Vintage Martin Soprano Ukulele Shootout at Retrofret!

Where else can you play 5 vintage Martin Soprano Ukes side by side?
We have (in this order):
50's Martin Style 0
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50's Martin Style 0
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30's Martin Style 2
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'23 Martin Style 2
www.retrofret.c...
'23 Martin Ditson Style 2
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[@CMaj7b5]

Hi, very nice sound, strumming style as well. What are these jazzy chord progressions?

[@aaronblasyak1527]

I like how he starts by saying, "I am not much of a ukulele player..." and then proceeds to jam on them lol...

[@raceface_m2579]

The Ditson is the best sounding of the lot. The first style 2 may need to be humidified. The only reason I know is from experience. That’s how my dried up Martin Style 0 sounded like when it was drying out badly. It just wasn’t right. Once hydrated, it sounded fuller. Id take either of those Style 0s though- more so the first one.

[@1viva]

That was excellent! Love the sound recording! That was a real treat! Thank you! :-)

[@leonelgutierrez7707]

What's the strumming-style song name? By the way: beautiful Ukes and sweet sounds!

[@USNAVDC]

Your strumming technique is just great! It's a treat to hear you play any of them!

[@kd_kissed]

I Love the first one! Thanx for sharing!

[@Uke_in_Flight]

Great comparison, I enjoyed that!

[@oldsoulshow]

My fave in the 1930s Style 2, it has that classic uke sound. The ones from the 20s are good too. The 1950s were not as bright sounding to me.

[@raceface_m2579]

That Ditson sounds so good!

[@phenixreturns]

i want this sound in a concert size

[@fosterhart2013]

You've got a chord progression that is the same as "See you in my my dreams" . Best version is Mike Brown concert for George . Although Ukulele Ike's version is just awesome also .

[@thoughtdujour]

So gorgeous... ALL of them!

[@phreddcatt]

Great video. Very well done. I really enjoyed hearing the different tonal qualities of each uke.

[@USNAVDC]

Unreal sound on those ukuleles!Nice strumming!

[@akipachoekie]

Its not fair😭😭😭 The first is the best. Greetings from Holland.

[@haroldrull4943]

I’ll see u in my dreams....... nice sounding vintages specially Martins.

[@dalwhinnie69]

Wonderful stuff. Really enjoyed the first style O and the ditson was sublime. Thank you.

[@UkuleleBobbyKemp]

Great shootout there - I’ve spent ages listening to Style ‘0’ Sound samples (& I eventually bought a new hand built replica by Ken Timms). The new Martins are awful, but that 1st one you played there was an absolute beaute! (way nicer than the 2nd imo). I think the 2nd of the 3 2Ks was probably Hawaiian Koa which prob. accounts for the more authentic tone you mentioned. Basically vintage Martin ukuleles are awesome - & you’ve shown it very nicely here - Thnx again, Bobby

[@auntie_social]

Ukulele Bobby the first one is my absolute favourite, too.

[@grantryder5463]

Do you still have the Ken Timms? I just got a new one. The c note really barks! If you still have it how has the sound matured? Thanks!

[@UkuleleBobbyKemp]

@@grantryder5463 Hi Grant, yes I still have it... Tbh I never really had a prob. with the C-string, but the overall sound has def. matured a little, (in the direction of mellow'ness). Have to say tho' that I don't really play it much these days... 🙏

[@grantryder5463]

Thanks for your reply. All the best.

[@UkuleleBobbyKemp]

@@grantryder5463 Pleasure mate, to you too... 🤙

[@garydg29]

Nice to hear so many vintage Martins and the Ditson. You might want to refine your dating by looking at the Walsh and King book "The Martin Ukulele". There is no way to date a 20's uke to the specific year, although with fret markers and tuner changes you can narrow the period. In addition, there's no way to date a style 2 between 1934 and 1947. Just thought you might want to know. All the ukes are very nice players but you can hear the richer and more complex and more "bell-like" sound of the early ukes vs. the later ones. cheers, gary

[@raceface_m2579]

garydg29 it’s possible that the original owner had documentations such as a receipt when they had purchased it.

[@JannikLindquist]

It seems to me that the tonal qualities of Martin's is much more obvious when comparing the different styles (0,1,2,3) than when comparing different periods. To my ears, the sound of both of the style 0's have a more bell like quality than any other of the other Martin's in this video. For the same reason I prefer the two style 0's - and probably the second more than the first 😊

[@jspaceemperor420]

nothing compared to a kamaka