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

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Question asked by: paul overton Subject: Lard on the fingerboard Question: Dear Chuck, I think I found the origin of the lard on the fingerboard advice. It can be found here: http://www.augustinoloprinzi.com/ caring_for_your_instrument.htm LoPrinzi also wants you to put vaseline on your tuners. Cheers, Paul Answer: It is illegal, where I live, to put vasaline on my tuners......Leave your tuners alone.,..You'll go blind. Just play your uke and forget all this nonsense.... I have been playing ukulele for over 40 years and have never put anything on the strings but my fingers and have never had a string break except when the temperature changed and one snapped and that has been maybe 3 times in 40 years.....hope this helps...play the damn thing and stop worrying about it....frets - Sunday, March 27, 2005

Question asked by: Rich Subject: Miami ukulele Question: Hi, I aquired a Miami ukulee. Saw the question about stadlmair & co.I need pegs for this ukulele.Can you help me? Thank you, Rich Answer: No...Not original tuners. Go to a good music store, one with a competent luthier and ask their advise. It just needs a good set that work...frets - Sunday, March 27, 2005

Question asked by: Margo Ehrlich Subject: Kamaka Question: Chuck- I have a Koa wood Kamaka uke that I bought in Hawaii in 1956. I have played ukulele on and off for about 50 years. The back of the body cracked during the plane flight back to Los Angeles, as planes were not pressurized at that time. It never seemed to hurt the sound quality that I can tell, but what do you think about having the crack repaired vs. not repairing? The crack is not "open", but is about 6" long. Also...DUMB question, I know, but I am reading on your site about "soprano", "tenor", and "baritone" ukes". How can I tell if mine is a soprano or a tenor uke? It definitely is not a baritone uke. Thanks, Margo Ehrlich Answer: Margo...a soprano is about 20+ inches long and a tenor is about 26+ inches long overall length. I would not have the crack repaired if it is not open. If you can press it and it goes in ( don't do it too hard)...or it will open....then I would take it to a luthier and it is an easy fix. They will not have to remove the back, they will just have to put some glue in the crack and clamp it till it drys. Hope this helps...chuck - Sunday, March 20, 2005

Question asked by: Yuka Subject: Trader Hall's Question: Hi, Chuck!Do you know anything about ukuleles from " TRADER HALL'S HAWAIIAN VILLAGE, KANEOHE,HAWAII"? (Sorry for the bad picture.) Mainly, I was curious about its quality. As always, thank you so much for your time. Photos:      Answer: Yuka...is this an old uke or a new uke. I have never heard of tshe company...sorry...I will send this up so the other yakkers can see it and perhaps someone will know....thanks for writing in...frets - Thursday, March 17, 2005

Question asked by: Dasher Subject: Question: Hi Chuck: As a result of my inquiry to you on this "thick" Kumalae that I bought on eBay for $200.38 (but who's counting?) I have had 3 inquiries from people who want to take it off my hands. I don't have it yet but I'll let you know how I like it when it comes. And just a hint, guys, it probably won't be for sale. Photos:      Answer: dont blame them and don't blame you..hang in there...thanks for the update...frets - Thursday, March 17, 2005

Question asked by: dave Subject: fretboard care Question: G'Day Chuck, I have a question on the care of my ukulele...my friend tells me I should rub my fretboard with lard every few months to keep it from cracking. No uke I have ever owned had a cracking problem, but maybe I have been lucky. I thought I better ask an expert first before I end up with a greasy mess and my ukulele smells like the back room of Kentucky Fried Chicken. I appreciate any advice. Dave Answer: thank you ...another goofy for my list. I have never heard of rubbing anything with lard except for the occasional pan for cooking. Your friend either needs to increase their medication or decrease it, the doseage is obvious incorrect. I have had thousands of ukuleles and I can't remember the time that I had a ukulele whos fretboard started uncracked and cracked while I owned it. Rub your friend with lard and leave your uke alone. That, I believe, was a song title by Jerome Kern. Perhaps not..best from the mt idy lard farm and petticoat parlor....frets Head lardass. - Thursday, March 17, 2005

