May/11/08
29comments

Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele

Here’s a random selection of emails I wake up to in the morning:

- What type of ukulele does Jake Shimabukuro play?
- What sort of uke is that Jake uses in While My Guitar Gently Weeps?
- Where can I buy a ukulele like Jake Shimabukuro plays?

OK, I’m exaggerating. But I get enough enquiries to make it easier just to write a post.

Jake Shimabukuro custom Kamaka ukuleleShimabukuro plays a custom Kamaka tenor ukulele by Casey Kamaka. His first ukulele, at the age of 4, was a Kamaka and he’s been using them ever since.

If you want to buy one, you’re pretty much out of luck. In 2006, Kamaka made 100 Jake Shimabukuro Signature Model ukuleles. These ukes were made to Jake’s specifications and individually inspected and signed by him.

Despite a hefty price tag of $5,500, demand for them was over whelming. So much so they decided to have a raffle to determine who could buy the ukuleles. By January 2007 they were all gone. If you manage to find one for sale, expect to pay much more than the original price (at least double would be my guess).

The Nerdy Stuff

Body: Curly Koa
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge Ebony: Ebony
Binding: Rosewood
Inlays: Mother of pearl and abalone
Tuners: Gold Schaller tuning keys
Pickup: Fishman Acoustic Matrix

Photo: BotheredByBees

29 Comments

  1. seeso May 11th, 2008 6:58 pm

    Do they all have slotted headstocks?

  2. Woodshed May 11th, 2008 10:14 pm

    You’ve got me stumped with that one, Seeso.

  3. Bernie May 13th, 2008 6:34 am

    They’re fucking ukuleles. 5500 for any kind of instrument short of like a piano or something is completely ridiculous.

  4. Rilrod May 13th, 2008 7:18 am

    Hey Bernie, looks like you don’t understand how a signing can increase an instrument’s value. Jake is like, the ukulele master. This is like the equivalent of a signed Satriani guitar. Plus, what’s wrong with ukes anyway?

  5. Nelson May 13th, 2008 6:34 pm

    I don’t really understand having the same exact instruments as famous musicians…like my friends Gibson Les Paul…
    I mean, you gotta make it your own!
    Get a kick-ass quality uke and rock it yo’ own style…
    I don’t like copying.

  6. Woodshed May 13th, 2008 6:47 pm

    Bernie: I don’t think the size of the instrument has any influence on its value. Making a high quality ukulele is a very skilled job. Getting a slim, even width of wood is incredibly important – much more so than something like piano.

    Rilrod: Having Jake’s seal of approval definitely adds a huge amount to the price.

    Nelson: Me neither. But Jake fans do seem to want to be exactly like him. It makes me cringe seeing players doing Jake impressions.

  7. Randy May 26th, 2008 7:58 pm

    I’d be more interested in what type of pickup he uses. I’m sure whatever pickup it is can make any uke sound good.

  8. Minamin May 26th, 2008 10:39 pm

    I feel the same way about all these guys trying to be like Jake. Although, if I were any good I’d try and play just like Roy Smeck, so to each his own.

  9. Woodshed May 27th, 2008 5:46 pm

    Randy: I believe he uses Fishman Acoustic Matrix NT1 pickups.

    Min: Hmm, me too probably.

  10. Paula May 29th, 2008 4:13 pm

    Here’s a photo of Jake playing in SF, where you can more clearly view the ukulele — http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkvision/1358342571/

  11. Woodshed May 29th, 2008 8:16 pm

    Thanks for the photo, Paula. Nice shot. And great blog you’ve got there.

  12. Andrew September 4th, 2008 8:00 pm

    randy: you said its the nT1…how do you know this? i was thinking it was the infinity one

  13. PhilUSAFRet September 30th, 2008 11:35 pm

    Reason so many want to sound like Jake is that no one has ever played the uke like Jake before. Of course, without his technique, nearly all will fall dreadfully short of his nearly unbelievable skill level. You can have a uke like Jake’s, but if you can’t play like Jake, it won’t sound like Jake’s (for the most part)Best of luck trying though.

  14. Where Can I Find Ukulele Tab for Jake Shimabukuro’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps? | Ukulele Online October 28th, 2008 8:36 am

    [...] Or, if you want to make your own version of the tune, there’s a tab of the ‘bare bones’ of the tune here. [...]

  15. Jinxter May 29th, 2009 8:34 pm

    You think £3600 ($5500) is expensive for a top quality instrument?
    I play violin and good orchestral instruments start at £10, 000 ($16,000). A student violin like mine is about £1000 and to complete the ABRSM grading system up to grade 8 would probably require an instrument costing over £5000 and don’t get me started on the cost of bows!

    I’ve just bought a Pono and although there are far more expensive ukes, I doubt they would sound much better in a blind test.

    In my opinion instruments should be bought for their playing qualities, not investments.

    (I also own a Les Paul, but I ain’t Pete Green)

  16. Woodshed May 30th, 2009 7:14 pm

    Jinxter: No, I think it’s a hefty amount of money.

  17. Jinxter June 1st, 2009 12:33 am

    To me £3600 is also a hefty amount. No uke should cost more than around £1000. The rest is what people are willing to pay above the cost of production. Maybe I should become a luthier!

  18. Jake Thurman June 17th, 2009 6:34 pm

    I’m not sure if this thread is still active but I had a chance to play Jake’s Kamaka last night and I’ll just say this; It was the most amazing, beautiful, incredible object I have ever seen/handled.

  19. Woodshed June 17th, 2009 7:55 pm

    Jake: Wow!

  20. Randy June 17th, 2009 9:07 pm

    Jake- and do you remember what pickup he had installed?

  21. Jake Thurman June 18th, 2009 3:19 am

    I didn’t think to get a good look at it because I was in awe but I’m pretty sure its a Fishman Matrix passive pickup.

  22. ray June 29th, 2009 5:48 pm

    i was one of the winners of the raffle and am still waiting for the ukulele..apparently they have not all been made yet. i check in with them once a year and they are still making them

  23. Woodshed June 29th, 2009 9:35 pm

    ray: Blimey, they’re taking their sweet time over that.

  24. David August 5th, 2009 10:38 pm

    My brother met Jake and jammed with him at a concert (after Jake performed, not onstage) and told me his strings felt…heavier than traditional Da’dario’s (excuse my spelling). Do you know what strings Jake uses?

  25. Keoni September 25th, 2009 7:08 am

    Jake Shimabukuro stays at my uncles house when he hits a jam in LA, not allowed to tell anyone though

  26. Woodshed September 27th, 2009 12:00 pm

    Keoni: You’ve told all the internets now.

  27. Bob December 13th, 2009 5:34 am

    David: He uses the D’Addario Classical Guitar strings rather than ukulele strings.

  28. Woodshed December 13th, 2009 10:06 am

    Bob: Thanks for the info.

  29. ray March 12th, 2010 8:19 pm

    still waiting for my uke

    ive emailed kamaka numerous times this year and they dont respond. maybe something fishy is going on

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