Friday 29 December 2017

Banjo ukes for sale

Not usually available for sale but i have decided to list a few to sell. I tend to list with Andy Eastwood's Ukulele Market, but i have a few in the collection and i need to make a bit of space.

Drop me a line if there is anything of interest, and feel free to share too.


1930's Dallas-B £395 SOLD

Replated metalwork, new tuners. new calfskin and Galli strings. Some wear to fretboard. Stunning model.






1930's Gibson UB-1 £550

Replated metalwork and refinished woodwork. New Calfskin and GHS clear strings.

Stromberg Voisnet - The Rose £595-SOLD

Replated metalwork including Flange. New Calfskin and Galli Strings.

late 1920's Wendell Hall £1850 SOLD

Replated metalwork, and restored to high sheen finish.
Original weathered finish shows on headstock as it has clouded over. Decal is complete and original.
Fitted with new Calfskin.



All posted worldwide.
Sold set up to play as seen in  photos.
Collection Welcome.

Sunday 12 November 2017

Another Gibson UB-4


These Gibson ukes are right up there with the best vintage instruments. Made in the 1920's not too many of these come around often.
This uke has travelled around the world I've found, tracing back its ownership over the past 20 years!

The number i can make out is 655-2..


This uke arrived with a homemade looking resonator, once removed i immediately noticed the sticker from Andy Eastwood. Dated from 1992, with a vellum fitted in 1996.
A quick email from Andy confirmed this. He also told me he bought it from Sean Moyes.
Two highly regarded players as former owners, a nod to the quality of this instrument.
I bought the uke from NYC from a friend of my Banjolele buddy, John Bianchi.
Its always interesting to trace back where these old ukes have been. Who knows where it was for the other 70 years of its life?


For such a fantastic instrument the quality of the replacement resonator could not be compromised. Made by Shackleton instruments in Norfolk from Black American Walnut.

 The Uke was stripped down, all the metal parts were rechromed. The neck and pot were refinished with several layers of Tru-oil.
Once every part of the instrument had been restored it was time to reassemble.

Always a joy to put expensive ukes back together, this Gibson was no exception


Superb job on the resonator by Shackleton instruments, although i added around 10 coats of Tru-oil to complete it

Stunning finish to a Stunning Instrument

The resonator is a perfect match and looks incredible.

This ukes plays with a rich clear, loud tone. Exactly what you would expect. I will leave the pictures to do the talking.

Tuesday 7 November 2017

100000 Visits to The Ukulele Restoration Barn



At such a monumental number i thought it was time i started adding some new restoration jobs to the blog.

Ive taken some time away from ukuleles over the past year or so, but recently due to a change in my job i found myself with some time on my hands. Those old ukes gathering dust were soon stripped down in bits in my workspace.

Currently i have around 8 instruments in various stages of restoration, and i will aim to show these during the process.

I also have a couple of cracking banjoleles hanging around that i didnt get around to showing on here.
I've developed my own techniques to achieve this clear sheen finish without using spray cans.

Slowly adding the same layered finish to the necks.

On this UB-2 even the skin ring has been replated. The new owner wont even notice until the vellum needs to be changed!

I hope to keep your interest up with lots more restoration jobs to come. If you are looking for a high end restored instrument please get in touch as i do sell my collection from time to time.

Sunday 15 October 2017

Stromberg Voisinet- The Rose

This model is very ornate with fantastic decal pattern on the resonator. Also the pearloid covered fretboard and headstock. Great for preserving the wood on the fretboard!
The uke is complete with decal around the pot, 3 part neck with binding, a very decorative flange covering the resonator. 16 hooks provides an excellent tone to this very well made instrument.

I wont go into detail on the history of this great model. John Bianchi talks about the SV ukes on his blog here..http://theukaholic.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/rose.html

In a sorry state

The uke was promptly stripped down and the parts sent away for re-plating.
The wood was re-finished which brought out the colour in the old decals

Well made instruments are always a joy to put back together and this was no exception. Set up with a calf skin vellum and Gali strings.




The Rose Decal

Dick Barrie Bands- 4th Edition

After a break away from ukuleles for a while i found myself buying this "Dick Barrie Bands" Banjolele. As with the other Barrie branded ukes this one is also a George Houghton & Sons model.
Its basically a GH&S Melody Junior. Made in the Uk in the 1950's.

When it came to me it was unplayable. A very badly shaped heel led the uke to look more like a bow and arrow. The action was almost an inch high and the bezel was way up above the pot.

The neck had been attached too high to the pot, i had to drill another hole in the pot and move the neck down around 5mm so it would be level with the skin once the instrument was put back together.
2 large wood screws pulled the neck tight to the pot. Notice the extra hole, thats how far out the neck was!
After i fixed the neck angle all the parts were re-finished to add a bit of shine
Mirror finish on the resonator
A new calf skin vellum was fitted, and the instrument was complete with new tuning pegs.
This is a decent beginners instrument, set up to correctly and ready to play.

This photo shows the action and neck angle.

New Tuners

A re-badged GH&S Melody Minor.