The littleuns are just some of the most beautiful instruments I have ever seen. From the ornate pickguard throwback to the bowlback tradition, to the arched top that reminds of a vega cylinderback but backwards to the understated headstock binding. These are what ukeleles aspire to be.
This is a style 4 (from my research) which translates to the upper but not completely top end of their line.
For such a tiny instrument, it has a huge sound ~ especially if picked ‘dolce’: it sounds like a harp and has these crazy sustained overtones.
As button-cute as this one is, it has had its share of trouble ~ there are several repaired cracks and it looks like it was oversprayed at some point. I had it serviced by the estimable Steve Morrill and it plays really nice up and down the neck. It was missing one abalone inlay, which was replaced.
Comes with a softish case that is probably older than it is
2023 Update
A few weeks ago I heard a ‘crack’ from the instrument room and didn’t immediately notice that an prior repair on this one had let go. At a show I had tuned it up to tension and then the neck block slipped resulting in cracks along the neck and and the top near the heel.
2026 Update
Took it back to Steve Morrill and he put it back together just as good as it was before.
$600
