Kumalae Style 3 Soprano Ukulele , c. 1918
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Kumalae Style 3 Model Soprano Ukulele, c. 1918, made in Honolulu, HI, natural varnish finish, koa wood body and neck, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a really lovely early Kumalae soprano ukulele, showing some old repairs but in excellent playing condition. The Style 3 was a medium graded model in the Kumalae line, with the basic design spruced up by some decorative wood marquetry around the top border and sound hole. The koa on the top and back has some lovely dark graining. This is an early Kumalae, with the original 1910s narrow waisted body shape and the headstock bearing a nice "Gold Award P.P.I.E. 1915" headstock decal celebrating an honor bestowed at the Panama-Pacific Exposition that year. The tuners are a matched set of the original wooden violin style pegs. At more than 100 years old, this is a fine playing and great sounding authentic Hawaiian instrument from the era of the first ukulele craze!
Overall length is 20 7/8 in. (53 cm.), 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This is a clean uke overall considering its age, showing some general wear. the most notable is a small finger wear spot below the strings in front of the soundhole, and some general dings and dents. There is one old grain crack to the top, running above the bridge from the back edge to below the soundhole. The back has one smaller grain split in the center, and the side has a few tight grain splits on the lower bout. All are solidly repaired but visible, the repairs are well done with no visible finish work added. These sorts of dryness cracks are extremely common on ukes made 100 or so years ago out of unseasoned island koa wood.
The rest of the instrument is very neat, including an unusually intact and functional set of original carved wooden friction pegs. The neck angle is better than many and the uke still plays very well and sounds great, with a powerful and rich tone. While the workmanship on these Kumalaes is somewhat crude by modern standards this is a neat playable piece of Hawaiian musical history Excellent - Condition.
This is a really lovely early Kumalae soprano ukulele, showing some old repairs but in excellent playing condition. The Style 3 was a medium graded model in the Kumalae line, with the basic design spruced up by some decorative wood marquetry around the top border and sound hole. The koa on the top and back has some lovely dark graining. This is an early Kumalae, with the original 1910s narrow waisted body shape and the headstock bearing a nice "Gold Award P.P.I.E. 1915" headstock decal celebrating an honor bestowed at the Panama-Pacific Exposition that year. The tuners are a matched set of the original wooden violin style pegs. At more than 100 years old, this is a fine playing and great sounding authentic Hawaiian instrument from the era of the first ukulele craze!
Overall length is 20 7/8 in. (53 cm.), 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This is a clean uke overall considering its age, showing some general wear. the most notable is a small finger wear spot below the strings in front of the soundhole, and some general dings and dents. There is one old grain crack to the top, running above the bridge from the back edge to below the soundhole. The back has one smaller grain split in the center, and the side has a few tight grain splits on the lower bout. All are solidly repaired but visible, the repairs are well done with no visible finish work added. These sorts of dryness cracks are extremely common on ukes made 100 or so years ago out of unseasoned island koa wood.
The rest of the instrument is very neat, including an unusually intact and functional set of original carved wooden friction pegs. The neck angle is better than many and the uke still plays very well and sounds great, with a powerful and rich tone. While the workmanship on these Kumalaes is somewhat crude by modern standards this is a neat playable piece of Hawaiian musical history Excellent - Condition.