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

Previous Page

Jump to page:      of 296

Next Page

Question asked by: Mark Helmick Subject: tapping your screws and other great dance routines Question: Mark has a slingerland banjo uke and the screws from the tuners are missing. Mark wants to know if he should retap the tuners to take #2- 56 screws or replace them. He also wants to know how to attach the strings to the tailpiece. Answer: Mark, as you can probably tell from the tone of my answers, when faced with a mechanical problem, I always go with the non mechanical answer. I would replace the tuning screws. If my life depended on my retapping a screw hole, I would be a dead man. I don't even know what it means. It sounds to me like you should look to replace the set of tuners. If you contact John Bernunzio at BVI@servtech.com..He will have sets of replacement tuners. As far as attaching the nylon strings to the tailpiece, I would opt for a knot or tie a little loop. Without either of these techniques, it has been my experience that they just wont hold and thereby produce no sound. That's as mechanical as I get. The instrument is probably 6o years old and yes you tune it exacty like a ukulele. Were glad to have you aboard the S S yak yak ..keep writing in, I get paid per brilliant answer. So far..no dough...see ya...frets - Monday, February 14, 2000

Question asked by: Red Howard Subject: Wizard Question: What is a Wizard Banjo Uke.. Answer: Red..It isn't by a company called Wizard...it is by a company called Regal and distributed under the name Wizard. They made millions of them..You have found one...just think...only a few to go and you will have them all..Please let me know if it says "Little Wizard on the dowel stick...that is a whole different instrument. 1926 is the right date for almost all of these little things...They were very popular. They parallell the popularity of the canoe, the camel hair coat and the megaphone. They are better sounding than most..String it up with nylon not metal strings and paddle madeline home....thanks for the yak...chuck fayne - Monday, February 14, 2000

Question asked by: ron lapoff(marsadad) Subject: Le Domino and other great perfumes Question: Ron has a LeDomino with different decals than the one in the Ukulele book by Jim Beloff. It is rarer? Answer: Ron, there were at least three versions of the LeDomino ukulele. Black with bulls eyes on the fretboard...Black with dominos on the fretbord, and blond wood with fretmarkers that are usually painted dots. They also made a concert size of the domino fretboard and it is of a much better quality. The other three are about the same...The rarest, oddly enough..is the blond one , but no one seems to want it. Le domino also appears as a tenor guitar, guitar, banjo uke, tenor banjo, and sewing machine. Hope this helps..chuck - Monday, February 14, 2000

Question asked by: sean sharp Subject: fixing your wendall Question: sean has a wendall hall banjo-uke that has a crushed white piece of binding. How to fix it? What ar3 the best strings to use? Answer: I will answer your last question first because variety is the spice of life..."Julia Childs"..The best strings in my opinion, are either nylon kamaka or a set or real fine gut strings. First question, I would fine a fine luthier and have him fix the ivroid trim...It is fairly simple to do if you don't try to do it yourself. It is a lovely instrument and I mean this with no pressure intended, my birthday is Sept l9th...Pack it well...thanks for joining the yak and keep the letters going to our boys on the front...col frets.. - Monday, February 14, 2000

Question asked by: steve stahl Subject: dressin up a kamaka Question: I have a 60's kamaka pineapple and want to add abalone to the top. Would it be sacreligous, lesson the value or increase the value. What do I think about that? Answer: If it is done well and tastefully, go ahead. I don't think the value should matter, because unless you are doing it to sell, who cares? If you are doing it to sell, it will probably decrease the value. It isn't worth that much anyway and I say go ahead and have a good time. I would advise you against it if it were a vintage 1928 kamaka pineapple...send me a pic when you are done...frets - Monday, February 14, 2000

