Aloha!

For sale today is a classic C.F. Martin & Co. Style 0 ukulele from the late 1940s or early ‘50s. Soprano-sized, the body is solid mahogany with a 5-ply circle of inlay around the sound hole, banded in black and white. The fingerboard is rosewood with small dot inlays and 12 nickel-silver “T” frets. Bridge and saddle are both ebony. The tuners are original Kluson No. 566 Keystones, and work well. The overall length is 20-15/16\", the body length 9-3/8\", scale length 13-5/8\", and width at the lower bout is 6-3/8”. The action is low — just over 3/32\" inch at the 12th fret, G string — and the strings are new Martin M600 Clear Fluorocarbons. Plays smoothly, sounds great — classic Martin.

A note on the age: Kluson tuners were first used on Martin Style 0 ukes in about 1946, and discontinued in about 1956. See Walsh & King, The Martin Ukulele (Hal Leonard, 2013), p. 129. T-frets appeared in about 1947. See id., p. 124. I therefore date this one somewhere between 1947 and 1956.

CONDITION: There are two repaired cracks on the top, one longer and the other quite short; both have been cleated and glued (see photo 2, right of bridge). There are several others in parallel on the back (see photo 4, left) and one on the right side (see photo 8); again, all were cleated and glued. The top and back seams were reglued in places (see photos 8, 11), as were both interior back braces. The finish is quite sound, with a few dings and and scrapes as shown in the photos. Overall a very sound instrument after repairs.

NEWBIES: If you have a zero response score, no problem -- offer away -- but please contact me by e-mail first, or I will have to cancel your offer.

SHIPPING: I ship only to the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. Protectorates. No P.O. boxes or APO/FPO, please, and no international shipments due to the rosewood fingerboard. Shipping is usually via UPS Ground ($18.00), with an extra $25.00 for shipment to Hawaii, Alaska or U.S. Protectorates.

Mahalo for looking.