FOR SALE - BANJO UKES
*** IF YOU ENJOY GEORGE FORMBY, HIS SONGS AND HIS FANTASTIC UKE PLAYING, WE’VE GOT A REAL TREAT FOR YOU. CHECK OUT THE DETAILS BY CLICKING HERE. ***
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VEHICLE NUMBER PLATE ‘843 UKE’ FOR SALE.
* Please phone me for further details on 01691 828850 or email me at theukuleleman.com@gmail.com.
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SELECTION OF VINTAGE BANJO UKES. A very good friend of mine has a number of nice vintage banjo ukes that are in need of some TLC to bring them back to their best. These instruments are definitely restorable and are nowhere near being ‘basket cases’. They include a J. R. Stewart ‘Le Domino’ (c.1927) and a William Lange. This is an ideal opportunity for someone to restore some fine instruments and they can be sold either individually or collectively. Please contact me for f urther details on 01691 828850 or email me at theukuleleman.com@gmail.com.
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*** IMPORTANT *** CLICK on the ITEM’S TITLE (Blue Text Only) to see the AUTOMATED PHOTO GALLERY (which has useful CONTROL BUTTONS in the bottom left-hand corner).
*** IMPORTANT POSTAGE INFORMATION *** I normally use ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY to deliver my instruments. For further information about this service please click HERE.
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*** I have an old Banjo Mandolin on offer for FREE. This instrument is from the 1920’s/1930’s and is in need of either restoration or of being stripped down to use as a supply of spare parts such as tuning pegs, neck, metal pot, bezel, hooks, nuts, and shoes. Please contact me for details: Tel 01691 828850. Email: theukuleleman.com@gmail.com.
Pre-War ABBOTT ‘MONARCH’ Banjo Uke (c.1927). Made by J. G. Abbott & Co. in London, this is a hard to find and very desirable vintage banjo uke. Light to hold, easy to play, and it produces a great sound. This instrument is in superb condition and comes complete with its original hard shaped case. £3,500. Please contact me for further details.
ABBOTT ‘MONARCH’ Banjo Uke (c.1973). Highly sought after ‘bottom tension’ version made by Jack Abbott Jnr. Fabulous condition with an excellent vellum. Original tuning pegs with no cracks in the plastic thumb grips. ‘Abbott’ transfer on the peghead. Because he was using up the remaining parts rosewood fingerboard inlaid with multiple position dots. Straight neck with pristine frets. Integral metal pot and flange with cut-outs in the flange. Strong bezel with fourteen bottom tension hooks, nuts (domed) and shoes, which were all original parts from Abbott instruments made in the late 1920’s and 1930’s (the original Abbott company ceased trading in 1938). The original plating is like new, and the original tailpiece has the great advantage of being adjustable. This banjo uke has an attractive spliced neck and a decorative back to the (detachable) resonator. It comes complete with a lovely ‘Savage and Hoy’ hard shaped case with padded maroon lining and internal pocket. It has a lovely playing action and it produces a superb sound. £2,750. ON HOLD
(J. G. ABBOTT & Co.) ‘WILL VAN ALLEN’ Banjo Uke (c.1926). (The photos and the details were provided by the owner). Made by J. G. Abbott & Co. under the name ‘Will Van Allen - New Revelation’ and sold to the music shop in Charing Cross Road, London, run by two well-known entertainers and banjo players William Dodds and Olly Oakley. This is a long-scale instrument and it shares same pot and neck as the large resonator model. Original tuning pegs. Original transfer label on the headstock. Fourteen hooks, nuts and shoes. Star-shaped convex resonator on the back with a central button. Comes with a gig bag. £395.
BEDDOES ‘NEW CONCERT’ GIBSON UB-2 STYLE Banjo Uke (c.1978). This is a great banjo uke that was made by a very well-respected maker. Light to hold, easy to play and with a great playing action, this is a fine looking and gorgeous sounding Ron Beddoes ‘New Concert’ banjo uke and this one is a slightly later example of his bottom-tension design made loosely in the style of a Gibson UB-2. Straight neck and no wear to the frets or the fingerboard. Modern replacement tuning pegs. Plated ‘NC’ (New Concert) metal logo on peghead. Original nut. Spliced neck. Sixteen-fret ebony fingerboard bound along each side and inlaid with multiple mother-of-pearl dots. Fourteen bottom-tension hooks and shoes shoes around the pot. Tailpiece fixed to the body therefore it will always remain in the same position. Old vellum in great condition. Gibson UB-2/3 style resonator with binding around the outside edge. Modern lockable hard shaped case with black exterior and grey internal plush velvet padded lining with internal pocket and lid (lock key inside), into which this banjo uke fits perfectly. £795.
