Custom 1920s Princess Resonator Banjo Ukulele

The text below is borrowed from my blog post on this instrument...

I've worked-on and sold dozens of this same-model (or close to it) uke under many different brand names -- the most common being Slingerland, Slingerland's MayBell line, or the Concertone name. I think I've worked on perhaps two Princess-branded variants, though, as well. I still have no clue as to the actual maker of this type of banjo uke, but I call them Slingerland-style and it's more than likely they were made in Chicago by Regal or Harmony.
This one was probably made on the earlier side because its original neck brace is a simple friction-set wedge. It also has the earlier (presumably), shorter, 13" scale length (as opposed to 14") and a cool "pie plate" resonator on its rear, set-off from the back of the rim by rubber grommets. The ply maple rim is 7" and thus bog-standard in diameter, though it does have more hooks than usual at 16. Two of the hooks and shoes are replacements, though, but period and from my parts-bin. There's also a fat, hoop-style tonering sitting on the top of the rim.
Work included a fret level/dress, addition of a "bolt" neck brace (a screw!), general cleaning, a new bridge, and a good setup. It's playing on-the-dot with 1/16" action at the 12th fret, fluorocarbon strings installed, and ready to go. Tone-wise it's punchy and direct, with a nice cut that would make it ideal for jam or band use.
The headstock originally would have had a celluloid "Princess" logo on it, but it's long-gone.

I love the one-piece, quartersawn maple used on the necks for these. They  have a "Telecaster" look to them, don't they? The "board" dots are pearl and I added side dots, too.

The bridge is a nice, lightweight, vintage maple unit. Note that I've stuffed a bit of foam to mute the string afterlength behind the bridge (die, overtones, die).

While the tuner shafts are original to the uke, I replaced the original buttons with the exact same button type (and same period) from my parts-bin. The originals had dryness splitting in them and I did not want them failing on someone down the line.

Slightly-figured maple veneer is used on all the outside edges of the rim -- including the resonator's rear.

In addition to using the hammer-in, friction-set neck brace wedge, I also installed a simple screw through the rim into the heel. This insures proper alignment of the neck in the joint and also an absolutely-secure hold on the neck that doesn't stress the dowel. It's hiding behind the wedge, anyway.
I retrofit a lot of old banjos this way, now, as the "road report" for wedge-in neck braces is not good. Most players don't keep them tight and so the action rises once they've lived in the real world for half a year. Well -- the action rises or the neck twists side-to-side a little and throws action off. Either way it's annoying!

Product Specs

Condition:Very Good Make:Princess Model:Banjo Ukulele Finish:Natural Categories:Banjos, Ukuleles Year:1920s Made In:United States

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