{"product_id":"harmony-roy-smeck-vita-uke-ukulele-1929-2751","title":"Harmony Roy Smeck Vita-Uke Ukulele (1929)","description":"Harmony Roy Smeck Vita-Uke Model Ukulele, c. 1929, made in Chicago, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1928 Roy Smeck-endorsed \"Vita\" line was one of Harmony's most whimsical creations, but were also fairly high-grade instruments, and the endorsement was a major 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Vita-Uke was by far the most popular, 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 is still a fairly rare instrument; while the Vita-Uke proved popular, not that many have survived in good playable condition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a very good-sounding instrument notwithstanding its rather eccentric design, and a good-playing example.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 21 5\/8 in. (54.9 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 cm.) width, and 2 1\/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 7\/8 in. (352 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7\/16 in. (36 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNice original condition overall with no alterations but some average wear, most visibly into the top finish from strumming near the fingerboard down over the \"seal\" f-holes. The back shows some scuffs and scrapes as well, and the bridge has been visibly reglued. There are a couple of well-sealed back cracks, quite solid but visibly touched-up. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Vita-Uke is a bit worn in but a very good player, complete with the even rarer original heavy chipboard case. Very Good + Condition.","brand":"Harmony","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853293605004,"sku":"2751","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_73ad54e7-15f7-4822-be86-ea27c28ecbb2.jpg?v=1774333387","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/harmony-roy-smeck-vita-uke-ukulele-1929-2751","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}