Gibson UB1 1920s banjolele

A wonderful little Gibson UB-1 banjo ukulele from the 1920s.

The instrument has recently been serviced and set up. It has a new vellum head, new fluorocarbon strings and a very low, comfortable action. It plays extremely well and is surprisingly loud for such a small instrument.

And it really is small – even smaller than a regular soprano ukulele. That makes it a very charming and characterful little instrument.

The sound is pure vintage: dry, direct and slightly crackly in the best possible way – a bit like listening to an old shellac record. It works especially well for rhythmic accompaniment and old-time songs. Fingerpicking is possible, of course, but because of the very compact dimensions and string spacing, this is not where I think the instrument shines most.

For accompaniment, however, it is fantastic: immediate response, lots of volume and unmistakable 1920s character.

Condition:
Very good vintage condition for an instrument around 100 years old, with normal signs of age and use. Recently serviced and set up, with new vellum head and fluorocarbon strings. Low action and ready to play. Please also see the photos for the cosmetic condition.

I am only selling it because I simply don’t play it enough. It deserves to be used rather than sitting around.

A lovely little piece of Gibson history – and, above all, a genuinely fun instrument to play.