I completed this at the end of last month, but haven’t had an opportunity to post it. It was an easy kit from Meinl who offers many ready-made versions for not a whole lot more money… and it probably wouldn’t take a lot to make one from scratch, but the kit was easy and fun. I added the wren and drumsticks using some “borrowed” art as a pattern and burned it with the woodburning tools I bought Jolene a few years ago.
My electric gas can uke. In my case it made more sense that it would be a can of blasting powder. Got it as a crowd-funded project that was so successful they had difficulty meeting the big demand and I waited for it a long time past due date, but it was worth it. One of the more unique ukuleles I have. It’s a bit of a challenge to play, so I don’t often, but fun to do.
Ukulele number 3 was meant to travel , at least that’s why I bought it. It wasn’t actually made for that. Then I discovered the Outdoor Ukulele that is designed to travel because it’s designed to withstand the bumps and temperature changes of travel. Welcome number 5. It is an “American made composite polycarbonate instrument developed for backpacking, camping, and traveling. They’ve been played in the Arctic Ocean, paddled down the Amazon River, and hiked both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.” MIne hasn’t gone that far, but it goes on just about any trip I make and played often at home as well, hanging conveniently on a curtain rod in the living room.
A friend showed me his banjolele, or should I say played it for me and I was hooked. Then I saw a picture of George Harrison playing one. What better way to learn a new instrument than to turn one you already know into one. I found the Luna Banjolele online and really liked the design. The clear head shows off a nice panel inside which I correctly surmised could easily be changed as well! I’m less happy with how it plays and have trouble keeping the strings from breaking and so don’t often play it. I solved that problem a different way as you’ll see in later posts. Still, I like how it looks and I want to like how heavy it is, but I don’t always.
After taking Uke 2 to Massachusetts for the Thoreau Gathering I decided I needed something that could be knocked about more to travel, but I definitely wanted one to travel. There’s a Music & Arts store in Vernon, outside Hartford Connecticut where I found this little soprano Kohala cheap that sounded pretty good. It was difficult to keep from playing a new uke, so the next stop at a roadside rest provided some opportunity. Replaced later by a plastic uke for traveling, it now finds a permanent home at my training center for breaktime when I’m working there alone… not during classes.
My second ukulele was bought at Funky Frets in Boyertown, a great place for string instruments, but especially ukuleles. As I said in Ukulele #1 I actually stopped to get a new set up tuners for #1 but wound up buying the set of tuners attached to a uke.
It’s a Lanikai concert LKP-C with Koa top, back, and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and gold plated tuners.
The hat next to it came later. It’s as perfect a ukulele hat as the ukulele is a great instrument and just as fun. They both sit next to my desk in my basement office for easy access at breaktime.
I was recently asked how many Ukes I have. It’s a recent passion, but I decided my web site might be the place to send folks for the answer. I can build the answer as I go and if perchance there is another instrument added to the collection. I can also add it effortlessly.
This was the one that started it all. I built it from a simple kit and added the scrollsaw wren pattern and initials. The idea was that it would be a precursor to building a guitar, but it got me forever stuck on ukuleles I think.
It’s an inexpensive kit from Grizzly Tools that comes with the body already glued and all other parts shaped. I think I got it on sale for $25. I paid more for the carrying case I bought for it later. A trip to Funky Frets in Boyertown, PA to get geared tuners to replace the friction ones provided and better strings led to me instead buying just the strings and a second ukulele. It’s shown here in my shop for obvious reasons.