c,1920 Oscar Schmidt Soprano Ukulele

I firmly believe that every uke player should have a uke that sits openly and comfortably on your couch like a lazy cat, just so you can pick it up should ever the need arise to play a tune. This is my uke for just such an occasion!

This is a c.1920 Oscar Schmidt (Jersey City, New Jersey) "Hawaiian Ukulele." It's built entirely out of birch and has been well-molested all its life until now. When I got this uke it looked like a hurricane -- the entire fingerboard was a mess of black glued-on sticky-paper higher than the frets themselves declaring each note on each fret for each string... typical for back then. There were cracks opening up all over the back... and of course, all sorts of dings, scuffs, scrapes, and ill-treatment.

Fortunately at its core this uke turned out to be a solid little thing and it restored nicely: gone are the thousands of marks all over the top, the color has returned to the finish (a nice deep red) despite the alligatoring, and she plays nicely. The original bridge, though damaged, was salvageable -- and features a brass fret saddle.

I like the cream binding soundhole & body... nice contrast, and the sound is a little thin on the bass side of things but has a nice, gentle, almost sad quality. Great for slow fingerpicking.

Here's that bridge.

Binding detail (nylgut strings).

Label inside declares Hawaiian Ukulele and at the bottom Manufactured by the Oscar Schmidt Company Jersey City, NJ.

Back -- quite a veteran.

New tuners -- the originals would have been wood pegs. These are typical cheapy Grovers but I've replaced the black plastic "washer" part of them with some ferrules that match the top ones. This setup works really nicely and looks more old fashioned.

Pretty beat, but plenty functional.

Side view.

And again.

I've tried to get myself to sell this uke a few times but every time I ask Bonnie about it she sticks out her lower lip and asks, "Do you see my face?" Ah, love! To truly appreciate one another's wants and needs!