Okay, I took a risk. It wasn’t a big risk, but it was a risk. How good was the new Facebook Marketplace? Someone on one of the ukulele forums on Facebook had shared a For Sale posting. It was listed as a 1920s C.F. Martin & Co. Soprano Ukulele Style 0 with an instruction book. Lots of pictures showing the condition issues and problems.
The first thing I realized, without even checking the books, was that the double fret marker at 7 indicated it was a Style 1, not a Style 0. So after a conversation over Facebook, and a couple of actual phone calls, I transferred the money and got a tracking number. The only thing left was to wait for the arrival of the package.
Two days later it arrived. Very well packaged and exactly what I was expecting to see, down to all the scratches and dings. With the instrument in hand, I pulled up my copy of The Martin Ukulele: The Little Instrument That Helped Create a Guitar Giant to research the specifics and boxed in the time frame:
- After 1916 – Inside stamp parallel to the back brace, no serial number.
- 1920-21 – Marker at the 10th fret instead of 9th.
- 1920-21 – Ebony nut and saddle
- 1926 – Added rosewood binding on the back
- 1927 – Grover Tuners
That narrows the time frame to being as early as 1920, probably 1921, and as late as 1925.
I contacted three individuals, two top collectors and my favorite luthier, for advice about what direction I should go. Should I get replica tuning pegs or replace them with modern version of the Grove Tuners? The response was mixed!
My research, as well as one of the collectors, indicated that Martin had ordered violin pegs for use in their instruments. I was given a recommendation to check with a violin shop for pegs, so I visited the local violin shop to see about obtaining a new set. And was educated on risks of trying to make or fit tuning pegs without the appropriate tools! After discussion with Rob Wilson, owner of Wilson Fine Violins, we agreed on fitting a set of ebony pegs to replace the original ‘ebonized’ maple ones. While Martin had experimented with ebony, no ukuleles with original ebony pegs are known. The new ones are shown installed:
Rob also cleaned up the finish and was able to minimize the scratches without refinishing as well as repaired the small crack that was just starting in the back. When we tuned it up, I was totally shocked at the amazing sound that came out of the 90+ year old instrument!
Here is a video that shows a number of close ups with background music played on this wonderful vintage instrument.
Oh, and the ‘instruction book’ that came with it was Dick’s Improved Ukulele Method, published in 1924. The author is Richard W. Konter, who was infamous for smuggling an ukulele (a Martin!) on the first flight over the North Pole with Admiral Byrd. I have posted a review here.
I have a 1925 Martin Style 0 Soprano Ukulele Ebony nut and I have pictures their origanal pegs I believe in exelent condition it does kave a name ingraver Adaline and a very few pit marks and one vey small crack I would like to know the value and wether or not you are interested in buying it I don;t now how to get the pictures to you I can if your willing to give me a cell phone number.
You can send me pictures at TheUkuleleDude@gmail.com.
Hi, your article is extremely interesting to me as I am awaiting delivery of the Martin ukulele I bid for on Ebay, and have also ordered the book so as to try and narrow down the date of manufacture. It is an S2, and from what little I have gleaned from the various articles and videos I have seen, I would guess it to be 30’s/40’s, although it could have been made any time up to 1956 when the Waverley hex nut tuners were introduced. It appears to be in reasonable condition, although rather dirty and dusty in places, but with no discernable cracks showing in the pics., at least if there were they have been professionally repaired. I propose taking it to a Luthier for him to examine it, and at least give it a professional clean.
hey man, beautiful music you made with that martin. i recently aquired nearly an identical martin to the one you have. after doing my research also have mine dated between 1921-1926. its in excellent condition considering its age. pretty sure it sat for the last 50+ years untouched. it only has one string and in the case it was in were empty packs of pirastro violin-e steel strings and one gibson mona-steel ukulele-tenor ukulele-banjo ukulele string. packaging is very old and brittle for all. my question is to get this reatrung would it be wise to send to martin or would it be okay to just have the local gutar/ukulele shop do so? i havent taken it in to them yet but did stop by and ask and they said they could definitely restring it but said i could send to martin to have it looked over and restrung with authentic period correct strings. what do you recommend???
I wouldn’t send it to Martin, I wouldn’t even take it to a shop. Buy a set of Martin strings and do it yourself. There are lots of YouTube videos to show you how. Save your money!