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

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Question asked by: larry Subject: regency Uke Question: What are they? Answer: The regency uke is another Harmony or Regal made for a distibutor who used the name Regency. Haven't got a clue who that might be. You say it looked well built on the ebay picture. I would look well built on the ebay picture...However , both examples are deceiving. If it is a Harmony the chances of it being well built are small...please no letters...regal a better chance. Made in the 40's or 50's. Thanks for the askin'...frets Fayne - Thursday, May 27, 1999

Question asked by: Mike Mannion Subject: Maui Ukes Question: How does the Maui Uke compare to the Kawikas and Kamakas? Answer: I have only played a maui uke a couple of times. Its ok. However, nothing compares with a Kawika...in personal opinion, thats the top of the line today. Kamaka is a good second. You might think of looking for a martin tenor. You say the price is 712.00...I'd look further. Contact David Hurd at Kawika and find out how long the wait for an instrument would be. Remember good things are worth waiting for. Like a Bus...Frets - Thursday, May 27, 1999

Question asked by: R.Bruce Subject: camp uke Question: whats mine worth? when were they made? Answer: The camp uke in question seems lighter that usual. It has pat.apld for on the back of the headstock and a number on the block. The value depends on the model..they made aboutl 10 different ones. I would need more information to go on, however, a ballpart middle of the road guess is about 150.00. They were made in the 30's and 40's by Lyon and Healy and were very popular. Their size and shape lended itself to totin' around. Pat. apld for is on many of the lyon and healy ukes. I just looked on page 89 in the Beloff book and if yours has the vine decal at the bottom, it is very rare. The one in the book is the only one I have ever seen. The uke appears darker in the picture than it is in real life. thanks again, let me know which one it is. chuck - Thursday, May 27, 1999

Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: MARKETPLACE Question: PLEASE JOIN IN AND USE THE MARKETPLACE. ITS THE NATURAL WAY TO LIST YOUR WANTS AND WANTNOTS. IF YOU PUT UP THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT, I WILL BUY IT. YOU JUST HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT IS. I CAN GIVE YOU A HINT..I AM A SUCKER FOR ONE I DON'T HAVE...SO START LOOKING. WE EVEN ENCOURAGE TRADES...SO IF YOU HAVE THAT DUPLICATE SITING IN THE CORNER OR THAT CORNER WITHOUT SOMETHING SITTING IN IT...USE THE MARKETPLACE. CHUCK FAYNE Answer: PLEASE................ - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: T.R.Haney Subject: Banjo Ukes Question: Where did they come from, what were they used for and how do they differ from ukuleles? Answer: The banjo uke was the result of people wanting an instrument that sounded more like a banjo but with the easy playing of a uke. So the banjouke was born...It was born, oddly enough in Hawaii. The Keech Bros., who lived in Hawaii at the time, invented it. Its popularity spread and it was especially popular in America in the 20's and 30's and in England (George Formby) in the 40's and 50's. I don't know if it was ever used in a southern string band...I would like to know the answer to that question myself...they differ from traditional Hawaiian ukes in the sound hole area. In a uke its just a few inches across. In a banjo uke it is the whole top and it is covered with a skin...I love the sound of a banjo uke, but only when strung with gut or gut wound strings. I react to metal strings the same way I react to fingernails on the blackboard. So get some guts and play yours. thanks chuck fayne - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: Phil Subject: Kamaka Pineapple and other exotic drinks. Question: what can I sell