Jul/24/09
9comments

Kala Acacia, Northern: Ukulele Window Shopping

After getting my hands on a Kala soprano, I’m now a complete Kala convert. So I’ve now got two Kalas on my shopping list: a Kala Acacia (must just be the lighting, but the concert seems to be a completely different colour to the soprano – the soprano is closer to what I’d expect an acacia uke to look like). And a UBass Neither of them seem to have made their way over to the UK yet, so I’ve got a little time to save up some pennies.

Another uke you don’t see over here very often is a J Chalmers Doane Northern ukulele. But there’s one up on eBay UK at the moment.

Apparently, the late 1990s is now classed as ‘vintage’ and I feel very old. But it’s interesting to see an early G-String uke. They’ve obviously come a long way in terms of style.

Bands I Wish I’d Been In #283.

I like a photo with a bit of a back story. Here’s a photo of a recently released PoW Robert Maxey playing his uke. It doesn’t look like imprisonment did his moustache any harm.

You are reading Kala Acacia, Northern: Ukulele Window Shopping - permalink
View Comments

9 Comments

  1. Dan July 24th, 2009 8:46 pm

    If you really dig the appearance of that triangular uke, you can get a very similar-looking one from Empire Music in Canada. It’s less than $60, although I don’t know what that is in shillings or guineas or whatever you guys use.

  2. Dan July 24th, 2009 8:55 pm

    And closer to your neck of the woods is Skylark, who sells that same triangle shape for 30 squiggles, although they appear to be presently out of stock.

    Are the original Chalmers Doane instruments of very high quality?

  3. Hello Jodi July 24th, 2009 9:29 pm

    I am partial to this triangle ukulele:

    http://ukuleleworld.com/product.php?productid=19547&cat=0&page=2

  4. todd July 24th, 2009 9:34 pm

    i’d love to have one of those Northern ukes….

    UKISOCIETY says his is pretty sturdy…..i like ‘sturdy’ :)

  5. Hello Jodi July 24th, 2009 9:48 pm

    Oh yea, and the UBass is fun!! Though I expect I’d have as much fun with a regular bass, it just wouldn’t be as cute. Unless it was a Daisy Rock bass. Check it out, there’s even proof I played it:
    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OoA0GASxYHih_nUUHxyl4A?feat=directlink

  6. cardboardfrog July 25th, 2009 1:47 pm

    i reckon the UBass would offer up some pretty interesting doors to a bass player with such a short scale, and most bass players i know having a wide reach there could be a door open for much virtuosity in the right hands.
    i just want one to combine my bass collection with my uke collection tbh

  7. Woodshed July 26th, 2009 12:00 pm

    Dan: I’m a bit suspicious of the Northern Uke knock-offs. I’ve seen some on eBay that look decidedly crappy.

    Jodi and todd: I’m not too keen on triangular ukes. I like ukes with curves.

    cbf: I think they’d work really well in uke groups. They need a bit of bass end, but a full on bass ruins the ethos a little.

  8. boouke March 25th, 2010 3:22 am

    I got a northern ukulele and I love it I got it when I was 8 years old. I actually got to play with Charles Doane (when I was 10). Never going to sell this guy I’ve had it for a long time. I love the sound of it. its the AdF#b tuning so its a little hard to find music but. I recently got back in to it and love it more than ever.

  9. Woodshed March 26th, 2010 9:16 am

    boouke: Thanks for that. Northern ukes are very rare over here so it’s good to know.

Sorry, Comments Are Broken Right Now

You must be logged in to post a comment.