Soprano ukulele
Maker
Jose do Espirito Santo
Date1895-1905 ca.
Place MadeHonolulu, Hawaii
Serial No.none
Signedsee belowMarkingsVisible markings on the label are consistent with the markings found on known José do Espirito Santo labels.
DescriptionStringing: 4 gut strings
Soundboard: two-piece koa, medium downward sloping curl beginning near soundhole and continuing through the lower bout
Back: two-piece hardwood
Ribs: two-piece hardwood; separated by a five-piece inlay of alternating light and dark hardwood at the center of the bottom
Head: hardwood; integral with neck; overlay consists of a center strip of light and dark hardwood in a split herringbone design pointing upward bordered on the outsides with one strip each of dark and light hardwood, and split in the center with five pieces of alternating dark and light hardwood with the center piece of dark wood twice the thickness of the other strips; twenty-two pieces of various hardwoods inlaid sloping downward over the rest of the head; decorative shaped head, style VII (see NALU music: Some Ukulele Headstocks, in the file)
Tuning Pegs: dark hardwood
Neck: hardwood; integral with head; neck heel is separate piece
Heel cap: separate from the back [probably not original]
Binding: angled, alternating pieces of dark and light hardwood with one each of dark and light hardwood strips for trim, on top only
Fretboard: separate from neck; center strip of light and dark hardwood in a split herringbone design pointing downward bordered on the outsides with one strip each of dark and light hardwood, and split in the center with five pieces of alternating dark and light hardwood with the center piece of dark wood twice the thickness of the other strips; various species of hardwoods making up the remainder of each fret; 12 brass frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: koa; separate wooden saddle; bordered by angled, alternating pieces of dark and light hardwood with one each of dark and light hardwood strips for trim
Bridge pins: ivory
Tuners: turned pegs made from dark, tropical hardwood with open pores; not a matched set
Rosette: two rings of angled, alternating pieces of koa and light hardwood surrounded on each side with light hardwood strip trim separated by koa [topwood]; followed by a ring of koa [topwood] and one light hardwood ring
Varnish: light golden
Linings: soft wood
Neck block: hardwood; rounded corners; hardwood reinforcing strip affixed perpendicular to the back
End block: hardwood; rounded face
Top braces: softwood transverse braces with tapered ends above and below soundhole
Back braces: one light wood back brace with slightly tapered ends
Rib reinforcement: Paper lining extending from the neck block and terminating before the widest point of the lower bout
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 510 mm (20-1/8″)
Back length: 227 mm (9-15/16″)
Upper bout width: 110 mm (4-5/16″)
Waist width: 75 mm (3-1/2″)
Lower bout width: 135 mm (5-5/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 38.5 mm (1-1/2″)
Rib height, at waist: 41.6 mm (1-5/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 40.3 mm (1-17/32″)
Head length: 120 mm (4-23/32″)
Head width, top: 56 mm (2-1/4″)
Head width, bottom: 49 mm (1-15/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 166 mm (6-17/32″)
Neck width, nut: 36 mm (1-13/32″)
Neck width, heel: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 35.7 mm (1-13/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 329 mm (12-31/32″)
ProvenanceAcquired by the NMM from a seller in Hawaii.
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Marifran Wohlenberg and David L. Rose, 2012
Object number14680
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