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

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Question asked by: Seppo Piisola Subject: Kamalia uke Question: Hi Chuck! What do you know and say about Kamalia ukulele? It is told to made by Kamalia Kamaka Hawaii at about 1920... What does that mean, relative to current Kamaka? If it is reasonable by condition, what sould I pay for it? I couldn´t get a photo Sepi Answer: Sepi Never heard that Kamalia was made by Kamaka in the 20's. I would write the Kamaka company, they are still in business, and ask them the question. They keep wonderful records and will answer you. Look up Kamaka on the net and you will find them. let me know what happens...chuck - Sunday, May 18, 2008

Question asked by: Jack Dan Subject: Tabu stamp, Aloha Hawaii crest... What is it. Question: Hi Chuck, just picked this uke up on e-bay. Beautiful sound despite the fine crack in the soundboard. I have read a lot of your answers and very interesting. Is this a Kumalae. Looks alot like Jeff Mercer's Uke (posted Feb 6). Decal is a bit different though. Has a hand written 248 on the inside... a valuable clue! Seriously though there are so many of these Tabu stamped Hawaii decaled numbers around... can you tell me the who, when and how much? Thanks, Love your work. Jack Dan. P.S. the tuning pegs are out of my harmony so don't let that throw you. Photos:      Answer: Jack it is definitely not a Kumalae. I am not sure what it is, but the tabu stamp, which I have never seen on a Kumalae, is early. Lighter strip on the butt is also a sign of an early uke. If I had it in my hand, I could do a better job. It is the wrong shape for Kumalae...too round. Nice uke, wish I could be of more help. Please send me a better picture of the decal...see ya....c - Sunday, May 18, 2008

Question asked by: joan mckee Subject: weissenborn uke Question: hi chuck, i'm joan. i'm a student of fred thompson in san diego ca. i have a weissenborn uke that i'd like to know the value of. i'd like to send you images in the mail...do you have a po box or something? ii don't have the ability to send photos on the computer. it doesn't have the rope binding. it's in tact and signed inside. i hope to hear from you. sincerely joan mckee Answer: IF you have pics you can take them to any Internet cafe and they will scan them to me. If you can't do that, please send me a detailed description of the uke. length, number of dots on the fingerboard (if any)...small little piece of what looks like ivory on the side of the fingerboard. I would prefer the pics but that will help and I will help you..thanks..chuk - Friday, May 2, 2008

Question asked by: andy Subject: Baritone harmony question Question: Hello CHuck, I am looking into purchasing a good condition Harmony Baritone Ukulele for me and my son to learn on. The instrument needs new strings - any suggestions? Any help you could offer would be appreciated. Also for fun we would like to build our own uke a concert size or tenor - any recommendations for decent sounding kits once they are done? Best regards, Abndy and Thomas Basso Answer: If you are going to play only Baritone uke, it is fine to learn on. But it's sort of backwards. I suggest learning on a soprano and once thats done, switch to the larger ukes. Its hard to go backwards when you are used to the size of the larger baritone. I don't know who carries kits but if you type your wants into google, I am sure you will find what you are looking for. Best ....chuck - Friday, May 2, 2008

Question asked by: Herbert K. Danziger Subject: Gretsch American / Gretsch Question: Chuck, Were Gretsch American and Gretsch ukes made by the same company? If so, do the two names indicate dates of manufacture? Thanks. Answer: Herb...good to hear from you. I'm sorry its taken so long, but I lost all images on the fleamarketmusic site and had to wait until someone figured it out. They were both made by the same company in the 30's as far as I know. I always assumed Gretsch American was like their second line. I still really like the Gretsch plain jane uke. Great sound. Louder than most, great for jammin...best to you and don't be a stranger....chuck - Friday, May 2, 2008

Question asked by: Kim Subject: Uke Question: Any info on this pretty little thing? T.B Co. Chicago - What kind of wood is it? thanks! Photos:      Answer: Kim..its koa wood and I can't remember what T B stands for. I will remember it and add it to this answer when I do. It is made to look Hawaiian and isn't. I always like these ukes and found the little added piece of soundboard fun to look at and absolutely useless for playing. I will remember what T B company means some day when the mental fog lifts. best to ya..c - Friday, May 2, 2008