Question asked by: anders wasen Subject: martin banjo uke Question: its a question about E bay # 247830955. The owner claimes it is a C F Martin Banjo Uke with the signatures of Rudolph Valentini, his brother and Pola Negri.. Answer: Well, the bidding closed on this instrument and it was below the reserve 250.50. The owner took it to a librarian in Fort Worth Texas ( certainly the place I would take a banjo uke..who could possibly know more?) and the librarian said after extensive research (aka lunch break) she determined it was a C F Martin banjo Uke...probably made for a touring group of Musicians. She went on to say that this was probably one of 12 that martin made for this group..She went on and on and said Martin was known for making and giving musical groups instruments. Lunch break was almost over so she had little time left, however she had enough to say that the signatures were genuine and that this instrument should probably go to sotheby's but put it on e bay first. First of all Martin Never made a banjo uke..Secondly if the signatures were genuine they alone would be worth in excess of 2000.00. The signatures are very valuable and together...even more valuable. The 258.50 final bid will give you some idea about how ebay bidders felt also...These kinds of things infuriate me...no research, no knowledge, no commonsense, just an attempt to hook a big fish...fortunatly...no fish biting that day...I attempted to write the seller 3 times and got no response...wonder why...any way, glad none of you yke yakkers were sucked into this bag o beans...be careful out there...lots of creeps in every business,...fayne - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: dave bess Subject: refinishing a uke Question: Should I refinish my uke where there are strum marks? Answer: If the strum marks have eaten away any wood I would have nothing to do with it in the refinishing dept. If not, and its just the finish..go for it...however not yourself unless you have experience with musical instruments. I personally would leave it alone..strum marks don't bother me and never alter the sound. Have a luthier do the job if you must....other than that, i would try to put alot more strum marks in it..it gives it character. chuck - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: Jean Subject: double coconuted ukes Question: COX'S DOUBLE COCONUT UKELELE...PANG SEE AND COM LTD. HONOLULU HAWAII U.S.A. EVER HEAR OF ONE? Answer: YES..they are one of many coconut ukes made in hawaii..some have one shell half, and I have seen one with nine. They were and still are a very popular souvineer attraction for the tourist. They usually don't sound real good but they can be very attractive to hang on the wall or around your neck at the next outdoor hawaiian party...its nice to hear about one with a label...they usually are found with no markings at all. I know of collectors who collect just those ukes...thanks again...c fayne - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: Jim Abbott Subject: roy smeck Question: Jim wants to know if the roy smck harmony uke was made of plywood and how do they play. Answer: Yes they were made out of plywood as far as i remember and they sound like any harmony uke....on a good day....not bad....so just wait for good days...chuck - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: alex sutton Subject: gibon tuners Question: broken gibson machined peg..where can it be replaced. Answer: The man i turn to in times of trouble..John Bernunzio....BVI@servtech.com....He has parts for everything. I just bought a rear end for a 64 dodge hornet..and he had more than one of them..so a replacement tuner for a 61 gibson uke should be cake...if that doesn't work, perhaps a new set..i know its not vintage....but you may have to wait until a real set comes along. thanks for writing the parts dept at yke uak....labor costs extra,..your musical mechanic frets fayne - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: Bob Subject: Dating a Kamaka and other lovely evenings. Question: Bob understands that Kamaka Ukes are classified as Pre or Post statehood. ( hawaiian statehood) 1959...How does one tell the difference. Answer: Bob, if you understand that much about the Kamaka factory , you understand alot more than I do and perhaps alot more than Kamaka does. I have written this before, however it needs repeating. It seems Kamaka picked up any label they had at hand and used it. The only ones you can tell for sure are the original l928 dated ones. They are from a time up to about l935. After that, its anyones guess. I have seen more varieties of Kamaka labels than I have seen varieties of ukuleles. I give up. The uke is so good, it doesn't matter. The only Kamaka to stay away from is the Japanese assembled version..but that is made of Mahogany and has a strange decal..Instead of the KK it has K and K with something written after it. Its late and I can't remember what that something is but you'll know one when you see it. You still can't go wrong with a Kamaka. I'll be the first to tell you when the factory starts to slip. Don't sit and wait for this to happen. They just keep making great ukes....chuck - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: Jimbo Subject: elec gibson uke Question: whats it worth? why does it sound so awfull? Answer: I had one and I sold it for 500.00 and felt like I made a killing...The reason I sold it was it sounded so awfull. So I guess the answer to your second question is, I don't know why..I know what cured the bad sound..selling it. I tried gut strings, metal strings, nylon strings, nylon stockings and shoelaces. They all sounded horrible ..My advise..Sell it ..It is collectable because it is an odity...just like trying to play one. hope I've helped..frets - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: carnen Subject: mango and other dances Question: hows the wood and hows the maui music co. uke? Answer: I know more about the wood than I do about Maui Music Co. The wood makes wonderful Ukuleles..It is also beautiful to look at. I know little about the Maui Music Co. other than they are standing the test of time...Others have disappeared and they seem to stick around..They must be doing sonmething right. Pleas you uke yakers out there who own Maui Music ukes...please write in and give us your opinion...I will play one when I am in Los Angeles in March...I will report also..The only problem I have ever had with mango wood is that damn seed. it rattles around alot inside the uke...very distracting....chuck - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: john kalgert Subject: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Question: what is a vega arthur godfrey solo lute and a johnny marvin tenor worth? Answer: I have seen a solo lute sell for as little as 250.00 and as much as 400.00..let condition be your guide. The Johnny Marvin is a more desireable uke...You say the body is maple..I say Mahogany. I know that because I know they didn't make one out of maple and the only other variation is Koa and it is unmistakable...So, again condidtion is the guide, around $400.00....No cracks and wear...Thanks for asking and why not put them up on our marketplace for our faithful yakers to have first shot...chuck - Monday, February 7, 2000

