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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 05:17:53 PM

Title: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 05:17:53 PM
ok need any help on this ukulele I found today at the thrift store.  the decorative center is a sticker..back maybe rosewood?   all is original
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 05:41:05 PM
What makes you think this is a ukulele.....if it is then it is a Unique one...as a ukulele only has 4 strings....not 5 ...this is a small guitar...probably Spanish/Mexican....i think its a The Mexican vihuela..on closer inspection...i see that although it  has 5 strings...there are 6 machine heads...which makes me believe it has been used as a Vihuela...but it is in fact a guitar...
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 05:59:56 PM
I think you,ll find that this is in fact a Mexican Guitarron....simila r in style to the Vihuela...and its used by the Mexican street musicians....the ones that come to play at your table when you are on holiday...see link
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=guitarron&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=C79lUveJBKLO0QWO2YH4Bw&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1198&bih=767
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 06:02:40 PM
a guitar?  I'm shocked--it is only 20 1/2 inches long.

and yup--you are right I didn't even notice that it had five strings and six string holders..

do you have any idea about the age or how popular it would have been?  Still used today?? :)
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: mart on October 21, 2013, 06:06:53 PM
No clue !!!
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:09:44 PM
I,m of the opinion that its maybe been made for a child....if you look at my link to the guitarron...you,ll see that they are big...big body, short neck....whereas this one is a midget compared to them...its either a childs...or a tourist buy....i seem to remember ..once when we were in Spain..I saw something similar...but ended up buying the wooden clackers.. ;D..castinets.....to everyone else...
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:15:11 PM
No clue !!!
Whatdoyamean....no clue....is that ....you don,t have a clue what it is...or is it...you,re clueless....look at my link....its as plain as them $1 cheaters hanging on the end of yer nose... ;D....come to think of it..you of all people should know...as you are closer to Mexico...than i,ll ever be.... ;D
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 06:18:05 PM
big wull--this has a good sound quality, don't think it would have been massed produced for tourists and it has the qualities of the larger guitarron but tiny tiny sized so I have to think perhaps you're right and maybe made for the smaller person in a group?  

How common would one be made this small??  do you think it was factory made?
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:26:17 PM
if it was factory made...there would normally be a sticker inside the body...if you look inside the hole..check to see if there has been a sticker...if on the other hand it was hand made...then without a mark...its another needle in a haystack....
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 06:29:27 PM
no mark--

wish it could talk

thanks
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:34:38 PM
On the neck are those cross bars raised slightly...if they are then this is not a guitarron...as guitarrons are fretless...which would then make this a small guitar....
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:36:19 PM
no mark--

wish it could talk

thanks
if you pluck the strings in a certain way...it,ll sing its head off ;D
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 21, 2013, 06:40:10 PM
On the neck are those cross bars raised slightly...if they are then this is not a guitarron...as guitarrons are fretless...which would then make this a small guitar....

raised ever so lightly...
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 06:47:29 PM
Well its Not a guitarron..as they are fretless...i.e. from the bridge to the machine heads....the neck is smooth....so it has to be a small guitar...for a short armed guitar player.... ;D
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: mart on October 21, 2013, 08:16:54 PM
http://www.samash.com/opncms/opencms/samash/library/main/Flamenco_Guitar_or_Classical_Guitarx_How_Do_They_Differx.html

Thought from the low frets you might have a flamenco guitar but doesn`t seem to match !! Think this is the classic but the neck looks much wider than it should !!  You can read and see if it matches !! I think the back of your guitar is mahogany !! Pretty sure !!
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: cogar on October 22, 2013, 04:47:08 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-GUITAR-FOR-KIDS-HIGHER-QUALITY-FOR-CHILDREN-3-5-YRS-/160509565402 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-GUITAR-FOR-KIDS-HIGHER-QUALITY-FOR-CHILDREN-3-5-YRS-/160509565402) 
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 22, 2013, 06:31:59 AM
looking at this one found by his nibs...makes yours seem like a poor relation...value for yours ..i,d say, possibly $30...or $40 with a Hurricane pushing it along... ;D
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: mart on October 22, 2013, 06:34:45 AM
There you go !!  Cogar got it !!
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 22, 2013, 06:55:29 AM
thank you cogar and all
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 22, 2013, 11:18:40 AM
just got off the phone with the guitar for kids company, was told their company put their name on it so for that reason this wasnt theirs.  Was told there are many companies that make them, mine could be older or at least vintage.
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: cogar on October 22, 2013, 12:24:10 PM
I think the children's size of these is far more common than children's guitars.

(http://static.emediamusic.com/product_assets/mvk/MVK-ViolinSizing.jpg) 
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 22, 2013, 12:55:20 PM
whatever its name, its common ...  just not to me.  thanks cogar.
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: bigwull on October 22, 2013, 01:56:18 PM
There you go !!  Cogar got it !!
???
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: fancypants on October 22, 2013, 08:01:31 PM
I used to see numbers of guitars made in this (cheapo) fashion , primarily for sale to tourists while in Mexico , and could be picked up for around $8 , if one had good bargaining skills ... handmade , though .

The tuning pegs are indeed what a person might expect to find on an instrument such as a uke' , not on any guitar !

Your little item is not much use as a real instrument (sorry 'bout that) , but is an o.k. item for a prop , or to be tuned to a chord that 'sounds alright' & given to a child to bang away on (I've been a guitarist for better than 5 decades) , sugarcube5419 !

Often these items are constructed from plywood , cedar &/or whatever is laying around & then 'colorized' &/or 'wood-grained' & given a clear coat or two of varnish or shellac .
Some are even strung with fishing-line monofilament .
The 'sticker' around the soundhole is normally an inlayed wood/plastic/etc. pattern , even in cheap guitars (if that's any clue to you) .


Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: sugarcube5419 on October 22, 2013, 08:13:32 PM
wow thanks fancy--

wealth of information there, first being 5 decades?!! you have played the guitar...beautiful instrument -- my little doo dad is an insult to the real thing. 

appreciate the help
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: fancypants on October 22, 2013, 08:15:54 PM
Wish I coulda told you it was worth a mint , sugarcube5419 !
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: mart on October 22, 2013, 08:21:21 PM
Wish I coulda told you it was worth a mint , sugarcube5419 !

We have all wished the same thing more than once !!
Title: Re: unsigned ukulele
Post by: fancypants on October 22, 2013, 08:26:10 PM
Ain't it the truth !