Machete, Mele Concert Ukulele

The must see ukulele of the week is the this pre-ukulele machete (or brahuinga) that musicguymic has for sale. It dates from the dark, dark days before the ukulele was invented and comes from a Portuguese luthier called OJ Nunes (apparently, a forebear of ukulele innovator Manuel Nunes). It’s been in a Viennese museum, so it looks to be in tip top condition considering it’s a century and a half old. A bargain at $10,000.

Until recently, you could count the number of female ukulele luthiers I was familiar with on the fingers of no hands. But, I’ve just stumbled across one on eBay. She has a couple of very fetching looking ukes up for sale at the moment: imakeukuleles.

I’m a complete sucker for rope binding, and this Mele concert ukulele has some sexy roping going on.

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4 Comments

  1. seeso March 22nd, 2008 8:36 am

    Wow, that Mele with the rope binding is gorgeous.

    I also really like the ukuleles from the female luthier (I don’t know her name). The spartan, no frills design is appealing, and the headstock shape is beautiful.

  2. Howlin' Hobbit March 22nd, 2008 3:27 pm

    Some pretty ukes there but I just don’t like the jug-eared look of geared tuners, especially on sopranos.

    As far as female luthiers go… Augustino LoPrinzi’s daughter Donna makes all the ukes that come out of his shop (and apparently some of the guitars too) and there’s a lovely amateur (though she has sold a few pieces) named Kathy Matsushita. Her page has lots of tips for the budding luthier as well as just being fascinating.

  3. Woodshed March 23rd, 2008 3:00 pm

    Seeso: I’m with you 100% on the headstock shape. I’ve just been looking over the ukes she’s sold before. Both of them have a really cool rainbow soundhole circle.

    Hobbit: Thanks for the links. I seem to remember stumbling on Kathy Matsushita’s site long ago. Thanks for reminding me.

    I don’t mind the look of geared tuners at all. My main problem with them is that they throw the balance of the uke off.

  4. seeso March 23rd, 2008 3:47 pm

    Hey, that rainbow rosette is sweet! Very unique.

    Geared tuners throw the balance off? I haven’t experienced that problem.

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