Question asked by: layne benofsky Subject: rolan---banjo uke Question: wnts to know about it... Answer: Layne..what you have is a rolando banjo uke. It has alternating dark and light wood and is very heavy for its size. I understand it has some serious splitting around the top...My suggestion would be not to fix it ..hang it on the wall and admire it. If you fix it, it will cost you alot of money and when it is done it will sound terrible. The rolando banjo uke always sounds terrible. Vintage..1935...too bad it isn't wine...see ya...chuck - Friday, February 4, 2000

Question asked by: Mario Subject: style 2 martin Question: mario has a style 2 martin with a sinking top. He wants to know if he is out of bounds to go fishing in the Marketplace for $650.00. Answer: Mario...go fishing for a good luthier who can raise your sinking top. Then you can go fishing for $650.00...I don't think you will get it..but you sure have a better chance if it is fixed. You have no chance if it is not fixed. thanks for the question...flat head fayne - Friday, February 4, 2000

Question asked by: morgan Subject: gibson slippin' Question: morgan has a friction pegged gibson style 1 uke and is having trouble keeping it in tune. Answer: You have the first gibson uke I have ever heard of with friction pegs. I can't help but think they originally had machined tuners and someone put violin tuners on instead. I would go for a good set of machined tuners. You might want to contact John Bernunzio and BVI@sertech.com and see if he has any. If not, a good set of modern made tuners will work..you can find those at a GOOD music store. thanks for the question chuck fayne - Friday, February 4, 2000

Question asked by: nada Subject: Ukelin AGAIN Question: nada inherited a ukelin and wants some information on it. She also wants to know if it is rare and what its worth. Answer: NADA...Interesting name. It is also the answer to one of the questions. Nada, I refer you to my last 25 answers to this question, but before you go searching for them, I will tell you this much. It is not rare. They were made in the 40's and are usually in good shape because nobody could get them in tune and they finally gave up, put them back in the original box and didn't have the heart to toss them out....so they pop up all the time. whats it worth?...NADA..spanish for nothing. Sorry, wish the news was better , but don't toss it out...hang it on a wall. the trash man already has more than he can handle. chuck - Friday, February 4, 2000

Question asked by: Phillip C. Dixon Subject: favilla baritone Question: wants to know about it and how to sell it. Answer: Favilla Baritone...pretty good instrument...A little heavy for my liking, but not badly made. The company made a cheaper martinish uke in the 40-60's. Whats it worth? Hard to say. I have seen them go for as little as 150.00 and as much as 350.00. They are not as popular as the soprano. Where to sell it...How about puting it up on the flea market ..marketplace? Give our faithful readers first crack..I guess that's a poor choice of words when discussing a uke...see ya...frets - Friday, February 4, 2000

Question asked by: pam hook Subject: tuning and other odd questions Question: It seems pam plays tradjazz on an archtop guitar and plectrum banjo and wants to know alternate tunings. She also wants to know what I would recommend the Fluke Uke for a man 5'10..170 lbs. Answer: Congrats Pam..My favorite set of questions in a long time. First the tunings. I don't know the traditional tunings for a guitar and a plectrum banjo so I guess alternate tunings are pretty much out of the question..The second question is much easier. Please tell the man that its his lucky day. I understand the height minimum to own the fluke is 5' 9 3/4...wheew..just made it. When you order the Fluke, and you should, please be sure to enclose the shoe size....which must be under a size 21. Just kiddin' I love the fluke..I own a Fluke..I play a Fluke and you can order one right here on this site. Go to products and take a look...thanks for the questions...you made me smile...chuck - Friday, February 4, 2000

Previous Page

Jump to page:      of 296

Next Page