1930s Favilla Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

This is a customer's old Favilla and, like all Favilla ukes, it kicks-butt. This is from their best era, too, methinks -- late '30s or early '40s. The design got slightly lighter and a little wider during these years, which means that these ukes are rip-roaring loud and punchy for their size. You can hear those notes zip-zip-zipping right off the fingers in the video clip.

It didn't need much work, either -- another trait shared with most Favillas save the ones that're really mistreated.

Work included: a fret level/dress, saddle shave, string-ramping behind the saddle, one cleat to a tiny hairline crack on the back, cleaning, and a good setup. It plays with hair-over 1/16" action at the 12th fret, has a straight neck, and is strung with D'Addario fluorocarbon strings.

Scale length: 13 1/2"
Nut width: 1 7/16"
String spacing at nut: 1 1/8"
String spacing at saddle: 1 9/16"

Body length: 9 3/8"
Lower bout width: 6 1/2"
Upper bout width: 5"

Side depth at endpin: 2 1/4"

Top wood: solid mahogany
Back/sides wood: solid mahogany
Neck wood: mahogany
Fretboard: rosewood

Neck shape: flat fretboard, mild C-shaped neck

Bridge: mahogany

Nut: original rosewood

Saddle: original rosewood

Weight: 0 lb 10 oz

Condition notes: it's clean and all-original save for a shaved-down saddle and one cleat to a hairline crack on the back.

The heel shape is very distinctive on Favillas. It's helped me identify mystery-brand ukes from the '30s that bear Favilla design traits but might have other details "off" -- body shape slightly different and of course, different branding.