c.1920 Mele Flamed Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

Update 2013: I've updated this entry with new info and pics.

This is a nice old Mele-branded uke made by Harmony in the teens/early 20s. It's made entirely out of figured/flamey mahogany and sure looks grand. I worked on this a while back, had it back in the shop, traded it out, and it's traded back in. We musician folk love to trade stuff around, I guess!

That said, it sounds sweet, warm, and excellent for that old-timey 20s recordings sound. It fingerpicks and strums well and feels good in the paws, too. I can't remember what all I've done to this but in recent memory I leveled/dressed the frets and cleated up a small hairline crack to the treble side of the bridge. I know I did more when I first worked on it but can't recall it all, now.

Beautiful flamed 'hog all over, eh?

Typical teens/20s Harmony "rounded shield" headstock top.

Right... the inlay! There's this zipper wood inlay down the neck's top, there's rope binding on the top and back edges, and a rope rosette at the soundhole. It's snazzy!

It's really, really hard to see in the photos but the back has a bunch of figure, too.

The original black bakelite pegs are still going strong. Just tighten the set screw if they slip...