CARTWRIGHT Banjo Uke (c.2016). Made by Phil Cartwright, this banjo uke is in almost MINT condition and it makes a great sound. Geared tuners. The peghead has the ‘Cartwright’ name on a plated badge at the top and an attractive ‘checkerboard’ pattern in the middle. Straight sixteen fret neck with pristine fingerboard and frets, multiple snowflake and diamond inlays, and cream binding with position dots marked along one side. Fourteen top-tension bolts. Adjustable tailpiece. Flange contains ‘sailor’s hat’ shaped cut-outs in the style of the pre-war Abbott ‘Monarch’. Bound resonator with attractive inlays around the side and on the back. Slight crazing to the varnish on the back. The plating is in magnificent condition throughout. Comes complete with a ‘Cartwright’ hard shaped case with purple padded lining and an internal pocket (with hinged lid) that contains the tension key. * Please note that the end of the fingerboard is above the level of the calfskin vellum resulting in a higher playing action. This is no problem whatsoever to most players but it can make the instrument slightly less suitable for people wishing to play in the ‘George Formby’ style. The price of this banjo uke has therefore been adjusted in order cover the cost of anyone wishing to have the playing action lowered. Nevertheless, it is still great value for money. £795.
DALLAS ‘A’ MODEL Banjo Uke (c.1939). This is no ordinary ‘A’ Model but one that has been beautifully enhanced and massively improved - and as an extra bonus it has been gold-plated. It comes complete with a Cartwright black hard shaped case, thickly padded and with an internal pocket and lid. £425.
DALLAS ‘C’ MODEL BANJO UKE (c.1945). This banjo uke was the middle instrument in the Dallas range of ‘George Formby’ banjo ukes that were made from 1938 until about 1961. The ‘C’ Model was a popular instrument and is an ideal vintage banjo uke on which to learn to play or to improve your playing. This instrument is in original condition and has never been re-finished, but it’s about to have a good clean! Original tuning pegs with black thumb-grips. Original ‘George Formby’ metal badge at the top of the peghead. Straight neck with no wear to the frets or the fingerboard. The fingerboard is inlaid with multiple pearloid position dots. Fourteen original tension hooks, nuts, shoes, flange, bezel and tailpiece. Original plating in good condition but is currently being cleaned. The neck and resonator have their original and attractive ‘sunburst’ finish, and the instrument still has it’s original hard shaped case with internal pocket and lid. Photos to follow.
(Gold-Plated) DALLAS ‘D’ MODEL Banjo Uke (c.1940). £825. SOLD
DALLAS ‘E’ MODEL Banjo Uke (1938). A beautiful example of the rare original gold-plated first version of the Dallas ‘E’ Model. £1,595. SOLD
DALLAS ‘E’ MODEL Banjo Uke (1938). This instrument is another fine example of the rare original ‘E’ model and it is in magnificent original condition with superb gold-plating on the tuning pegs, the frets, and the metalwork. It comes complete with its original hard shaped case. £1,750. Please contact me for further details.
GIBSON UB-2 Banjo Uke (c.1927). With a re-finish of real quality this Gibson is in great condition. The bonus is that it has all of its correct original fittings, with the original vintage Grover tuning pegs (in perfect original condition) inside the pocket of the Grafton hard shaped case. Even the fitted tuning pegs are of high quality. This Gibson produces a stunning sound and it has a straight neck with pristine frets and playing positions on the fingerboard - which is inlaid with three mother-of-pearl position dots. It still has the original ‘The Gibson’ (in silver) at the top of the peghead, fourteen original flatted tension hooks, nuts and shoes, as well as the original ‘Nashville’ tailpiece, and it’s fitted with an Eddie Uttley non-tip maple bridge. The finish on the resonator does show some signs of minor crazing but as you can tell from the photographs it is not readily apparent. It comes complete with a lockable black ‘Grafton’ hard shaped case with plush grey padded lining. £1,295.
‘BIG RESONATOR’ GIBSON UB-3 Banjo Uke (c.1927). £3,200. SOLD
JOHN GREY ‘ROY SMECK SUPER’ Banjo Uke (c.1928). Roy Smeck was a famous American musician and entertainer known as ‘The Wizard of the Strings. This instrument was top of the four banjo ukes in ‘Roy Smeck’ range. It’s in fabulous original condition with its original hard shaped case. The case looks as though it has been through a war and it probably has! With the remains of the word ‘ENSA’ (Entertainment National Services Association) written on the lid, the indication is that it was once used by an entertainer of the armed services in World War 2 - but sadly we don’t know who. This banjo uke is completely original and has never been repaired or re-finished. It has a straight neck and no wear to the frets or the fingerboard and the resonator is easily detachable. Pristine condition inside and out. £795.
