c.1925 Regal Flamed Koa Concert Ukulele
Update 2012: This is actually made from flamed Cuban mahogany.
Talk about a rarer bird... I've seen only two of these surface so far.. this is one of them. This uke is more or less identical in styling to Regal's nice 1920s flamed koa soprano ukes, but this one does it larger-than-life in a concert-size body with longer scale. This means that it's very traditional looking, super-lightweight (but sturdy), and features incredible tone, a slimmer but comfortable neck, and that super-cool multicolored binding that this series is known for.
The construction is solid koa throughout and the back and sides have very beautiful curly/flamed figure. This top is choice as well, with nice grain.
Typical Regal-style headstock. I like this -- simple and different from other makers, yet strangely traditional-looking.
Nickel-silver frets on top of the koa neck.
Soundhole rosette -- celluloid binding a little upset on one edge, but in decent shape.
Bridge is on quite sturdily, though two of the slots are worn, so I'm using some beads as "ball ends" for precaution.
Side.
Back... starting to see that flame?
New Grover pegs. Original bakelites were all gone.
Yum! Delicious wood! The finish is actually in pretty good shape (some crazing, crackling, but all there and good patina) save for the (buckle rash?) on the upper bout back.
Detail...
Other side.
Here you can see some of that nice side flame. Don't mind the dust (pollen?) please.
More of that beautiful side flame... mh!
And the other side to match!
The top is a little darker than the sides and back in a pretty more mocha-red color.
Lovely grain!
And again. Really a knockout. And the tone compares equally. This is a joy to play, too!
Comments
When people ask me what ukulele they should buy (not to say that they ask that often), they expect me to answer them something on brands or models, or particular shops, and technicalities like scale length and compensated nuts. BTW, the latter is what I am myself.
Instead, I tell them to take a kitchen scale to the music store. If the soprano is closer to 300 gr, it's probably a good one, the 500 gr ones are usually overbuilt and dead sounding - and you can even find those in the expensive price range. For larger sizes, I don't have weight standards.
It's far from exact science, but it works.