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Blackstone Ukulele by Epiphone?


nrand

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I bought this recently and cannot find another anywhere, nor anyone who knows anything about them. I believe it to be Japanese from the 50s or 60s and possibly made by Epiphone. Epiphone apparently made tenor guitars under the Blackstone name. I have tried a few other forums with no luck. Anyone seen one of these before. Its a baritone, solid mahogany.

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T2eC16dHJFoE9nh6pi5WBP5d7DzwBQ60_57_zps184a1e21.jpg

T2eC16JHJHwE9n8iguuJBP5eB0KV60_57_zps075cc946.jpg

T2eC16ZHJGoE9nuQgjwzBP5eImb4w60_57_zpsde5edb87.jpg

 

There is a faint remnant of the headstock decal which could be 'Epiphone' but I am no expert.

Headstock.jpg

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I bought this recently and cannot find another anywhere, nor anyone who knows anything about them. I believe it to be Japanese from the 50s or 60s and possibly made by Epiphone. Epiphone apparently made tenor guitars under the Blackstone name. I have tried a few other forums with no luck. Anyone seen one of these before. Its a baritone, solid mahogany.

 

There is a faint remnant of the headstock decal which could be 'Epiphone' but I am no expert.

Headstock.jpg

 

Epiphone didn't move manufacturing overseas from the USA until 1970, so if your uke is from Japan in the 50's or 60's, it can't be an Epiphone.

 

I think the logo remnant that you see on the headstock says "Blackstone."

 

Red 333

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Epiphone didn't move manufacturing overseas from the USA until 1970, so if your uke is from Japan in the 50's or 60's, it can't be an Epiphone.

 

I think the logo remnant that you see on the headstock says "Blackstone."

 

Red 333

 

Thanks Red

I thought the date was problematic for Epiphone,and there is no proof anywhere of the Ukes origins.

I also initially thought the decal read "Blackstone" too but there appears to be the remnant of a lowercase letter with a 'tail' in the middle, which complicates things further. My other guess was 'Esquire', but it appears to be 8 letters, from the spacing.

If it were a piece of junk I probably would not bother but it is actually a really good player. It is much better sounding than an all Koa soprano I bought in Hawaii a few years ago for several hundred dollars.

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Not an Epiphone. They either 'borrowed' or plagiarized the "Blackstone" name. "Blackstone" is, in deed, a Epiphone model name, but was applied to arch top guitars and possibly a flat top of yore, and I am fairly certain it was applied to a Tenor version of a 6 string as well.

 

This one is possibly a Harmony make, but I'm not sure. What makes you think 50/60's?

 

What makes you think MIJ?

 

Is this a soprano or concert uke?

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