Showing posts with label Roy Smeck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roy Smeck. Show all posts

Sunday 25 September 2016

Ohana VK-70 Ukulele. Ohana have been playing in their Time Machine again

Ohana VK-70 Concert/Soprano Ukulele.
Solid Spruce Top and mahogany Back and Sides.

$250 
Including Postage In Australia.
FREE Headstock Tuner
FREE Lesson via Skype with Jeffrey Thomas.

With the Ohana VK-70 you get a modern well built Ukulele with modern ease of playability AND the Cool 1920's Art Deco looks.  An original Roy Smeck Vita Uke from the 1920s will set you back a heap of coin, and finding one in good playing condition is hard.

Luckily for us the good people at Ohana have been playing with their Time Machine again.  

This time they have transported us back to 1927 and The Wizard Of the Strings Roy Smecks ukulele of choice, the Vita Style Uke.  Complete with its 1920's Deco body and "Seal' Soundholes.

The VK-70 RRP in the USA is $299 USD (Before Shipping) in Australia this ukulele is VERY KEENLY priced at $250 Aussie Dollars Including Shipping.

Just like Fiat, Mini and VW have recreated modern versions of their classic cars, Ohana has, in the vita VK-70 ukulele, crafted a modern version of a 1920's Art Deco ragtime ukulele Classic. 

 A Classic Pear-shaped "Vita" style body with solid spruce top is ordained with the equally classic the "Seal Shaped" soundholes.

I always thought the Roy Smeck Vita ukes had such an interesting design, and the 'Seal' shaped soundholes were "Radical and Futuristic' for the 1920's.

WOULD YOU LIKE BITE WITH THAT LOUD TONE
The Ohana VK-70 has a wide broad top and no waist, this makes a much bigger sound than a traditional figure 8 ukulele. Like the Originals the Size of the VK-70 is somewhere between a Soprano and a Concert.

The Spruce top adds a loud bit of Bite to the Ukulele, its NOT in any way a harsh tone, just voiced perfectly to "Cut Through' a mix.

With the Ohana VK-70 you get a modern well built Ukulele with modern ease of playability AND the Cool 1920's Art Deco looks.

AN ART DECO UKULELE?
Art Deco took its name, short for Arts Décoratifs, from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925.  The
between the wars period was all about the new and futuristic and Art Deco design cues touched seemingly everything, even ukuleles

SPECIFCATIONS OHANA VK-70
Vintage re-issue
Vintage "Vita-Uke" Pear Shape
Solid Spruce Top
Mahogany Back & Sides
Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
Aquila Strings, Geared Tuners
Top and Back Binding
Bone Saddle and Nut



HISTORY
Roy Smeck, born Leroy Smeck, 6 February 1900 was an American musician. His skill on the banjo, guitar, steel guitar, and especially the ukulele earned him the Nickname "Wizard of the Strings.

The Vita ukuleles were first made by Harmony in 1927 and Roy Smeck, Mr uke wizard himself endorsed them and hence the vita name, you see the "Vita" part came from the Vitaphone Movie recordings that often featured Roy.  The original style Roy Smeck Vita from the Harmony Company was from the fancier end of their Ukulele range. IMHO were the equal of any Martin or Lyon & Healy product from the era.

The Vita had a futuristic body shape that is approximately concert uke wide and with a 14" scale so the Vita is somewhere between a concert uke and a soprano uke.

ABOUT OHANA UKULELES
"Welcome to Ohana, where you will find the many hand-crafted ukulele models we offer. Our selection ranges from: soprano to baritone, mahogany to selected
koa from the islands of Hawaii, conventional to vintage models, and also unique models for those who are looking for something different.

At Ohana, our goal is to provide the highest quality product at a reasonable price.

Every ukulele that leaves our warehouse is carefully inspected and set up for maximum playability. Yes that's right — EVERY UKULELE, regardless of model
and price. Should musicians compromise on quality just because they need an entry-level ukulele? We don't think they should.

At Ohana, we believe in the basic concepts of QUALITY, PLAYABILITY, and VALUE. As a player you deserve each of these when you purchase a musical instrument.

Ohana Music markets its products primarily through a network of excellent dealers around the world. However, we are here to answer any questions you may have. So go ahead, send Ohana an email or call; we will be happy to inform you about the products Ohana offers.

Meanwhile, have fun, share the Aloha spirit with your loved ones, and Happy Strumming!"


Ohana VK-70 Concert/Soprano Ukulele.
Solid Spruce Top and mahogany Back and Sides.

$250 
Including Postage In Australia.
FREE Headstock Tuner
FREE Lesson with Jeffrey Thomas.