It looks pretty old. Probably not a "Martin" level instrument but
to me with my penchant for off brands, it's interesting.
Could you give them some advice or me something I could tell them?
Maybe a link or a site they could go to for information?
No makers marks.
16 comments:
Unfortunately, I do not know the maker of the Uke that you have posted. The Uke was such a popular instrument back in the early 1900's, everyone was making them. This particular Uke you posted does not look cheaply made, but then again, I would really have to see it up close and in person to make a solid judgment.
One rule of thumb I always use, whether the instrument is an expensive and branded one, let's say a teen's or 20's Martin, or an even more rare Nunes or Santo from the 1800's, or just the basic Uke that grampa made in his garage back in the 19 teen's, you have to like what it is and how it feels and plays and sounds, without all the fancy smanchy name or emblazoned Ivory details, Mother of Pearl and Abba Dabba Lonie nonsense. This is true with all instruments that pass through my hands. Use your own judgement as to it's value to YOU.
Maybe this website can help:
http://www.ukulele.org/
It sure is pretty, though.
I hope you get it so we can have our ukulele band next time we get together.
"12th St Rag", "5ft 2," "Ain't She Sweet" these are Bob's repertoire on his Martin Uke. I cashed in my war bond for $25 and bought it for him in 1953.
No wonder it sounds so sweet when he plays those songs!
Depending on what the actual year and model of Bob's Uke is, it's today book value runs from around $750.00 for the plainest, to $30,000 for the rarest "5-M" model. Even if it is the plain "Style 0", it was a damned good investment for your cashed out $25.00 war bond. I am sure the sentimental value far exceeds these figures.
I suppose it's always good to know that an instrument has some financial value, but you cannot begin to quantify how wonderful that little uke sounds when Bob plays it!
For those of us who should be working this a.m. but would rather listen to ukuleles:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5452989235122070808&ei=Ls1lS8q6H4eYqQPb_KXdAw&q=ukulele+orchestra+of+great+britain&hl=en&client=firefox-a#
or if you don't have the fascination that I do, here's just a short clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGEhAVdmMr8
Chris is really worth paying attention to on this stuff.
Rik, What a nice thing to say! Thank you.
We'll take $30,000 for it.
Spoken like a true Capitalist. Every thing has it's price.
I'd take less, but I can't since it belongs to you.
Your right Gary, pure greed. We'll lower it to $25,000.
Style "O" ukulele: $750.00
Style "5-M" ukulele: $30,000, (now discounted to $25,000)
Bob Sheffer playing 12th Street Rag on $25 ukulele in the Paradox Ukulele Band: PRICELESS
Monetary vs. Sentimental, this has always been my particular dilemma in the buying/selling/collecting realm. This is also the reason that I have, over the years, acquired (bought/sold/traded) over 3,500 Guitars, Mandolins, Ukuleles, Violins, Banjos, Pedal Steels, Harps, and other various instruments that caught my eye and ear. As Walter Brennan said "No Brag, Just Fact". I still have the logs with prices, dates and serial numbers of everything that has passed through my hands.
No, I do not possess all of these instruments at this time in my life, but there was a time when I did have over 1,200 various instruments, all at one time. That was in the mid 80's to mid 90's. I had about 60 old Martins, and various other acoustic instruments, but I mostly collected Fender, Gibson, B.C. Rich, and other various electrics. Hard to manage you ask....YOU BET!
As the circumstances in my life changed, so did my thinking on what I was doing. I had to re-think balancing making a living with this love of mine for vintage/antique instruments, and getting back to actually enjoying it, like when I first started, rather than just mostly managing it, which is what it had escalated to. This is what happens when you get too much stuff of any type! I had to decide what I really wanted, what I could reasonably manage, and what I would like to play every day. I also became acutely aware that when I buy a vintage or antique instruments, I will be their caretaker for the time I have with them. Today, I really enjoy caring for them, and sharing them with those that have an interest, and not just keeping them stashed it in the vault where no one else can touch them, although I am always hoping that those I share with will handle gently :-).
These days I almost never buy instruments to collect just for monetary reasons, but there are exceptions, and over the 40 years I have been doing this, I would have been a fool to not to buy specifically for that reason. We are all flawed.
All that said, yes Diane, I agree with you, some things are priceless! Case in point, Ralph's 1964 Guild F-50 that he gave me back in the early 80's. I have wonderful memories of Ralph and others back in the old days playing that Guild, and Ralph trading me out for a month or so back in 1971 for my 1970 Martin D-18, which he really liked back then. It also has recent good memories from the last Paradox Reunion, where it was passed around and played by many, for the enjoyment of all. I also vividly remember the day I was at Ralph's place and he showed me a new guitar that he had just bought, then walked to his closet and pulled out the Guild and told me that I should have it. While my old 1970 Martin D-18 is long gone, the Guild Ralph gave me always sits ready for playing here in my guitar room, and will never ever be sold by me, for any price.
Would you accept a chicken for the down payment? How about a half eaten Haggis?
For the Uke, I will not accept a chicken for a down payment, nor a Haggis, perhaps a side of beef.
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