doctorapatite
Well-known member
I always thought it would be fun to someday own a vintage ukulele, a really cool old one that could be played but was also just awesome from a historical perspective. So I've been keeping my eye out for a while on various auction sites (which is easy because I already do that for my other hobby of collecting mid century modern glassware). But it's hard to trust listings with badly photographed instruments where you can't tell if its koa or cardboard. And in any case I always get outbid, usually by many hundreds of dollars. However, persistence and luck have paid off and I am now the proud owner of this soprano, unknown age or maker:
I don't think the seller did themselves any favors with the lighting of their photo (upper left). Even a quick wipe with a damp cloth and a bit of sunlight makes it look like a different instrument.
This is what it looks like in full sunlight, again just gently wiped off. Note the neck separation and deep scratches, but also the flame, which is like nothing I've ever seen in person. Now I understand why they call it "flame". I get it.
It's definitely not cardboard.
There's daylight between the neck and body so that will have to be addressed, and the bridge looks less solid than I'd like but I'm not a professional, so I can't say for sure that there aren't other issues that I have missed. I have not tried to string it for fear of doing some serious damage. But I've been tempted to put a low-tension set on there just to let it sing a little. Just a whisper.
My goal is to get a full structural and cosmetic restoration, to whatever extent is possible. I've reached out to Jake Wildwood but I haven't gotten a response, and it is my understanding that he is very busy in any case. I am open to recommendations, including self-recommendations but obviously those are worth more when backed up by client recommendations.
Anyway, I thought people might be interested in seeing the before and after. I'll update this thread when I find a luthier to work on it and then as anything else interesting happens.
I don't think the seller did themselves any favors with the lighting of their photo (upper left). Even a quick wipe with a damp cloth and a bit of sunlight makes it look like a different instrument.
This is what it looks like in full sunlight, again just gently wiped off. Note the neck separation and deep scratches, but also the flame, which is like nothing I've ever seen in person. Now I understand why they call it "flame". I get it.
It's definitely not cardboard.
There's daylight between the neck and body so that will have to be addressed, and the bridge looks less solid than I'd like but I'm not a professional, so I can't say for sure that there aren't other issues that I have missed. I have not tried to string it for fear of doing some serious damage. But I've been tempted to put a low-tension set on there just to let it sing a little. Just a whisper.
My goal is to get a full structural and cosmetic restoration, to whatever extent is possible. I've reached out to Jake Wildwood but I haven't gotten a response, and it is my understanding that he is very busy in any case. I am open to recommendations, including self-recommendations but obviously those are worth more when backed up by client recommendations.
Anyway, I thought people might be interested in seeing the before and after. I'll update this thread when I find a luthier to work on it and then as anything else interesting happens.
