c.1960 Favilla Baritone Ukulele




There's a reason that Favillas are lauded and sought-after baris: they're just plain good instruments. They're easily on par tone-wise with any old Martin bari I've played (but different) and have a good feel in the hands, too. They're built light and thoughtfully-made and so... they work!

This one is in for consignment and it's pretty darn clean: aside from the most minor of scuffs and light scratching (with a few knicks on the lower bout top edge, treble side) it's good to go with no cracks. My work was a fret level/dress and light setup (the frets were simply worn). It plays with 1/16" (spot on) action at the 12th fret and has an older set of Aquila strings on it which give it plenty of power but also a bit more tension compared to, say, a general set of Worths or Martin fluoros.
 

These ukes are all-solid mahogany builds with rosewood bridges/fretboards. I'm pretty sure this one dates to around 1960 as it has a synthetic nut and saddle.

The finish is that thin satin-style stuff that Martin also used. It has a low gloss effect that's attractive but unfortunately the stuff scratches easily so you have to be careful with it. Maybe this is fortunate, though... because a thin finish = a more resonant instrument. I can't stand new stuff that's dipped in 1/16" of gloss ick. Eww.




Please excuse some of my out-of-focus shots... today was gloomy as heck.













Yep -- it has its original chip case, too, which could use light repair but serves as-is.

Comments

uku man said…
Refinished! Frett board made to look like ebony. Was rosewood. Bridge is oiled to take the scuffs out. How is it you get satin when this uke reaks of golss verithane? Really?
Jake Wildwood said…
It amuses me how -- on the internet -- so many people make off comments when they haven't even held the item in question.

It's finished exactly like a 60s Favilla classical guitar -- yes, the bridge is sprayed -- just like the body, in a semi-satin finish. It's not like the 50s baris at all which aren't sprayed this way and have a thinner, truly satin finish. The board still IS rosewood, it's just that it's darker. Rosewood comes in all different colors -- some dark, some cinnamon, some almost koa-looking in terms of color (like on 1940s Regals and Kays).

If it were a real "refin" the decal would be gone. I've seen a number of Favs with this style finish so it's definitely factory work and definitely later in the game.