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

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Question asked by: Bob Graham Subject: String tension Question: Stringing my Martin.. Answer: Bob, first of all if you have Martin Uke with tortoise binding, it is a style 1 not a 2. That will make no difference in my answer, just showing off. Martin 600 nylon strings are wonderful. I use Kamaka personally, but the Martin Strings are perfect for that instrument. You like the D tuning..it is ok to tune those strings up to the D tuning the instrument will take it. You want to know if your older instrument will also take the D tuning tension? It depends on the instrument. I would carefully try it, and like a watch, if you think that extra turn would hurt the watch, dont do it. It will. If the other uke is a martin as well, it should hold it easily. Gut strings are available, from John Bernunzio..you will find link on Flea Market Music. Tell John hello from all of us here a Uke Yak....Hope this helps. chuck Frets fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Pauld Johnson Subject: making a uke Question: Paula's father built a uke from scrath from a discarded one he found in the trash as a model. He wants to build more and wants to know where to get the materials. Answer: I would get a copy of a Newspaper type production called Vintage Guitar. You can find it in most music stores..In there, in the classified section. you find all kinds of stuff for sale. Many people today, offer kits and materials for building your own instrument. The tuning pegs can be purchased, again, from you local music store and if they don't have them, it is a simple matter to order you a set. I understand your 15 month old son is the player of the hand made uke. It must sound wonderful...I can understand your father's desire to build more. Encourage him to continue to play, because starting so young, by the time he is seven he will be on the road with his own group..The Ukeletts...let us know how it all comes out. Hope I've helped. Chuck - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Marshall Turner Subject: 1952 Williams Ukulele Question: Marshall ownes a Williams uke and wants more information about it. Answer: This is your lucky day. Not only do I know about them, I have 2 in my collection. One is a pineapple with a georgous sound, the other is a standard shape with a hideous sound. They both share the Fluorescent saddle and nut combination that yours has. My saddle and nut is a bright l950's fluorscent red ( how many of us can claim that) what color is yours? I know little about the company, except it was based in Los Angeles in the l940's and 50's...I don't think production was very high, because I have only see about 6 of them in the time I have been collecting. Mine are both made of a very plain wood..yours, as you have stated, is a zebra type wood. I don't know what that is, except to say it is probably Koa..Koa can have the stripes that resemble a Zebra. However, nothing else about your uke should resemble a Zebra or any other animal for that matter. As to value, I have nothing to base my guess on other than rarity, however I would say It is worth, in very good condition..300-400. Enjoy it, you have a real rare bird. Whoops another animal...see you at the next Uke extravaganza at McCabes. Chuck Frets Fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Rick essegern Subject: stringing up a Baritone Question: Rick has a no name Baritone and wants to know the correct strings. Answer: Stringing up a Baritone. Sounds like the vigilante method of dealing with a bad Opera star. You asked about the low fourth string and if that is correct of should it be a thinner string like the sopranos...The Baritone uke is strung exactly like the last four strings on a guitar. The fourth string should be the low string. If you try to put a smaller string and tune it up, you will suceed in having a three stringed ukulele withoug a bridge. Whether or not it should be a wound metal string, is a personal choice..I prefer gut or plastic, because I do not like the squeeky sound I get when I try to slide my fingers up the wound strings. again, just a personal choice,..try them both and see what you get. we here