Question asked by: Curtis Subject: old C.F. martin need info. Question: Hello, Can you tell me around what year this uku was made and what is the value of this uku.If you need more photos i can send more. Thank you. Photos:      Answer: I appears to be an early (1920) martin style 0 without the position dots. 400+ if it is a soprano..Have seen them without dots before. c - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: William K Hackman Subject: Martin Uke Question: Third times a Charm. 1920's Martin I think. Appraisal please. Answer: William, I am not avoiding you honest. YOu need someone to help you send a picture. They are not coming through. Please try again and I will be happy to help....c - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: John Subject: Long Term Storage Question: I'm going to be putting two of my Kamaka ukes away for a while, maybe as much as a year, while I concentrate on other instruments. I live in Southern California about 10 miles from the beach and I wanted to get your suggestions on any appropriate storage techniques for that period of time. Answer: I lived in Los Angeles 10 miles from the beach for 50 years. Had hundreds of ukes in cases and nothing ever happened to them. Seems that they agree with the climate. They will be be ok...c Mine were in cases, I would suggest you store them that way. Need help go to McCabes guitar shop in Santa Monica on Pico Blvd. They will help you...best....c - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Jeff Wolf Subject: Harmony Tailfin tuner Question: Hey Chuck, Did Harmony make more than on type of "tailfin" tuner? In the attached pic the top one is the type I’ve always seen. The bottom one is from a set I am selling on Ebay which I pulled off a vintage Harmony Roy Smeck soprano that had been refinished. I have no idea whether they were original to the uke, or even if they are Harmony. They do look to be of better quaity, which leads me to believe that they are older, possibly prewar. Could you please shed some light on this? Photos:      Answer: both vintage both ok ..seen them both and they are just variations. The color of the white is different and the feel of the knob is different. Don't know much else...chuock - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Joel eckhaus Subject: martin 3m Question: A customer just brought in her mother's late 20's martin 3m, in excellent condition, w/original case, for repair. There's a couple unrepaired hairline cracks in the top, and one in the side, lower bout. I want to give her an accurate current value on it. What are these going for these days? Thanks Answer: Hey Joel....750+ depending on the severity of the cracks. The market is nuts now and it could sell for more or not sell at all. Depends on the wind. Best and nice to hear from you....c - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Steven Sylce Subject: A pair of Nunes Ukes Question: Can you tell me anything about the value of these? Photos:      Answer: Steven....they are not ukuleles in the pure sense of the word. They are taropatches. The one on the right ( with decal) is made by Manuel Nunes around 1910. The one on the left is made by his son Leonardo about 1920-1920. They are not easy instruments to sell because people find them difficult to keep in tune. However from a collecting point of view they are desirable. I would guess most fine collections have one or the other or both in the collection. However, I am sure there are people looking for them. 500 on the Leonardo and 750 on the Manuel and don't hold me to that. I could have given you an exact figure 5 years ago, but the market is so weird that it could go anywhere. good luck, they are both very nice instruments...I would have the crack on the leonardo fixed before it spreads to the soundhole...If it does you will have a real problem and it will decrease the value a lot. best...chuck - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: Herb Subject: Odd-Shaped Uke Question: Hi Chuck, I picked this odd uke up this morning at a flea market. It is not the highest quality instrument and there are splits but I am a sucker for something different and the price was right. It is 21 1/2 inches long and the fret board is Mother of Toilet Seat. The floral decoration, I believe, is a decal. The tuners are slightly unusual...see pic. Any help you can give me on who might have made it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Herb Photos:      Answer: Harmony made the body and perhaps Fred Rickter did the decals. Have seen a couple...I have always thought it's a Vita with a standard top. I like it allot and it has a very good set of tuners.,hope it sounds like a vita...best..c - Thursday, April 24, 2008

