1920s Richter-made Lyra Bon-Ton Soprano Ukulele




We've owned an identical "Bon-Ton" uke for about 9 years and have enjoyed it that whole time. These are plucky, dry-sounding, sweet-sounding little peanut-shaped instruments and they're paper-thin in construction. This model is made entirely from poplar (I believe) and has super-cool red binding on the top and back edges. The sides are finished a greeny-black and the top and back are lefty a yellow/natural color. I like these ukes a lot for strumming but prefer instruments with taller frets for snappy fingerpicking. This was made in the age of complicated strum-pattern-playing, so what else would you expect?

Work included a neck reset (and internally-hidden extra bolt-reinforcement of the doweled joint), a fret level/dress and replacement 12th fret, crack cleat and seal job to two minor hairline cracks on the back, a bridge reglue, and saddle replacement (jumbo fretstock vs the worn wood). It plays great with spot-on 1/16" action at the 12th fret and a straight neck. The strings are light-gauge Aquila Nylgut, though clear flourocarbon would give this uke a bit more jangle.

Specs are: 13" scale, 1 3/8" nut width, 1 1/8" string spacing at the nut, 1 3/4" spacing at the bridge, 5 3/4" lower bout, 4 5/8" upper bout, and 2 1/4" side depth at the endblock. The neck has a flat board and very mild/thin soft-V shape to the rear.

Materials are: solid poplar throughout, ladder-braced top, and red celluloid binding around the edges and soundhole.




I added a couple of black side dots at 5 and 7.





The original, bakelite friction pegs work fine but aren't fancy.






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