LUDWIG ‘WENDELL HALL PROFESSIONAL’ Banjo Uke (c.1927). Ludwig banjo ukes were made (only for about two years) by the famous Ludwig Drum Company of Chicago, USA. They are widely considered to be one of the best sounding and most desirable banjo ukes ever made, and this Ludwig is no exception. This banjo uke makes a wonderful sound and has been beautifully renovated with a very attractive ‘sunburst’ finish on the back of the resonator and the back of the neck. Made of American Walnut throughout. Straight neck and no wear to frets and just a few small in-filled areas on the first few playing positions. Sixteen-fret ebony fingerboard with four inlaid mother-of-pearl position dots. Original period vintage ‘Grover’ friction tuning pegs. Original ‘Wendell Hall Professional’ transfer on peghead. Original nickel-plating in great condition with original removable armrest and tailpiece. Sixteen original top-tension bolts. Part of the original ‘Wendell Hall’ paper label is still attached to the inside of the resonator. Great calfskin vellum. Original cream ivoroid binding around the bottom side of the resonator. The last owner only parted with it in order to buy an even higher grade instrument. Great playing action and wonderful sound. Comes complete with modern lockable hard shaped case with plush black padded lining and an internal pocket (containing the key) with lid. SPECIAL OFFER: £1,000.
MARKENDALE GIBSON UB-3 COPY Banjo Uke (1992). Complete with its original Certificate of Manufacture signed and dated by Gordon Markendale, the serial number ‘002’ shows that this banjo uke was only the second one of this style that he ever made. This is a great sounding example in absolutely stunning MINT original condition, with a straight neck and no faults whatsoever! The ‘snowflake and diamond’ inlays and the ‘sunburst’ finish are both extremely attractive, but an extra bonus is that this instrument comes complete with a superb lockable, made-to-measure, plush lined hard shaped case, with internal padding and pocket with lid. Only a few of these lovely cases were imported from the USA by Dave Barnes and were sold by him and Eddy Uttley for £150 each. They sold like hot cakes! This banjo uke and case are both in pristine condition. £1,195.
MARKENDALE GIBSON UB-3 COPY Banjo Uke (c.1994). Another lovely banjo uke in MINT original condition. It was made by the late Gordon Markendale who produced fine instruments based upon the designs of the top vintage banjo uke manufacturers of the 1920’s such as Ludwig, Gibson, and Abbott. Markendale quickly developed a reputation for making excellent banjo ukes which not only looked good but also sounded good, and they became very popular amongst players and remain popular today. This Gibson UB-3 copy is all original with a straight neck and no wear to the fifteen frets or to the rosewood fingerboard. Grover tuning pegs. Markendale name at the top of the peghead. Original nut. Snowflake and diamond mother-of-pearl inlays on the peghead and fingerboard. Fingerboard bound in cream ivoroid with four black position dots along one side. Fourteen hooks, nuts, and shoes, and original Grover ‘Nashville’ tailpiece. Very attractive ‘Sunburst’ finish on the neck, the body, and the resonator. The resonator itself is bound with cream ivoroid and has a decorative ring inlaid into it. Comes complete with a good quality black hard shaped case with made-to-measure plush velvet lining and an internal pocket and lid. £1,100.
STROMBERG-VOISINET Banjo Uke (c.1930). These banjo ukes were made to an extremely high standard in Chicago U.S.A. and this instrument is similar to the one shown on page 218 of my book (but with no pyralin - or ‘mother of toilet seat’ as the Americans liked to call it!). This banjo uke is quite light and comfy to hold, it plays beautifully and produces a really lovely sound. I have owned several of these banjo ukes and only sold them reluctantly in order to help purchase much more expensive instruments. They are absolutely fantastic value and I can recommend them unreservedly. Apart from the replaced tuning pegs,bridge, and strings (and possibly the vellum) this instrument is in totally original condition inside and out. Mahogany neck, pot and resonator. Attractively spliced neck. Inlaid decorative strip around the pot and attractive decoration on the back of the resonator. Pristine ebonised fingerboard (Pearwood?) with fifteen pristine frets and four mother-of-pearl position dots. Arrow straight neck. The high quality calfskin vellum is old but probably not the original one, nevertheless it is a cracker! Nice wide fingerboard. Attractive cut-outs on top of the engraved metal flange which runs around the top and side of the resonator. Cream ivoroid binding around the bottom edge of the resonator. Sixteen flatted hooks, nuts, shoes and a ‘Nashville’ tailpiece all from the same supplier used by the famous ‘Gibson’ company. This example comes complete with a period hard shaped case with internal lidded pocket. Tremendous value at £595.
VEGA Banjo Uke (c.1927). This banjo uke is absolutely ideal for someone wanting a well-made, light to hold and easy to play vintage instrument. Straight neck and no wear to the frets or the fingerboard. The plating is excellent and it comes complete with its original end-opening canvas case. £295.
WINDSOR ‘WHIRLE’ No.7 Banjo Uke (c.1929). £995. SOLD.
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