Question asked by: Italuke Subject: No name uke Question: Hey Chuck, Can you take a look at this uke on eBay (item number 7307436142): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.d ll? ViewItem&rd=1&item=7307436142&ssPa geName=STRK:MEWA:IT That one I've been trying to ID with the weird "Asian-looking" insignia on the inside is a cabron copy of this one, especially the arched back and the look of the wood and bridge, although mine doens't have the headstock decal. Any idea what it is? Is it even Hawaiian as the listing says? Thanks, Jim Answer: Jim...If this uke were handed to me I would say it is not Hawaiian. The heel cap is not part of the back and that is the first telltale sign. It is mahogany, not a popular hawaiian wood, although it has been used. It , in my opinion, is not the right shape. It is a little clunky. I still have no idea who made it and the seller has been very careful not to call it a hawaiian uke. He only states that it has a hawaiian decal on the headstock. I would say it is not Hawaiian. Hope I've helped....chuck - Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Question asked by: roger Subject: gut strings Question: hi -- i have gradually moved to gut strings for ALL my ukes. i have yet to find a uke whose tome isn't improved by gut. my question is this: i have received conflicting advice on the care of gut strings. is it best to oil them periodically or just leave them be. i also wanted to know if you had a preference for new gut strings or vintage. i have bought lots of prewar NOS sets that sound really fabulous. for whatever reason, new gut sets sound more like nylon, sharper and less plonky. any opinions?? thanks!! Answer: I prefer gut strings personally. I have never heard of oiling gut strings...leave them alone. they will improve with age. If I can be of any more help, let me know..thanks for writing...frets - Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Question asked by: Dasher Subject: Question: Hi Frets: I just bought this Kumalae Model 1 on eBay for two hundred bucks. It's in great condition and should have brought a lot more except that it's 3" thick! and I think that's why it didn't go higher. I figure it was either an experiment or a special order or both. Have you seen one of these before? Any ideas? I didn't need it and didn't really TRY to buy it; but I was intrigued by the thickness. Of course I haven't played it yet as I just bought it tonight. Photos:      Answer: I have owned thick kumalaes like that one. They are late in his career. I don't think they were special orders, but I have only seen a few. I have one that didn't say Kumalae but I knew it was. It was a golden Koa. I prefer the sound. I think you will find out, it is louder than you expect. write in when you get it and let us all know. nice score...sure worth the 200. and then some...best frets - Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Question asked by: Keely Brown Subject: baritone uke/tenor guitar Question: Hi! Could you please tell me if a baritone uke can be strung and played as a tenor guitar? I have what I think is a bari uke, and while I love it, I really would love to purchase a tenor guitar as well, but the price is so prohibitive. The thing is, I'm not absolutely certain that what I have isn't my elusive tenor guitar after all, as it was a flea market bargain and I have no info on it. Could you also please tell me what the difference is in the appearance of these two instruments? Thank you so much for your help----Keely Answer: A tenor guitar is longer than a baritone. Usually about 32 inches overall. It has a thinner, longer neck. Yes you can string a baritone like a tenor guitar, but it won't sound very good. But go ahead and give it a try...this might just be the time when I'm wrong...Parish the thought. If you send me a picture of the instrument and the measurments, I will let you know what you have for sure. Thanks for writing in and How did you hear about us. Want ads, other person, friend, enemy, or just blind luck. We want to know where our advertising buck is getting the best results....from the Mt Idy quill and well shoppe.....His Nibs....chuck - Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Question asked by: Kunta Kente (name witheld) Subject: Cuatro-Ukulele Question: I have just gotten a Venezuelan Cuatro (Four-string)from my Trinidadian Uncle. I have yet to find a real way to tune it because even though I have tuned it to [GCEA] i have heard it to be tuned to [ADF#B]. Please help. Crazy wit Cuatro Answer: It really doesn't matter. I have no idea how they tune it in Venezuela ( although I am from Mountus Idas in Venezuela) I think any way you tune it is o.k. if you are going to use the two uke tunings. You only need to know how the rest of the band is tuned, otherwise it could be distrascting to be a whole note off. Hope I have helped..From high atop the Andes ( whoops thats in peru...we have a colony there..Mt Andes.....frets of the bleeding nose)..... - Saturday, March 12, 2005

Question asked by: Karen Stogsdill Subject: ukelele Question: I bought my son a 10 string ukelele 25 years ago at an estate sale. It is endorsed by ukelele hughey and made by H. Stadlmair. Do you have any knowledge of this instrument? Answer: Its known as a tiple.....not easy to tune. If he doesn't play you need to take it to a luthier to have it strung properly. Stadlmair was a respected company in the 30's. Good instrument by a good maker....thanks for writingin...frets - Saturday, March 12, 2005

Question asked by: Paul Subject: Domingo's hawaiian Ukulele Question: Dear chuck, around 17th february I sent you photo's and a request for any information about this Uke. {see enclosed photos with close-up of name on headstock] in. You requested a further photo of the back [enclosed] and information about size. Apologies for the delay in replying. The uke is 19 3/4 inches long, the upper bout is 4 3/4 inches across, the lower 6 1/4. The back is arched. The body is rosewood, the neck mahogany. When I bought it in auction a new rosewood bridge had been crudely glued on top of the remains of a mahogany one to make it look more like a viable instument. Would even the mahogany one have been original? I am seeing a specialist luthier shortly to get a prognosis and estimate for repairs. Still hoping someone on your website can help with information. Yours, Paul. Photos:      Answer: paul...its got me stumpped...have no idea...will put it here on uke yak in the hopes that John King or any other yakker will know what it is...don't spend alot on it, I'm fairly sure it is not very valuable...The workmanship doesn't look all that good. The stamp has me coufused. There usually isn't a stamp if they arn't going to make more..It would be fun to find out what else they made. I will continue to look...chuck - Friday, March 11, 2005