at Uke-yak thank you there at Uke-quest for all the intersting questions. write again anytime...Chuck Fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Mike Kemp Subject: Maxwell Uke Question: Mike purchased a Maxwell baritone uke and wants to know about it. Answer: Its a new one on me. I have no idea what Maxwell is. I am putting this out there in Uke-yak land in the hopes someone has another Maxwell or knows what it is. In the meantime I will exhause my resources and see what I can come up with. There were so many companies and retail stores that had manufacturers make ukes for them, than it is almost impossible to tell who made it without showing it to someone. So...stop the first person you see and show it to them. They will not know any more than I do..but their reaction will be worth it. I'll do my best to find out what I can. Frets Fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Frank Rocco Subject: Mint style 3 Martin Uke Question: Frank has found an unplayed Martin style 3 Mahogany Uke and wants to know about it. Answer: Frank....it is fun to find an unplayed anything..especially a style 3 martin. I understand it has the original hard case...nice addition. You commented that it had yellow binding that had come from age. The yellow binding was not uncommon on the very latest modles which is what you have found. The fact that it has dots on the fingerboard and not the triangles dates it from the later period of the martin production. None the less, it is a wondeful find. It is my personal favorite among the different styles that Martin made. What is it worth..high and low....In that condition, with the hard case and the hang tags,..750-800 on the low side would be a good buy, top value..I have seen them sell for as much as 1200...a good offer? anything below what you really want to pay for the instrument...Frank also ask how to convince the wife that it is not only a good Xmas present, but a wise investment. Silly question for a man who is married to a woman who is married to a man who has rooms full of the little things. Don't try....buy her something she would appreciate, like a shovel....Only kidding a hoe is a much better choice. Learn to play it well and very late at night wake her up from a sound sleep and sing love songs to her. She will say" Gee Frank, I wish you had bought that expensive Ukulele years ago. Will playing it cause it to go down in value? Only to the nuts who consider an unplayed instrument more valuable that a played one. It was meant to be played...it will retain its value because it is a class instrument. Thanks for all the questions..Hope to see you down the uke-trail...frets fayne- - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Mike Longworth Subject: Martin box ukes Question: No question, just valuable information from the horses mouth....sorry mike...your a thoroughbred! Answer: In response to a letter a while back about a Martin box Ukulele. Mick submits the following information. Most of the box ukes were made by Adam Strohl, now deceased. He made them from left over Martin parts. Mike has one that I am sure he is going to send me for my Birthday, which by the way is any day you want it to be. Adam sold them through the Woodworker's Dream division, eventually renamed the guiitarmaker's connection at Martin. Adam was a good friend of Mike's and was a Martin employee for over 30 years. thanks mike,your information is always interesting and a valuable addition to our ever growing pile of uke-info....see ya...Frets Fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: CHUCK FAYNE Subject: THE MAIL MUST GET THROUGH Question: Wheres my answer??? Answer: For those of you who wrote recently and did not receive an answer, I'm sorry. We had a glitch in the system and I was smart for once in my life. I kept the questions. I will begin to answer them now and will have them done in a couple of days. Please, if you don't see you answer in the yak, either ask again or contact me directly and It will get answsered...There is nothing as annoying as an unanswered question....Just ask any wife who is trying to talk to her husband while he is playing the uke. Take a walk on the fretboard of life..play a uke. Frets Fayne - Monday, December 7, 1998

