I am my Father’s son and so love to fiddle and fettle. He was an ex RAF fitter and I can remember him building and repairing things throughout my childhood. I also do not have much spare cash.
I did not pay full price for any of these ukuleles on this site. They are usually the result of scouring Ebay and Craig’s List for rejects, projects, factory seconds and even thirds. The Fender Tenor for instance was advertised with a concave neck and buzzing at the 3-4th frets, but at $35.00 seemed worth a try. After all, it was then the top of the range solid mahogany ukulele. ($300 plus but now discontinued). Now while you might possibly complain at $300, it is perfectly playable and a bit of a bargain at $35.
I like the Baritone ukulele for general playing. My guitar playing background certainly helped here which is why I think there are not many Baritones in general jam groups etc. The chord shapes are the same but the chord names are different. For those who like to cheat, Aquila do sell a string set for the Baritone which allows the usual AECG tunings rather than the standard EBGD.(String Set 23U) I have put a set on the Makala baritone. Not quite as loud as normal but does avoid the mental gymnastics switching between uke sizes.
You will also see a fair bit of experimentation with odd instruments and adaptations such as the resonators and slide ukuleles.
Cigar boxes are another area of interest. Most people tend to electrify these but in my view this means the cigar box etc. is just for show. You could put the pickup on a plank of wood and get the same sound. My search is to produce a reasonable sounding acoustic cigar box ukulele. I am getting near with thinning the top and carefully selecting the box to start with. Of course you will never match a proper instrument but you have to have something to aim at!
I did not pay full price for any of these ukuleles on this site. They are usually the result of scouring Ebay and Craig’s List for rejects, projects, factory seconds and even thirds. The Fender Tenor for instance was advertised with a concave neck and buzzing at the 3-4th frets, but at $35.00 seemed worth a try. After all, it was then the top of the range solid mahogany ukulele. ($300 plus but now discontinued). Now while you might possibly complain at $300, it is perfectly playable and a bit of a bargain at $35.
I like the Baritone ukulele for general playing. My guitar playing background certainly helped here which is why I think there are not many Baritones in general jam groups etc. The chord shapes are the same but the chord names are different. For those who like to cheat, Aquila do sell a string set for the Baritone which allows the usual AECG tunings rather than the standard EBGD.(String Set 23U) I have put a set on the Makala baritone. Not quite as loud as normal but does avoid the mental gymnastics switching between uke sizes.
You will also see a fair bit of experimentation with odd instruments and adaptations such as the resonators and slide ukuleles.
Cigar boxes are another area of interest. Most people tend to electrify these but in my view this means the cigar box etc. is just for show. You could put the pickup on a plank of wood and get the same sound. My search is to produce a reasonable sounding acoustic cigar box ukulele. I am getting near with thinning the top and carefully selecting the box to start with. Of course you will never match a proper instrument but you have to have something to aim at!
SPRINGFIELD UKULELE
Incorporating The Ukuleleist, Springfield Uketopians and the Lei-Abouts
Incorporating The Ukuleleist, Springfield Uketopians and the Lei-Abouts
SPRINGFIELD UKULELE
Incorporating The Ukuleleist and Springfield Uketopians
SPRINGFIELD UKULELE