Harmony Roy Smeck Vita-Uke Soprano Ukulele (1928)
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Item # 11703
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Harmony Roy Smeck Vita-Uke Model Soprano Ukulele (1928), made in Chicago, natural lacquer finish, curly mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard.
This is a somewhat worn in and beautifully personalized example of a 1928 Roy Smeck-Vita Uke, a classic of its era and unique even today. The entire "Vita" line was one of Harmony's most whimsical creations but also fairly high-grade instruments, and the Roy Smeck endorsement was at the time a promotional coup for the company. The series encompassed a guitar, tenor guitar, plectrum guitar, mandolin, and ukulele all of similar eccentric design with a distinctive body outline and seal-shaped f-holes, for reasons lost to history! They all feature fancy flamed mahogany bodies with spruce tops, and the guitars had the patented Harmony Aero-Bridge, shaped vaguely like an airplane.
The Vita-Uke was by far the most successful and popular of these instruments, sold well into the 1930's after the rest of the line had passed into history. The headstock decal reads "Roy Smeck" "Vita-Uke" over a small Harmony "H" in a diamond. This one has an additional "Luxor" decal on the headstock from a reseller, and is further distinguished by a beautifully rendered flapper portrait hand painted on the back. This is still a fairly rare instrument; while the Vita-Uke proved popular, not that many have survived in good playable condition.
Overall length is 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 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 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This uke shows some general wear from 95 or so years on the planet but less repair work than many of these. It remains in original condition with no alterations except the artwork added to the back, which we find especially charming. The original finish shows checking with dings, dents and scrapes overall but less strum wear than many, and no major loss. There are a couple of small sealed cracks off the lower back edge but the top is crack-free except for one tiny grain pucker off the "tail" of the treble side seal.
The original bridge has been visibly reglued with some discoloration to the finish around it. The instrument overall has a darker and more "smoked" patina than some, and the portrait on the back was probably brighter when new at the end of the roaring '20s. This personalized Vita-Uke is a bit worn in but now unique, and a very good playing and sounding instrument notwithstanding its rather eccentric design. Very Good + Condition.
This is a somewhat worn in and beautifully personalized example of a 1928 Roy Smeck-Vita Uke, a classic of its era and unique even today. The entire "Vita" line was one of Harmony's most whimsical creations but also fairly high-grade instruments, and the Roy Smeck endorsement was at the time a promotional coup for the company. The series encompassed a guitar, tenor guitar, plectrum guitar, mandolin, and ukulele all of similar eccentric design with a distinctive body outline and seal-shaped f-holes, for reasons lost to history! They all feature fancy flamed mahogany bodies with spruce tops, and the guitars had the patented Harmony Aero-Bridge, shaped vaguely like an airplane.
The Vita-Uke was by far the most successful and popular of these instruments, sold well into the 1930's after the rest of the line had passed into history. The headstock decal reads "Roy Smeck" "Vita-Uke" over a small Harmony "H" in a diamond. This one has an additional "Luxor" decal on the headstock from a reseller, and is further distinguished by a beautifully rendered flapper portrait hand painted on the back. This is still a fairly rare instrument; while the Vita-Uke proved popular, not that many have survived in good playable condition.
Overall length is 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 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 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This uke shows some general wear from 95 or so years on the planet but less repair work than many of these. It remains in original condition with no alterations except the artwork added to the back, which we find especially charming. The original finish shows checking with dings, dents and scrapes overall but less strum wear than many, and no major loss. There are a couple of small sealed cracks off the lower back edge but the top is crack-free except for one tiny grain pucker off the "tail" of the treble side seal.
The original bridge has been visibly reglued with some discoloration to the finish around it. The instrument overall has a darker and more "smoked" patina than some, and the portrait on the back was probably brighter when new at the end of the roaring '20s. This personalized Vita-Uke is a bit worn in but now unique, and a very good playing and sounding instrument notwithstanding its rather eccentric design. Very Good + Condition.