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John Croft, Glan Tanat, Llanyblodwel, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8NQ, England. Tel: (44) 01691 - 828850.
E-Mail: theukuleleman@hotmail.com
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The Wendell Hall model was a huge success for the Ludwig company. They were well made, they sounded superb, and they sold in large numbers. In late 1926 the company had made a promotional agreement for their cheapest banjo uke model with a well known Chicago based songwriter, recording artist, musician, and broadcaster called Wendell Hall. Shortly after he received his first ‘Wendell Hall’ banjo uke he wrote the following letter to the Ludwig company;
“ Dear Davey (A. E. Davidson)
You ask me to express myself on how I like the new Banjo-Uke. Well, I could tell you many things about it, but I am not so good at writing them. Fact is -- I’d find it easier to write a song.
I am and always have been very finicky about the Ukes I use in my work, but till now I never really new what a sweet tone plus good reproducing power meant. The Banjo-Uke you made for me under my own name is the best instrument I have ever played. And I would not say that whether it bore my name or not.
Really, Davey, I am proud to have my name go on it for I know and I’m sure that the standards which produced my own instrument will be adhered to -- that every duplicate Uke will be as good as the one I have.
I’ll sum it up in a few words: There’s nothing finer no sah!
Sincerely
Wendell Hall.
PS. See that Ludwig’s put on the very best strings that money can buy.”
This was quite a compliment from a stage hardened pro like Wendell Hall, and Ludwig’s - ever quick to maximise a marketing opportunity - published a copy of this letter in a small flyer about the uke that they inserted into their 1927 Catalogue.
The Ludwig Wendell Hall banjo uke proved to be a popular instrument and it sold well. Many of them are still to be found, albeit in a variety of conditions. It was the most affordable of the Ludwig banjo ukes although it has to be remembered that by the wages of the day it was still an expensive purchase.
Next, we come to the two ‘classic’ Ludwig banjo ukes brought out with the Wendell Hall in 1927. In essence, these were similarly constructed, but they contained a variety of changes which undoubtedly made them more desirable in their day, and much more sought after today. Both these instruments had the flange cut-out pattern similar to that found in the majority of the higher grade Ludwig banjos. This pattern is variously referred to being as ‘crown’ shaped, ‘tulip’ shaped, or ‘bell’ shaped. I tend to use the phrase ‘crown’ shaped. One of these instruments had plain nickel plated metalwork, whilst the top of the line version had gold plated metalwork and a hand engraved flange. Interestingly, the nickel plated 1927 version never ever appeared in photographic form in any Ludwig catalogue. It was only ever referred to as a ‘Nickel plated banjo uke’ and was shown as the cheaper alternative to the gold plated model. This leads me to a point of pure conjecture. Whilst many companies offered a gold plated model that was an up market version of a nickel plated model, perhaps Ludwig offered a nickel plated model that was a down market alternative to their gold plated one. If this sounds stupid then consider the fact that where the former applies, the nickel plated versions are always found in greater numbers than the gold plated ones. However, in the case of the Ludwig banjo ukes, it is my experience that the nickel plated version is even harder to find than the very rare gold plated model, and that is most unusual. This leads me back to the era in which theses instruments were made and the prices for which they sold. $25, a lot of money in 1927, would buy you a nickel plated Wendell Hall model Ludwig banjo uke To buy the ‘classic’ nickel plated Ludwig banjo uke would cost you $37.50 or $12.50 more. That is some 50% more expensive, and a huge increase in expenditure and a serious amount of money to spend on anything in 1927, let alone a banjo uke. Therefore it is not illogical to suggest that f you had the money to buy the nickel plated model at $37.50 then you may well have had the extra $12.50 money to spend on the gold plated model. This could well have been the marketing strategy of the Ludwig company, which heavily promoted their entry model Wendell Hall and their top of the line gold plated model in their catalogues, but only ever gave a cursory mention of their ‘middle’ model. Conjecture it all may be, but there is no doubt at all that the nickel plated and gold plated Ludwig banjo ukes are beautiful instruments to play as well as to behold. NEXT
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