Question asked by: Steve Sellers Subject: Concert Vs. Tenor Question: Which is best? Answer: Steve, it is a tough question, because it has to fit your individual needs. I can tell you my opinion, but it is based on my individual tastes and needs. I like all the different sizes of Ukes for different reasons. But if you put a gun to my head ( don't please) and asked me to pick one, I would pick the Tenor. The highs are clear and the lows are as well. It, for me again, is the easiest to play. It fits my style and my size. I find a sporano and a concert a little limiting in the upper registers ane somewhat harder to fit my fingers in the spaces,...I do not find that problem with the tenor. The baritone I love to play when I want that guitarlike swinging..strummin' background. I have no idea what I have just suggested to you, I hope you do. My advise to you is to sit down with a concert and a tenor..play them...and the answer will come to you...I promise...thanks for a tough question..but thanks for making me think about the answser. write again and let us know what you decide...chuck - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Rainer Busch Subject: Electric Konablaster Uke. Question: What do I know about this instrument. Answer: I heard oneonce. It sounds about like you would imagine...I would personally, if I wanted an amplified Ukulele, have the saddle conversion done to a very good standard Uke. That is where the make the saddle the pickup and install a jack in the butt of the Uke. That retains the sweet sound of the Ukulele and does nothing more than make it louder. The Steel string Konablaster Uke did not sound anything like a Ukulele. It really depends on the sound you personally want. Thanks for writing all the way from Germany, you must be very tired..it had to travel a long way. Welcome to our side of the pond and write often with what you find and what you decide to do. I wish I could be more helpful, but it is such a personal decision. Thanks and write again...chuck frets fayne - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Frank Rocco Subject: 6 string hawaiian guitar-Uke-whatever… Question: A while back Frank asked some questions about Sonny D Ukes. I'm sorry, I have no additional information. Recently, Frank found a man who had an instrument about the size of a Concert Uke, a little fatter than a uke, but with six strings. Answer: Frank, I have no idea what the six string instrument is. I would need a better description to help. I understand the man who wants to sell it claims he got it from a man who bought it in Hawaii. The fact the the strings are evenly spaced rules out the possibility of a six string concert Uke..It is definitly a guitar of some kind. I have been playing around with Hawaiian instruments for years, this is the first time I have heard of a tiny guitar. You are right when you say it must have been designed for strummin' not pluckin'..If you would like to get a picture of it to me, I would love to see if I can do a better job of telling you about it. Sounds fascinating. If anyone out there in pickinland knows what it is...please write us...thanks for the letter..write often...Chuck - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Tony Wikner Subject: A Kamaka Uke Question: Tony found a kamaka pineapple in a music store...beat up...but a good player. Answer: I'm not surprised that it is a good player. When the world goes through another of its Ages, and the dust clears, the two surviving elements will be again the cockroach and the Kamaka Pineapple Uke. They are hard to kill. I think you will find it will cost less to repair than you think and they are very much sought after as a collectible and a player. (the uke not the cockroach)... The answer to the second part of you question is that most of the KeiKi Ukes were made by Kamaka but assembled in Japan. Not the same quality as the genuine made and assembled in Hawaii. If anyone has further information in the KeiKi ukes, please let me know...it is a grey spot in my knowledge..Please restore the Pineapple Uke, it is my favorite playing uke of all time and well worth what it costs you to repair it. From your description, there is more than enough left to do a decent job. If you write me directly, and let me know where you live, I will do my best to get you to a Luthier who knows what they are doing. thanks for joining the ever growing Uke Yak family Tree...Cheers...Chuck - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Bill Tompson Subject: Martin Box Uke.. Question: Whats it worth? Answer: It seems that Bill has a very interesting piece. He was given by Dick Boak, head of the Celebrity commemorative guitar section of Martin Guitars. In l981 the box uke made of Matin scrap pieces was given to Bill by Dick Boak. It is square, like a cigar box uke, and made of Rosewood for the fingerboard, walnut back, spruce top and sides and a mahogany bridge. Bill wants to know if it has collectible value and how much does Dick Boak's signature add to the value and collectibility. The Uke is fretless and Bill wants to know if he should add frets or leave it original...First, it has alot of collectible value, as it is a one of a kind. The signature certainly does add to its value. Should you have frets added...In my opinion..No...I would leave it exactly as made. I cannot give you a money value, because of its rarity. I'm sure many people would like to own it...there will always be a market for it. I think you should feel very honored to have been given it and it is a true treasure. As with all these little things, the story is often more interesting than the uke, however in this case, they both are fascinating. Hang on to it...Thanks for a most interesting look at another side of the Martin Guitar Company. Chuck Fayne....please send me a picture of the uke for my own personal collection. My snail mail address can by found in one of the Uke Yak answers. thanks again - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Sleepytod Mitchell Subject: violin uke Question: Todd found one in an antique store and wants to know if he passed buying a rarity. Answer: I assume that what you are talking about is a ukelin. Soimetimes known as a violin uke. If it is not..then I would appreciate another letter telling me exactly what it is. The ukelin, as long as we are on the subject, is an instrument that has nothing to do with either a ukulele or a violin. They are usually in great condition, because people bought them and found them unplayable, put them back in the box and never looked at them again. They are more like a bowed psaltry than anything else. If this is indeed what you passed , you did the right thing. As I said, if it is not, I would love to know. Thanks, I needed to talk about the Ukelin...which by the way, is in Jim"s book...The Ukulele, a visual history. Thanks for yakkin" frets fayne - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: Nancy Subject: clarophone banjo ukes Question: tell me about it.… Answer: The answser to your question is it is a nice but not extremely rare banjo uke. They made a couple of varieties. One was an open backed, and one was a sort of a resonator. A piece of wood separated from the back with little black washer type doodads. ( don't know what to call them) yes I do...spacers. You asked it if is worth millions of dollars...I hope so...but I don't think so. But, you should restore it and play it. If you stop to think about it, that's what it was designed for. Your letter was funny..it made me laugh..With your sense of humor, you will do well as a banjo uke player. If you want to send me a better description, I will try to find out more about your instrument. Thanks again for the nice letter. Chuck - Monday, November 23, 1998

