c.1955 Harmony Baritone Uke (another one!)


It seems like I have a never-ending supply of beautiful Harmony baris from the '50s! I've been very lucky in picking them up, lately -- usually it's just a lot of '60s ones floating around. This is, of course, a thin-topped, all-solid mahogany, crack-free, bone nut & saddle, Braz. rosewood bridge & fretboard, red-headed beauty!

This has to be one of the best ones I've had in, as well -- after a fret dress and setup it plays fantastically and is loud and snappy in terms of tone, with that warm, sweet, sort of samba/mellow jazzy mwah to it. Great soloing instrument and also a very strong accompaniment instrument.


Remains of the '50s label, bone nut. Original tuners, too.


Brass frets, freshly dressed... faux-MOP dots.


Rosewood bridge, bone saddle, and, of course... I've tied them like a uke should have its strings tied, rather than classical fashion. Check out the beautiful curly/light flamey figure on that top! I'm smitten!



Such nice wood...!


And the usual tortoise trim.




Back is less figured but has that gorgeous, simple, straight-grain mahogany look like you see on old Martins.




More lovely 'hog over here!


Good neck set.


Here you can see some of that tortoise in the sun.

Comments

Chad said…
why should a uke have its strings tied that way? is it something to do with the potential of too much upward pull on the bridge/saddle? or?