Vintage Kaholas & Co Soprano Ukulele

Vintage Kaholas & Co Soprano Ukulele

I am selling a vintage Kaholas & Company soprano ukulele made of solid mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. The heel cap suggests that it is Hawaiian made, not mainland, but from what I read it was likely made by Gretsch sometime during the 1920s, possibly in Brooklyn.

This is a beater ukulele with stable cracks, scuffs, scrapes and boo-boos which is consistent with an instrument pushing 100 years old. With that said, it plays fine and the action is good, but it could use a setup to address a slight G-String buzz. I have included a video.

Overall length is 20 7/16 in. (51.9 cm.), 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) deep. Scale length is 13 1/4 in. (336 mm.).

The label inside reads:

Ukulele O’ Hawaii
Highest Grade
For Tone Quality and Workmanship
Kaholas & Co

According to the Tikj King Ukulele Database (which you can google to find):

“Label Reads "Ukulele'O'Hawaii, Kaholas & Co. Highest Grade for Tone Quality and Workmanship" but research suggests that it may have been made by Gretsch Circa 1920's Another example carries a label which reads: "Kaholas & Co.; Hawaiian Ukulele. Warranted 6-7-8." The "Hawaiian Ukulele" marking can be confusing. There were many Ukuleles made in the teens and twenties which were mainland made but carried the slogan "Hawaiian Ukulele" or similar wording. This was what prompted the “Tabu” stamp which is seen on many genuinely Hawaiian built instruments of the period.”

Note: We only ship to the lower 48 States.