Question asked by: chuck fayne (frets) Subject: SOSRRY...… Question: WHERE HAVE I BEEN.? Answer: As most of you know We live in Austsralia. We are in the process of moving one house to another. The local tele company is not as speedy as we would like it to be. Please be patient and I will get around to answering all your questions in the next couple of days. I haven't forgotton or misplaced any and will get to them very soon. Sorry, but I am stuck and at their mercy...Back on line in two days. Keep them cards and letters commin' Thanks...chuck fayne - Saturday, November 21, 1998

Question asked by: Mike Longworth Subject: Nuts to you....walnut..… Question: Mike is making a Walnut Uke and wants to know how much ornamentation to put on the uke and if anyone has any feedback about the tonal quality of walnut. Answer: If this question had come from anyone but the legendary Mike Longworth, I would say they were nuts. However, knowing the work of this man, I know this is a genuine question. I understand, from Mike, that he is going to use walnut to ornament the top of a ukulele he is building. Does anyone out there know anything about the wood? I have never come across walnut used on or for a Ukulele. However, in our vast uke yak population, there must be someone who knows about this wood. If you do, please share it with us and let us know. For those of you who might not know Mike Longworth, I suggest you look at the Catch and Release site and take a look at the work of a master builder....also Mike is the man who wrote the difinitive work on the Martin company. If you do not own a copy of the book, I suggest you purchase it. I have personally worn out two copies. It's hard to believe that I am answering the questions of a man I go to when I don't know the answer. I'm flattered. Thanks Mike...keep in touch....frets Fayne (chuck) - Tuesday, November 17, 1998

Question asked by: Nick Bliss Subject: style 3 gibson uke Question: Nick has a style three Uke (gibson) and needs to know its value for insurance Answer: Nick...thanks for sending me a little more information. I asked him to describe it a little better so I would know which style 3 it is. Gibson made two style threes. One with script "The gibson" and the other in sort of art deco script "gibson"..this is the first style 3 the earliest. I have the seen the uke sell for anywhere from 750.00 to 1200.00 U.S. That is, of course in excellent condition. I do not know of a Uke specialist in England, however, I will do some research and let you know who. Where do you live, Nick, and I will find the closest person. Thanks for joining the uke yak legionaires...frets fayne - Tuesday, November 17, 1998

Question asked by: Bert Mayne Subject: Duke Kahanamoka Ukes Question: Bert wants to know if they are worth anything with the name of the Duke on them. Are they playable and how much should he pay for one. Answer: If the original Duke signed it, I guess you could name your price. Everyone I have ever seen is a tourist ..take it back to the mainland...Uke. Cheaply made..Playable if you are not concerned with the sound. And you should be able to pick up one for a few dollars....don't look at your purchase as an investment...Wish I had better news, but its all the news that fit to print. Thanks for the question..Sorry for the answer...chuck frets fayne - Tuesday, November 10, 1998

Question asked by: Linton Corbie Subject: a contribution Question: A while back a question was asked about uke instruction at a little higher level than is usually available. I knew of nothing, but Linton did. Answer: Linton suggests that we contact Four Strings Studio in Hawaii...http://www.mailhawaii.com/4strings/ Linton also cautions us that he has attempted to contact them twice in the last two years and they have not responded. Perhaps if enough of us bug them, they will respond. Linton,....thanks for the info..much appreciated...chuck - Tuesday, November 10, 1998

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