Question asked by: George Subject: S&H Greenstamps Uke Question: This soprano ukulele was purchased with S&H Green Stamps in the late 50's. Do you have any idea as to maker or value. Thanks. Photos:      Answer: I have no idea the maker, a guess would be Regal due to the shape of the headstock. It doesn't matter who made it, the S&H Stamp story is great. I am old enough to remember the stamps, I bought my fish for the fish tank by sneaking my mother's greens stamp books and trading them in at the pet shop. Kinda wish I had known you could get a Ukulele that way. I think your uke is great. No great value, it is a cheapie, which I guess it should have been considering what they were actually selling them for. Find a green stamp book to go with it and you have a complete package...thanks..chuck - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: Chris Kemp Subject: Krupp uke Question: Hey Chuck, I've recently acquired a Krupp ukulele. As no one has heard of Krupp, I'm wondering if you can give me any more information, using these photos. I don't have the ukulele yet, but here are some images I DO have. I'll have to send them separately as this only allows attachment of one image. Thanks --ck Photos:      Answer: Chris. I have seen about a half dozen Krupp ukes through the years which of course doesn't mean I have any idea who made them. They have all been as plain as yours but have beautiful proportions. I don't remember playing one . When you actually take possession of the uke, please measure it top to bottom and across the bouts and let me know the measurements. I remember them being larger than a standard soprano uke. Whats the story with the case..original????Please keep me photographically informed. Boy, thats a long word. I am very interested in the uke. Nice score, no matter what it is. thsnks for writing in....c - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: Michael Subject: Ka:lai pineapple Question: dear chucky.could you give me a value on this little pineapple.. and where the best place to sell it.. ? Photos:      Answer: Michael. your best place to sell it would be on this site on the marketplace. You will find it in the black menu at the left. It is a very desirable ukulele made by Lei in conjunction with Kamaka. I think the uke would sell from 350-500 depending on the entire condition. It is a style 3 or 4 depending on who's telling you what it is. I would do a little research before you list it to see what others like have sold for. I will try to find out and write an addition to this answer. I have a sneaking suspicion that it could go for more. Market is soft but good stuff sells. thanks for writing in..let me know what you find out...c - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: William K Hackman Subject: Front picture Question: Here's a picture of the front of my Martin that you requested. I guess the last one got lost. You were about to give me an appraisal. Thanks for the info Answer: this one got lost also. sorry - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: gary schireson Subject: pearson uke Question: Chuck,hope is well.Do you have a picture of a Pearson Uke? Best regards Gary Schireson Answer: gary...will dig around and find a pic. I do have one somewhere. I may have to get a pic made from a slide. I took the pics in the photographiprehistoricpredigital times. best. chuck - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Question asked by: Jim Vyhnak Subject: Seville Ukulele Question: Can you tell me anything about Seville Ukuleles? I have a chance to buy one, but I am finding it hard to get information about them. It has a small 'Made in Japan' sticker on it. It has a soft plastic carrying case and a small pamphlet (green and white) that shows some chords and simple songs. The ukulele is a soprano and has a rounded back. Solid wood - not sure what kind, maybe mahogany. It has some broken strings and a couple of missing pegs. The nut is missing. One hard-to-see small crack that doesn't seem to affect it's resonance. They want $45 for it, and I figure that if I have a luthier work on it, it will end up costing me $100 or so. I'm sorry that I have no picture to show you. Is this any kind of deal? Thanks, Chuck!!! Answer: Jim...I have no idea. Not familiar with the brand...perhaps when the yakkers read this, someone will know.,..best and thanks for writing in...chuck - Monday, April 14, 2008

Question asked by: jason hurley Subject: polk-a-lay-lee Question: I need to find a Polk-A-Lay-Lee peg and I dont Know were to get one. Thank You Answer: I get this question a lot. I wish I had a stock of them. I would suggest writing this on the bulletin board and see if someone out there has one. They are very scarce. sorry I can't help...chuck - Monday, April 14, 2008

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