Comments on: What Do You Want For Christmas?

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:22:07 +0000

Sorry to hear about that, Dusty. I know what you're talking about with the button chord thing. They had them on the plastic ukuleles of the 50s and 60s. The Maccaferri Islander and the Emenee Flamingo both came with them. There are pictures on this page. To the best of my knowledge, they don't make them any more. Your best bet is to keep a look out on eBay or on this page. It looks like none of the ukes on there at the moment have them, but they do come along now and again.

By: Dusty Kelley

Dusty Kelley — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:46:14 +0000

Used to play uke, but have severe arthritis affecting left hand. As a kid, I remember a plastic clamp-on piece where all you had to do is push down the proper chord button and it would automatically press on the correct strings. Does anyone know where I might find one (if they’re still made?)?
Thanks

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:07:21 +0000

Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope you’ve been good enough boys and girls to get your new ukes.

Nelson: Great work on the conversions. You’ll get your reward in uke-heaven.

Jimmy, moocher, Brian and Ritchie: Yes, everyone should buy the ebooks for everyone they know :D

moocher: I have an Ashbury Concert Koa and love it. You can hear it on some of my YouTube videos.

graham: That’s almost enough to convince me marriage is a good idea :)

Mike and Stewart: I’ve been considering getting a tuner. At the moment I tune by ear – which can be tricky some times.

Ritchie: Clip on drinks holder – best idea ever.

amber: You must have been a very good girl this year if you’re expecting all that.

Winger: I know nothing about blog kits, I’m afraid. I’m hopeless with anything practical. I can’t even reliably get a cork out of a wine bottle (at least not by the third bottle).

Jill and zym: Self-gifting is a good solution – I think I might adopt that tactic.

Deadeye: I’m longing for the day when I can afford a custom uke too.

Yummy Ukulele: That looks like a lot of fun. The link took me to a page without the Banjo Tam. I think it’s this page.

By: Yummy Ukulele

Yummy Ukulele — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:01:01 +0000

I’m hoping on getting this thing called a Banjo Tam. This guy started making banjos built with tambourines for the drums. And as we all know, banjos are sometimes made as ukuleles and thus banjoleles. Well, this guy combined a tambourine with a banjolele and now it’s on my Christmas list.

To hear a sound clip, go to http://64.106.200.92/woodstock/public/publicCat15403Home_Music.html click on Woodstock Banjo-Tam, which opens up a window, and next to Sound: you’ll see the link Listen. Click that and the window will change for a sound clip.

By: Stewart Greenhill

Stewart Greenhill — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:32:42 +0000

I’m happy with my uke, though I could do with a new set of strings and a good acoustic pickup. Don’t know much about the options, so probably could do with some suggestions.

Mike, I second the Intelli tuner – these are pretty neat. I borrowed one a couple of months back and found it great for tuning up in noisy environments. I found that I still had to detune the strings slightly as the open string is not perfectly in tune with the equivalent fretted note. I don’t know if this is peculiar to my uke, strings, etc but I guess it makes sense since the strings are quite short and you tighten them slightly when you finger them. Clues and/or explanations on tuning appreciated…

By: Deadeye

Deadeye — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:11:47 +0000

I’d love a gstring custom…but that would never. ever. ever happen. a kamaka tenor would be nice…but that would never. ever happen. we’ll see!

By: zym

zym — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:11:05 +0000

i want a concert pono, i think.

Since the wife and I have decided not to buy each other christmas presents this year, im going to have to buy it myself ;)

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:31:36 +0000

I’ve already gotten myself a new uke for Christmas! Bypasses that whole “dropping hints” thing. But a vintage ukulele for the new collection would always be a kick.

By: Winger

Winger — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:41:06 +0000

I would love an old knackered ukulele, falling to bits, so I could do it up a bit and have a great sense of self-satisfaction every time I play. Failing that, a kit to try and build my own new one. I like the idea of that. Do a blog about good uke kits!

By: amber

amber — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:23:41 +0000

I want an Islander plastic uke, a koa Flea and Mike DaSilva’s ukulele building class. And about thirty others…