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Post by Noah Miller on Jan 16, 2024 20:14:05 GMT
Did I need a banjo uke? At the risk of starting a fight, does anyone need a banjo uke? But hey, it's a rare Dopyera product in excellent condition. While I've seen a number of these in pictures, this is the first uke I've seen with a laminated neck or such nice maple. It's also the first uke I've seen with the mid '20s pearl logo. What do you say, ca. 1925? Any guesses what the "2" stamped into the back indicates? It came with a more recent tailpiece that I swapped out for a no-knot. The head is not original either, but it's a nice piece of real skin. There's a grain crack in the fretboard but otherwise the instrument is intact and very clean. I have it strung up like a mandolin and it sounds quite nice that way - intonation is better than usual for such a short scale banjo.
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 17, 2024 8:48:00 GMT
Noah, That is a beautiful instrument. Very nice find!
I have forwarded the link to this thread to Mark Makin. Due to moving house, he is currently only connected too the Internet with his phone. I am sure he will respond when he can.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by ukulelezaza on Jan 23, 2024 10:32:15 GMT
What an absolutely amazing find! I have a later (±1927) National uke-banjo, which features their standard ukulele peghead shape. It's an amazing uke. Mine has a 0 stamped in the back, no idea what that means either. I'm playing it in this recording: Should you decide this uke-banjo isn't for you after all, I would be very happy to take it off your hands. If not, I'd love to get more photos of it for the book about vintage National ukes I'm compiling.  |
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Post by snakehips on Jan 23, 2024 12:17:20 GMT
Hi Noah !
What is the brown thing, under the middle of the wooden bridge ?
Is it just more feet for the bridge to sit on the skin, OR does it go through the skin (which I can't imagine would be a good idea !) ??
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Post by richclough on Jan 23, 2024 13:17:03 GMT
Tightening key for the ring I suspect…
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Post by ukulelezaza on Jan 23, 2024 13:20:40 GMT
Hi Noah ! What is the brown thing, under the middle of the wooden bridge ? Is it just more feet for the bridge to sit on the skin, OR does it go through the skin (which I can't imagine would be a good idea !) ?? That's a pretty standard uke-banjo bridge with indeed an extra foot. It's resting on the vellum like the rest of the bridge. I have that same model on my Gibson UB-1, but never really worked out if it makes much of a sound difference compared to standard 2-footed bridges. |
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Post by Noah Miller on Jan 23, 2024 21:32:20 GMT
The bridge is a Grover non-tip, which does what it says on the tin.
I ended up putting the other tailpiece back on and switching to uke strings, along with a new Farquhar bridge that greatly improved the sound. It doesn't intonate as well, but at least it's not an ice pick to the temples anymore.
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Post by ukulelezaza on Jan 24, 2024 10:30:21 GMT
Such a cool and intriguing National! Can we hear a sound sample? |
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Post by snakehips on Feb 6, 2024 13:39:12 GMT
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Post by ukulelezaza on Feb 6, 2024 16:59:12 GMT
That one's been on Ebay for a looooooooong time. The initial asking price was... $6500!
I'm pretty eager to 'rescue' that uke, to be honest.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 6, 2024 17:11:52 GMT
That one's been on Ebay for a looooooooong time. The initial asking price was... $6500! I'm pretty eager to 'rescue' that uke, to be honest. Offer them $2000 and they might well take it. Shine On Michael |
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Post by ukulelezaza on Feb 6, 2024 17:54:27 GMT
That one's been on Ebay for a looooooooong time. The initial asking price was... $6500! I'm pretty eager to 'rescue' that uke, to be honest. Offer them $2000 and they might well take it. Shine On Michael That's still too much in my opinion. I got my very clean one for not even half of that. |
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 6, 2024 18:58:07 GMT
Then offer them what you want to pay and they might accept it. Once it's gone, it's gone and you won't see it again.
Shine On
Michael
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