Question asked by: David Richard Subject: Framus Ukulele Question: Wondering if you know anything about Framus ukes. I was at an estate sale earlier today and the gentlemen running it said he had a uke back at his house that he would sell. I have not yet seen it. I searched the Uke Yak and saw a couple of posts from 2002 about Framus. Do you have any updated information? Have you seen a uke from this maker, do you know what it might be comparable to, what I should pay for it? Any help would be appreciated. Answer: Not all that good...go try it out and see if it sound good and then try not to spend alot...they are around and I have heard little about them...chuck - Friday, March 11, 2005

Question asked by: joe Subject: New Ukuleles Question: Hi, thanks for all the great info I'm learning! I noticed that on Dec. 10th you advised Ben to stay away from the cheapie modern ukes, as he finds a second one for himself. I just started out with a $29 no-name soprano two weeks ago, and now I'd love to get a tenor uke, and thought perhaps I could get one for around $150. Does your advice about modern cheap ones apply across the board, or would my beginner's ear be satisfied with say, a Lanikai tenor, for example? Will it stay in tune longer, and will notes on each fret be more accurate? Thanks, joe Answer: I would be careful about a tenor for 150.00...Can't imagine what it could be for that. Have a name.....I still opt for a used favilla, gretsch, vega or one of the other ukes made about 50 -70 years ago. if you shop around you will find one..I think far superior to what is being made in the cheapie market. Watch ebait and the Marketplace on this site. Get on Marketplace and put your wants up and see what you get. I'm sure someone outthere will have what you are looking for. Also go on the on line store on this site and look at the tenor fluke...great instrument, correcty priced and I think it might fill the bill..I'm not sure about the size being a full tenor, but I think it will do the job for you...thanks frets - Friday, March 11, 2005

Question asked by: Rush McAllister Subject: Ohia Wood Question: Dear Frets, Good news for you, you can now sleep. Ohia wood is a Hawiian version of ebolny. It is harder than koa which is similiar to mahogany. My buddy here in St Louis, Karl Markl gave me a source: Andy Johnson, NW Specialty Woods 360 532 0896 (USA). Andy told me he has some and also some nice koa. Rush ps. Rumor has it that you're working on a new uke book. I hope that is correct, when is it due? Answer: the book will be done soon...whatever that means...couple months....will let you know....thanks for the wood update. We appreciate you taking time to fill it in...keep in touch...frets... - Thursday, March 10, 2005

Question asked by: Steve Subject: Tenor Guitars Question: Chuck I read the post re the Gretch Baritone (NOT). I have a few Tenors as well as my expanding collection of ukes you may or may not have heard of this resource on the web but just in case here it is. Steve http://www.tenorguitar.com/ Answer: very nice site...thanks for sharing...go take a look people, lots of great into and beautiful guitars.....frets - Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Question asked by: D. Dawson Subject: Gretsch Baritone (NOT) Question: About a week ago, I reported buying a vintage Gretsch BARITONE uke and asked if you'd ever seen one: you said you hadn't and now, neither have I...Upon its arrival, as I was taking it out of the box full of foam coccoons, I could tell by the feel of that scrawny little neck that this is a TENOR GUITAR, and not my highly sought (and possible non-existant?) Gretsch Baritone. Good news is, it's most likely pre-war (3-digit serial # 178) solid mahogany, distinctive Gretsch "T-roof" logo stamps in soundhole and at back of peghead, double-gold rossette (just like on my Gretsch soprano) it easily tunes to D-G-B-E and the mellow/loud music it makes blows away even the $1000. Kamaka baritone down at the local shop. While disappopinted it isn't a true baritone, from what I've seen Tenor guitars are worth more and are easier to sell than baritone ukes are, should I be lured into selling it. But for the time being, this rare little unit is going to live life as a banjo- necked-baritone uke anyway =:-) Thanks again for your time Chuck, - D. Photos:      Answer: If It sere mine , I would do exactly as you are doing. I like tenor guitars alot better than bari ukes, because of the thiness of the neck. Keep it...I think its quite rare. I have never seen another...best...frets - Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Question asked by: Jim De Fazio Subject: No name uke Question: Hey Chuck, A couple weeks back I sent pics of this uke I found. Sent one here and a few to your home email...the uke with the weird Asian-looking design or logo on the inside. Here's a shot of the tuners, as you requested, to possibly be able to identify the thing. (Note the not quite rectangular pattern of the pegs...)Thanks, Jim Photos:      Answer: Jim, I am sticking this up on uke yak in the hopes that someone out there has one and knows what it is. I have no idea. Interesting....let me know if you find anything....frets - Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Question asked by: pellvis Subject: bar frets Question: I bought a style 0 martin on ebay and I was wondering if they used bar fets past 1934. Some web sites claim that bar frets were dicontinued that year but I want to hear it from you. Answer: Your best bet is to write the Martin company on their website. Martingutars.com and ask them the question. Non of my files contain information that technical and I my self don't know. I wouldn't know a uke made in l934 from a uke made in l932...or 35...Since they did no have serial numbers, there is no way to date them exactly. There is also alot of overlap in the production models. I have seen ones made after the 50's with small dots and maple saddles. Usually reserved for the early models. Try Martin and let us know what they say...thanks for writing in...chuck - Tuesday, March 8, 2005

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