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

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Question asked by: Mark Subject: old uke Question: Hi Chuck, Here's a pic of the whole uke. Like I said it came from Montgomery Wards 1941 postmark. the headstock is hard to read it may say Consort? Looks like a musical staff with a Large C and something else I cant make out. Thanks, Mark Photos:      Answer: Pic too dark to tell. Its a classic regal shape. Please send a lighter pic so I can help more...thanks...chuck - Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Question asked by: Dennis McKenna Subject: My next Uke Question: I'm not very good for playing two years now but would like to purchase a good sounding less- expensive Tenor. I like my little Mahalo Concert size. Any suggestions? Answer: Get a Mahalo Tenor is the first solution that comes to mind. If this doesn't work, write back...lots to choose from today, but why not stick with what's working....chuck - Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Question asked by: Daryl Shick Subject: brands Question: HI Chuck I just need some info on uke brands that are good but don't cost the earth.Was looking at that mother pearl REGAL REGARDS FROM LORD HOWE ISLAND DARYL Answer: What mother of pearl regal regards from lord how island.....?????? chuck - Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Question asked by: Peter Subject: Gibson tenor Question: Hi Chuck, I recently had a chance to look over A Gibson tenor and noticed a lot of similar elements to harmony uke of the same era 50-60s, heel shape, plastic bridge and nut. Did Harmony make gibsons thanks Peter Sherlock Answer: Hardly......Gibson was one of the top makers of stringed instruments and Harmony made cheap mass produced instruments to be sold in every shop in town. I know I am going to get a lot of mail about the good uke Harmony made. Save your mail. They did make some good ukes but certainly did not make ukes for Gibson..... Thanks for asking...chuck - Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Question asked by: KENT in Surf City Subject: ~~~ HARMONY BARITONE TUNERS ~~~ Question: ~~~ Aloha Frets; I tried the Bulletin Board & got no action. Now I'm gonna go to the pro! Do you know who manufactured the friction tuners for the 1950's Harmony / Silvertone baritones? They have white plastic knobs with a silver barrel between them & the back of the head stock. All info greatly appreciated.... Mahalo Nui Loa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answer: NO Idea.......Know about ukes and not alot about tuners.,...chuck - Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Question asked by: LInda Subject: Uke for Dad Question: Hi Chuck, I want to buy my Dad a uke. He has a version of Somewhere over the rainbow currently performed by a Hawaiian man playing it on his uke in mind. What kind should I get him? Does the tenor, soprano, baritone factor play a significant role in this case? I want to spend between 100.00 and 150.00. Any suggestions? Thanks Linda Stickney Answer: go on the web and look up bushman jenny ukuleles. They might just fit the bill. A soprano is the smallest and the baritone the largest. I personally like a concert. bigger than a soprano and smaller than a tenor. confused....I certainly am. Try a tenor Bushman Jenny...good reports....chuck - Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Question asked by: Nate Subject: mele ukulele Question: I found an old uke in my grandfathers attic. I dont know what it is. It says "meleukulele" on a paper in the soundhole. The headstock says "mele" and "b&j NY, NY" it also has a woman playing a ukulele on the headstock. On top of all that, it is skinnier than a regular uke and has artwork on it that looks like feathers. Answer: Nate send pictures. That woman on the headstock must be uncomfortable...chuck - Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Question asked by: Nate Crawford Subject: Barclay Question: I have owned my Barclay baritone uke for about 45 years. Still in perfect condidtion and I still play it from time to time. It was present from my parents. I have no idea of its value other than to me. Any ideas? Answer: nate, they don't pop up often and are a fairly good instrument. The value would be around 200 bucks...Baritones are tough to sell at best....thanks for writing in...chuck - Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Question asked by: John Barlos Subject: Hollywood Uke Question: This Hollywood is being ressurected. Looks to me like this Hollywood Concert uke had wire strings on it. Do you know were these built to have wire strings? Also from the looks of the nut it would possibly have a wound string only for the 'C' string. Photos:      Answer: One of my favorite makers. YOurs is a style 3 and none of the models were ever strung with wire strings. I stayed away from wound strings as well, they chew up a bridge. I have owned all the models and never saw one with a wire string. Made by the schierson company. You can reach gary schierson at volutone, he is still around and a good guy. He has quite a collection of Hollywood ukes....he is in the valley in Los Angeles....best...chuck - Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Question asked by: cathy Subject: giannini Question: How can I find out what a giannini baritone ukuleles is worth? I have all info. Answer: They aren't worth much but not because they are not good. Because they are a baritone. They are hard to sell. I guess a few hundred would be tops if it is in great condition...thanks....chuck - Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Question asked by: Bonnie Subject: is this a homemade uke? Question: Or is it a homemade guitar by some hippie perhaps? :-) Photos:      Answer: Its neither...they are called lots of things. surfelele, swaggerty uke, and a few others I don't know. But the is a swaggerty web site. There are people who collect these things...wierd, but they sound pretty good. see ya....chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: daniel e Subject: Try again Question: alright i recently got this ukulele from a storage auction, can you tell me who its made by because i heard that lyra was just an importer not a maker, it said it was made in western germany if that helps at all, also what strings do you think would work for it, when i got it, it had fishing line for strings Photos:      Answer: Any set of good strings, Kamaka is still what I prefer. I am from the old school. I have seen alot of lyra's and still have no idea about them. This is the first with a reference to Germany. I always understood they were mnade in Japan. I'm sure some other yakker will respond to this, the name pops up regularly...thans for writing again (?).....chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: grouch Subject: old banjo uke Question: g'dy, Chuck!..grouch here..and a question (or 2?)..had this old thing over 20 yrs..it ain't a player..in looking at the body, do you have any idea what wood it is?..just curious..thought it might be birds-eye maple..any notion how old it might be?..there- -that's 2 questions!.. thanks..have a good one...Grouch Photos:      Answer: It is maple and it is 30's. And I agree, they don't sound all that terrific...keep in touch...chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: Dave Demaree Subject: Tuners for Martin Ukes Question: I have a Martin Soprano Type 1 (thanks to your ID of it) that has two different types of tuners (tuning machines) on it. Two are of one style and two are of another. I think they may both have been Martin original style tuners, but I would like to get all four to match (one set has a spacer under the knob, the other does not). So I am willing to buy a set of four or two each of one of the types on my uke. Any suggestions as to how to find/acquire them? Thanks again for your help. Photos:      Answer: Go to the C F Martin site and order a set of Martin tuners direct. They will work....thanks for writing in...chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: Frank Burnworth Subject: Arthur Godfrey Solo Lute Question: I would like to thank you for the rapid response to my previous question. I appreciate any information I can gain on my "Lute". I have another question I would like to ask. I have the original case for it and I intend to keep it---but I would like to store it in a more substantial case. Since the "Lute" is longer than a normal Baritone, Where can I obtain a hardshell case for it? Thank you, Frank Burnworth Answer: Put an ad on Marketplace on this site looking for an oversized case. You will probably have to settle for a tenor guitar case which would probably fit it perfectly. Try it and see what happens....chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: DOUG Subject: ORLANDO UKE Question: I HAVE AN ORLANDO THAT I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION OR VALUE. IF ANYONE CAN DIRECT ME ON WHERE I CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION, I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE IT... THANKS Photos:      Answer: I have a cataloge that shows Orlando being distributed by about 5 different companies. Probably made by regal for sale to retailers. Thanks for writing in. NOt a bad uke....chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: chris young Subject: Aloha Royal Uke Question: Dear Chuck, Do you know who makes (or made) Aloha Royal ukes? My neighbor has one – real nice (looks like my gold label early 60’s Keiki Kamaka but I doubt Kamaka made them). I offered to buy it and told him I’d get a price. Any ideas on who might know how to value them? Aloha, Chris Answer: Aloha Royal pop up all the time. I'm not sure who made them...The decal was available in stores at that time. Some sound really good. Would still like picture to be sure its not mainland with a hawaiian sticker...chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: rubberdog Subject: Follow up - ropebound soprano Question: Hi Chuck - follow up with picture - you asked about the neck to body joint on this solid mahogany rope-bound soprano. Nothing unusual from the outside, except a very V shaped heel. Neck block inside is rectangular with a thick dowel. Kerfed lining, wood nut and saddle. The tuners seem unusual - brass, with the small buttons in settings like jewelry, marked (I think) "pat pend". No 12th fret. Sounds mellow, loud, not bright. Intonates well. Any idea what it is? Thanks. Photos:      Answer: mainland made. Perhaps harmony or regal or one of the other Chicago makers. I have seen those tuners before, they are more rare than the uke. Not bad tuners. Nice looking uke, hope it sounds good. l930's-50's.....chuck - Monday, December 4, 2006

