|
John Croft, Glan Tanat, Llanyblodwel, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8NQ, England. Tel: (44) 01691 - 828850.
E-Mail: theukuleleman@hotmail.com
|
|
|
GIBSON UKULELES were first introduced in 1925 at the same time as the revamped Gibson Banjo Ukes. Their story is a reasonably straightforward one in that they began by making three styles of soprano ukuleles, and although they went on to make a few other styles of ukulele, their three soprano models formed the core of their ukulele production for at least the next twelve years. Not quite as ‘punchy’ as the Martin ukes, they nevertheless have a beautifully resonant mellow tone, and their playing action is superb.
Most Gibson ukuleles had a mahogany body and neck, although the Tenor models (and some soprano models) had Spruce tops. The ‘Uke-1’ originally had twelve frets, three position dots on the fingerboard at the 5th, 7th, and 10th frets, a plain body and neck with no binding at all, and an ‘ebonised fingerboard’. It had a ‘black and natural’ rosette inlaid around the soundhole, a black nut and a black bridge saddle, and it had patent pegs with black buttons. ‘The Gibson’ was written on the peghead in silver. It sold for $10.00.
The ‘Uke-2’ also had twelve frets and the same position dots at the 5th, 7th, and 10th frets.However, although it was also finished in natural mahogany the fingerboard was made of rosewood, and there was black and white ivoroid binding around the edge of the top bout. It too had the ‘black and natural’ rosette inlaid around the soundhole and it also had patent pegs, although it was originally sold with white/cream buttons. It had a white nut and a white bridge saddle, ‘The Gibson’ was written on the peghead, and it sold for $15.00.
Top of the range was the ‘Uke-3’. Finished in dark stained mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard, this had seventeen frets, five of which extended over the top bout to the edge of the soundhole. The fingerboard and peghead were inlaid with ‘fancy pearl ornaments’, although this pattern was very short lived because within a couple of years it had been replaced by the ‘diamond and snowflake’ inlay pattern which matched that of the UB-3. The top and back were both bound with white and black ivoroid. The neck was bound with white ivoroid which extended from the nut, down both sides of the fingerboard and around the shaped end of the fingerboard next to the soundhole. This ukulele had a bone nut and a bone bridge saddle and the soundhole was inlaid with a patterned rosette. It had patent pegs with white/cream buttons and ‘The Gibson’ written on the peghead in silver. This ukulele sold for $20.00. In the 1950’s the inlay pattern on the fingerboard was replaced by a ‘dot’ pattern and the inlays were removed from the peghead altogether.
Gibson soprano ukuleles remained at their initial prices until at least 1936, but by 1942 the ‘Uke-1’ had increased to $14.25, and by this time it was the only soprano ukulele in their catalogue. Throughout this time there had been minor variations such as ‘The Gibson’ in gold on the peghead, variations in the ‘dot’ inlay pattern on the fingerboard, and cross-bracing and spruce tops on a few soprano models. A few ‘Uke-2’ models had fingerboards which extended to the soundhole. In 1928/29 they had introduced a Tenor ukulele for $30.00 to the pattern of the ‘Uke-2’ soprano ukulele. A few Baritone ukulele’s were made to order but never appeared in their catalogue, as was the case with the stunning ‘Poinsettia’ and ‘Florentine’ soprano ukes. Production of ukuleles continued post-war but relatively few were made. A Style-3 Tenor with sunburst finish and multiple binding was produced in the 1950’s, but ukulele production was finally discontinued in the early 1960’s. NEXT
|
|