it for? Answer: Phil wants to list the Kamaka Pineapple on the Marketplace and wants to know a fair price. It has the KK decal and a gold label. Possibly a very hard to see and well repaired grain crack from the bridge to the bottom of the instrument. Phil, I would think that if it is top shape, $350.00 would be a fair price. It is less than it would cost to buy a new one, but the wait for a new one is longer than to grow a pineapple... thanks for joining us on the Yak. fayne - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: Larry Fencyk Subject: THE FLUKE ?????? Question: How is it? Answer: WONDERFUL.. I have played it and it is a hoot. Great fun and a wonderful sound. I don't know what it is made of, and I don't know where it is made, but I do know where one will reside as soon as I get mine. It is definitly a working instrument. I was in America recently playing in Jim Beloff's Uktopia concert and I got a chance to play the Fluke at that time...If they had been ready, I would not have turned loose the one I got to play. Its no fluke, it's a well planned and executed instrument. Get one....frets - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: John Acord Subject: 700.00 is burning a sound hole in my pocket. Question: John has $700.00 = or - to spend on a Baritone and wants to know what to buy. Answer: Is a Kamaka a good deal. I don't know..I do know that Kamaka is a good Ukulele. My prefrences in order would be. 1. David Hurd in Hawaii (Ukuleles by Kawika), 2 Martin (always a safe and sane choice), 3 Kamaka. I would stay away from the 100's of varieties of baritones made thru the years as they all seem to make better weapons than instruments. For some reason, the people who built them thought that since they were bigger, they needed the weight..Thats the correct thinking if your building a Rhino, but not a baritone Ukulele. David Hurd's website is on this site. This is a personal opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Flea Market Music. Frets Fayne - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: Brian Fourlay Subject: my $30.00 Kamaka Baritone Question: Whats its value? How to replace tuners. Answer: Nice score Brian...$30.00 for a Kamaka Baritone...let me be the first to offer you a chance to double your money....I would suggest you contact Kamaka and have them send you a set of genuine tuners. They won't cost you much...Oddly enough, they will cost you more than the Uke....Still a fabulous deal..You cleaned it well. I have never seen a Kamaka baritone with a koa back and mahogany sides and top and rosewood fingerbord...Sounds pretty strange. The gumby head gives it away as to age. It is about 25 years old maybe a little older..Value...hard to say. The Baritone is not their most sought after instument but I would say it is worth, in great condition, at least 400-500 dollars. I don't think you could sell it for that, but if its for insurance purposes, that is what you would expect to pay to replace it. You say you are not interested in selling, you just love all wood things with strings. Is Pinoccio in any danger? best...chuck fayne - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: Jim Whittington Subject: My dirty tenor and other problem singers... Question: How to clean my Johnny Marvin Tenor. Answer: I have no objection to the Formby's Face Lift that you mention. I would, as I suggest with all cleaners, try it in a small space on the side and see if you like the results. Especially on a Johnny Marvin Tenor. As you stated, the finish is so beautiful and the the wood also, that it would be a shame to risk that tobacco sunburst effect. I would use soap and water, it you need to do nothing more than remove grime Just remember....Wash your Johnny Marvin tenor as if were a tenor named Johnny Marvin...Don't forget to dry well ...no powder...Enjoy your uke..it't one of my personal favorites...chuck - Saturday, May 15, 1999

