 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| Roy Smeck Harmony Ukes | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Thu Aug 17th, 2006 04:11 pm |
|
1st Post |
|
Mike Bagneski Approved
|
Hey, I keep seeing these Roy Smeck ukes on eBay, selling pretty cheap. My understanding is that they're solid mahogany with the plastic fingerboard, which cut the labor, what, in half? Has anybody played one of these? Are they good players? Mb
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Aug 18th, 2006 02:05 am |
|
2nd Post |
|
Charlie Approved 
|
Hey Mike, I bought one about a year ago and had to change out the tuners and put new strings on it and it was a great player. I have thought about some time of getting another, but I want bid against you just yet. So have at it and you can get your money back on them any time. Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Aug 18th, 2006 04:35 am |
|
3rd Post |
|
Mike Bagneski Approved
|
Hey Charlie, Thanks for the info! Maybe I'll give one a try. Good to know I won't have to bid against you.  Mb
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Aug 19th, 2006 01:33 am |
|
4th Post |
|
JohnB Approved 
|
Harmony Roy Smecks are great. If it has a plastic fret board make sure it is not worn out as there wont be much you can do to fix that.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Aug 19th, 2006 06:52 pm |
|
5th Post |
|
Mike Bagneski Approved
|
Hey JohnB, Thanks for the advice. I assumed that those plastic fingerboards lasted forever. Glad I found out they don't. One question, are those fingerboards interchangable? Seems like they always look the same, with the same screw positions, etc. Mb
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Aug 19th, 2006 10:40 pm |
|
6th Post |
|
JohnB Approved
|
I've never swapped one before so I couldn't tell you how it would work out, but does look like an easy operation as long as the screws aren't stripped.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Aug 20th, 2006 01:31 am |
|
7th Post |
|
HowlinHobbit Approved 
|
Save up a bit more, be patient and go for one that doesn't have the plastic fingerboard. I've had both a plastic and non-plastic one and, while the plastic fingerboard didn't affect playability that much the one with the "real" frets was a much better ukulele. In fact, it's still happily being played by Chickadee LaVerne in the Lucky Devil Girly Show and sounds a treat. I spent well under a hundred on it, even counting the fact that I replaced the tuners and did a little "TLC" work on it. Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? Howlin' Hobbit on MySpace Snake Suspenderz Hot Jass, Hokum and Novelty Music... with a bite! Last edited on Sun Aug 20th, 2006 01:32 am by HowlinHobbit ____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Aug 20th, 2006 04:04 pm |
|
8th Post |
|
Mike Bagneski Approved
|
Hi HH, A Roy Smeck with real frets? Sounds like the way to go. Thanks for the tip. Mb
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 06:59 pm |
|
9th Post |
|
Stefi Approved
|
I have a very old Smeck with the wood frets but it needs new tuning pegs. The head is only 3/8" and I am afraid that when the tuners get inset there will be a problem. Were you able to get the new tuners in ok? I have owned this forever but it had been misplaced. I've found it and would like to fix it up enough to play with it. On the other hand, there will come a point where it would make more sense to get something new. I'm not sure how complicated the fix is and whether the instrument can withstand having only about an eigth of an inch left behind the friction peg. Otherwise it's in amazing shape and sounds good.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Mar 23rd, 2008 03:51 am |
|
10th Post |
|
HowlinHobbit Approved
|
Stefi -- I had to drill out the holes out to a bit larger diameter but the cheapo Ping tuners popped in and worked fine. Some sad news though... a few months ago Chickadee flew to Florida from here in Washington and made the mistake of checking the ukulele. The baggage 'handlers' smashed it to toothpicks. I went with her to the Trading Musician here in Seattle and helped her pick out a lovely old (somewhere in the 1930's near as we can tell) no-name koa uke to replace it though. Very much in the Dias style, big bark, lovely to look at (even with a few, professionally repaired, cracks). And only $300. All is happy again. Last edited on Sun Mar 23rd, 2008 03:52 am by HowlinHobbit ____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Mar 24th, 2008 03:09 am |
|
11th Post |
|
Stefi Approved
|
Thanks for the quick response. Both Elderly and Ukulele World2 were suggesting one of the Grover tuners but the better ones require sinking 1/4 inch into the head and I'm not at all sure that enough wood would be left to support the friction. If your experience with the Pings was ok in terms of staying reasonably in tune for more than five minutes...I will try those. Otherwise I think I would need to take it to a professional and then I might get charged more than the instrument is worth? Btw, I enjoyed your video of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Nov 18th, 2009 05:32 pm |
|
12th Post |
|
lambrusco Approved
|
hi from the u.k. i have a roy smeck which is about 1937, my fathers, now mine, learnt to play at 8 years old, now 62, its an amazing instrument and very similar to a martin which i looked at this w/e priced about £400 - wow. Mine is all wood/metal frets.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Feb 7th, 2010 09:14 am |
|
13th Post |
|
Hilton Approved
|
Hi there...I have just logged on as a new member.I read your posting regarding your comment about a 1937 Roy Smeck Ukulele....Question...Is it a Banjo Ukulele...?..If not.....do you know where I could purchase a Roy Smeck Banjo Ukulele.....?
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Feb 9th, 2010 05:49 pm |
|
14th Post |
|
lambrusco Approved
|
hi, its a concert uke - not banjo, quite small - good luck with the search
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Current time is 06:57 pm | |
| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > General Ukulele > Roy Smeck Harmony Ukes | Top |