Question asked by: Gregg Subject: banjo uke Question: Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of uke this is? I'm thinking it's just a common house brand. I bought this one and a Mauna (Mavna?) Loa for 20 bucks, both missing tuners, bridge and there in need of new skins. I would like to get them up and running. Where can I get replacement skins for them? Thank you in advance. Gregg Photos:      Answer: Well, its the funniest picture I ever got for a question. I can tell you all about the tailpiece and the butt of the banjo uke and nothing else. Did it ever occure to you that a front shot might help? Don't become a wedding photoprapher, the bride and groom will have pictures only of their feet. Send another and I'll try to help. - Friday, December 1, 2006

Question asked by: Mark Waldrop Subject: Martin 5K ukulele Question: Not a question but a comment. I understand the reluctance based on experiences with the Mexican made S-0 ukulele. I've yet to play a new 5K, but I can confidently say that when the folks in Nazareth set their minds to making a quality instrument with the constuction values of their glory years, they acheive the goal. Value can only be judged by the buyer, but I suspect that comparing a new 5K to an S-0 is like comparing figs to coconuts. I confess to a bias as a dealer for Martin Guitars, but I'm also a former student of Roy Smeck's & I know good ukes. I see the quality of the new Martins & the vintage recreations are wonderful. Answer: Thanks for your comments. I would imagine that Martin, as smart as they are, learned their lesson after the SO experience. I look forward to playing on the of the new 5's. I always found it intereting that Roy played Harmony Vitas- one of his sponsors- in concert but it seemed that his instrument of choice was a style 3 Martin. Again , thanks..chuck - Friday, December 1, 2006

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