grass skirt is itching me to death."..Ernie, I was pulling your fretboard...I have no idea what that says. I know one thing for sure, we will get alot of letters from my hawaiian friends around the world who will tell us what it means. I have seen it on instruments for years, and the strange thing is that I have never wondered what it said. I was always more interested in the Uke. In parting let me impress you with my knowledge of Hawaiian...Aloha....frets fayne - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: fred asuncion Subject: martin tenor Question: Fred recently purchased a martin tenor in mint condition with the original hardshell case. Wants to know its value. Answer: Lots, but thats just an estimate. I asked fred to send more info. He told me what i needed to know. It is from the era of the 40's to middle 50's. Its value is between 750.00 and 1000.00 depending on where you sell it..Dont sell it ..play it. You own one of the finest ukuleles ever made. And in mint condition... fayne - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: jaime knight Subject: short uke Question: jaime has a small uke that says aloha on the head. Answer: Your uke says aloha on the head? Imagine a talking Uke...sorry, couldn't resist. Most of the ukes made in Hawaii and many frauds have a decal that says aloha on the head. You can buy those decals to this day in shops in Hawaii. Your uke, as you put it, could be a "cheapo toy". Perhaps it is not. I need alot more info to give you a real answer. Please send in more info or a pic to my e mail address cfayne@alphalink.com.au..Will try to do a better job...thanks frets - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: jwinker Subject: chromatic tuning Question: Can I use my chromatic electronic tuner to tune a ukulele? Answer: "J" says he has a pitch pipe but no ear. Sorry to hear about your ear. Guess you wear contacts. Yes you can use your electronic tuner for a ukulele..It is designed to receive pitch vibrations and will work just fine. Suggestions? Sure. Get Jim's collection of beginning books for the Ukulele. You couldn't start in a better place. Thanks alot for the question...keep strummin..its a hoot...chuck fayne - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: mike Subject: japanese ukes Question: Mike wants my opinion on Japanese Ukes. He also wants to know if there are any that are decent. Answer: Mike, I have played a number of Japanese ukes and I have not found one yet that I liked. I would think with the uke surge and the number of makers in the world, we will probably see a good one any time now. If any of you out there have info to add..please do...frets - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: paul kraus Subject: white mahogany Question: no question just good info.. Answer: Paul writes to let us know there is such a thing as white mahogany..It comes from central america and has a tight grain..Thanks paul..chuck - Tuesday, February 29, 2000

Question asked by: Jerry Brockway Subject: the endless search for the true kamaka label Question: Jerry wants to know the difference between a gold label kamaka and a regular kamaka. Answer: I guess the color of the label would not be enough of an answer. The gold label did appear in the 50's but nobody seems to know how long they used it and if they don't use it now. I'm not sure what you mean by a regular kamaka. As I have said before, I have seen kamakas that I know are from the 50's with older labels in them. I have no idea how to date them...The early ones are easy, they wrote the production number in each in pencil..That label is easy to tell..it says l928...wish the rest did. It gets a little harder and hazier (sp?) as time goes on. But no matter, you have a fine instrument..I hope we can all some day play as well as the instrument is made. fretzie...I've had a sudden attack of childhood...chuck - Tuesday, February 22, 2000

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