Question asked by: Hank robinson Subject: Weymann ????? Question: What is it? Answer: Hank describes his instrument as 22 1/2 inches long, mahogany top, sides and back. 1928 by the serial no in the peghead. Hank wants to know if it is a Baritone Uke or a Tenor guitar. I don't know. I would like to know the overall length from top to bottom. Not you hank...the Uke. I can do a better job...lets see the pics..I have seen and owned Weymann ukuleles before but not this size. ..chuck fayne - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: jhunter Subject: L & H tenor Question: I need information.... Answer: American Conservatory was Lyon and Healy's next to the bottom of the line. However, this is not to say that they were inferior. Just the opposite, they were real nice instruments. You say yours is a tenor made of Koa. That is interesting, because they used Nissa wood for most of the conservatory models. You would know the difference. Nissa wood looks like a grey piece of cardboard and Koa looks like Koa...and you may quote me that heavy piece of information. They all said American conservatory 5050...I have no idea what 5050 meant. They were made in the 30's and usually wonderful players. they had the quality of the better models but they saved money on the wood. Sounds like you got the best of both worlds. If you were any kind of friend, You would send me the Uke as a birthday present. My Birthday is whatever day the Uke arrives. Thanks for thinking of me....Chuck P.S. there is a book about the Washburn, Lyon and Healy, Tonk Bros company..Not my favorite book of all time, however if you are looking for fun...go to the library and take it out and read it and you will get the book back on time. No overtime fines on this one. chuck - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: Joel Richardson Subject: oh what a lovely bunch of ukes Question: What did I do? Answer: Joel bought a silvertone with a plastic fingerboard, a style o Martin for a very good price, and a Hilo with a red decal of surfer and volcano. What are they worth. Again, the values I give are based on quality stuff. Deduct accordingly. The Silvertone, which was made for sears by Regal....$100.00...The Martin O..this is a tough one because there are so many varities, however, 350.00 would be a good starting place since I know nothing about it except the name. The Hilo..also about $100.00... $100.00 is a fair price for any decent painted uke from the 30's or 40's..Some are worth many times that much and some many times less, however, its a starting point. I understand you want to sell some...please put them on the marketplace on this site. thanks from all of us to you....frets - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: Stan Cummings Subject: Le Domino Question: Tell me about it...please Answer: The Le Domino you describe has the variations one sees all the time with Le Domino. They were, I suspect, made by two different companies....Harmony perhaps and Regal for sure. It is not unusual to see the J. R Stewart Logo. The Stewart Logo appears also on the rest of the Le Domino Line. They made a Guitar, tenor guitar, banjo uke, banjo, ukulele, both soprano and concert. They made three varities: a plain maple ukulele with just the dominos below the sound hole, the black version with circles as position markers, and the black version with dominos as position markers. They tend to be good players and fairly well made. They used first class tuners...value? I have seen them go from $150.00 to $350.00..hard to say in today's market. It's nutz. nice catch.I like them alot. chuck fayne - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: Steven Zaborski Subject: Oh my slipping pegs... Question: My pegs slip and ratchet. What should I do.... Answer: Steven has a mint l95o's style O and the tuning pegs, if I understand correctly, slip. The tuning screw in the tuner does nothing to adjust tensioning. Is there a good way to treat them ? Hug them...it won't do any good, but you will feel better...I would get another set of tuners. If you search the links of dealers who deal in vintage ukes, you will come up with someone who has a set for sale...they should not be very expensive...and you would cure the problem instantly. I wish I had a good answer but I have been faced with the same problem and just bought another set....Thanks for the question...frets - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: Ukulele Joe Subject: Hilo...how are you? Question: I paid $40 bucks for a hilo uke in a guitar shop in Dallas, did I do O.K.? Answer: Joe got a hilo in Dallas? I got sunstroke in Dallas. It cost me hundreds, your Uke cost you $40.00. Guess who got the good deal...Hilo is not necessarily a manufacturer, but more likely the word they would use on the headstock of a generic Ukulele when they ran out of imaginative things to say. You say it has gear driven tuning heads with plastic knobs....( Oh the possibilities...it staggers the imagination ) however, I will be a good guy and not use the Barbie reference. You did very well. You didn't mention condition so I assume its pretty good. If you would like to write again with more details I can give you a ball park figure...but what ever it is made of, in this day and age, you did real well. thanks for all you've done for that uke. chuck - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: SHORT ABSENCE Question: NONE Answer: SORRY, I HAVE BEEN GONE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HOWEVER, I AM BACK AND READY. THANKS FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS, AND MANY OF THEM ARE ALOT MORE DETAILED. THANKS FOR THAT...IT MAKES MY JOB EASIER. AND NOW TO THE JOB.....CHUCK - Friday, May 7, 1999

Question asked by: Ken Martin Subject: violin Uke Question: What is it? Answer: Ken, if you will look back to some of my answers you will find I have covered the Violin Uke a few times. I really don't think I have anything new to add. Thanks for writing in ...and if you get it in tune before the year 3000 please let us know. frets - Friday, April 23, 1999

Question asked by: Ken Martin Subject: violin Uke Question: What is it? Answer: Ken, if you will look back to some of my answers you will find I have covered the Violin Uke a few times. I really don't think I have anything new to add. Thanks for writing in ...and if you get it in tune before the year 3000 please let us know. frets - Friday, April 23, 1999

Question asked by: Brand"Slim"Cedrone Subject: Dixie metal banjo Uke Question: What can I tell about this Uke. Answer: Dixie is not in business anymore, probably as a result of producing that instrument. I have had a few of them and I have never been able to get them to sound like anything. Your might have the exception. It never made any difference if I used metal or gut strings. Jim Beloff offers a book on playing tunes rather than just strumming. I suggest you look at the Marketplace on this site. You are correct, it does date from the 50s's. They sure are interesting looking.....let me know if you get it to play....Your name Brand is interesting....a name you don't hear every day...well I don't hear it every day, but you must. Good luck... chuck - Friday, April 23, 1999

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