Appearing in catalogs from 1919 to 1965, the Martin Style 2 Soprano, tenor and concert ukuleles were built with Mahogany for the body and neck, with Brazilian Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. Here we’re looking at a Martin Style 2 Soprano Ukulele built during the 1940’s. Martin ukes tended to not have serial numbers, so dating can be imprecise. This example is in remarkably good, clean condition with light wear, mostly from strumming. It’s one of the best preserved we have seen from this era. It plays well, and has the warm open tone that a Mahogany top provides.
Uke
The Twisted Wood Pioneer soprano ukulele body is built with Laminate Sapele. Sapele, formally Entandrophragma Cylindricum, is of the same family as Mahogany (Meliaceae) and is largely found in tropical African countries, particularly in the Congo. This wood has become more commonly used for musical instruments and is often found on Taylor guitars, among others. In the form of a Laminate, the material is considerably stabler than as Solid wood, with good resistance to cracking under stress from changing humidity and temperature conditions.
Here we have a Twisted Wood Aurora Soprano ukulele, with Laminate Koa for the top, back and sides. The neck is Mahogany with Walnut used for the fingerboard and bridge, and Mahogany is also used for the binding and rosette. This is a straightforward, intermediate level Soprano Ukulele, well built and the wood choices provide a full, rich tone with the Walnut on the bridge and fingerboard adding warmth and a hint of chime.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here we have a Twisted Wood Koa Concert Ukulele. Built using solid Hawaiian Koa for the top, back and sides, the neck is Mahogany with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. In a departure from traditional Ukulele construction, a pin-style bridge as found on steel string guitars is used. This type of bridge is much easier to restring than the tie-block type found on traditional Ukes, and on Classical and Flamenco nylon string guitars.
The Gibson UB4 Banjo Ukulele was built in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 1927 to 1935, and again in 1938. Gibson was relatively slow to the Ukulele market, but had been building banjos since at least 1918. The UB-4 is a professional grade instrument, with full flange and resonator. Gibson also offered the UB-5, which was this same instrument but with gold plated metal parts. This trim level would put it in the Mastertone range, but these Ukuleles don’t have the Mastertone tone ring.
This instrument has sold
MORE →A couple of times every year, we are lucky enough to get our hands on one of these beauties: the Resonator Concert Maple Ukulele from National Guitars. In the past, we have featured a few Custom versions with extra detailing and appointments. Today, we have the standard version available; same great sound and feel at an even better price. This instrument is a performer’s dream. Thanks to the 5 7/8″ spun resonator cone, the National Uke gives more volume and punch than any other Uke available. Most guitarists, myself included, get hand cramps just looking at a standard soprano Uke, but the National is built to a 15″ concert scale, making it far more comfortable to play. The Grover 4 B tuners are smooth and accurate, and like every instrument National builds, the quality and craftsmanship is top notch.