Jul/1/11
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Ukulele Window Shopping

The Jake-style slotted headstock is continuing it’s move from high-end instruments to the more affordable end. Oscar Schmidt have been experimenting with them and you can buy a Oscar Schmidt OU6SL prototype on eBay if you have to have one.

I’m not entirely sure what happened to Mid-East‘s sitar-kulele. I haven’t seen them for sale anywhere and their website has shown none in stock every time I’ve checked. Still, there doesn’t seem to be any difficulty picking up a Lute-kulele.

1926 Martin 5K.

Photos: Hawaiian Sharps, Paul Anka

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8 Comments

  1. Gary Peare July 2nd, 2011 12:28 am

    I wouldn’t turn down Anka’s vintage Martin, but what I really want are his shoes.

  2. Ron Hale July 2nd, 2011 6:22 am

    Slotted headstocks look to me like changing strings would be just a bit more of a chore, Al.
    A bit awkward, it would seem.

    Amazon has a sitar-kulele. No. 337 on its listing of sopranos, page 15. As of right now, anyway.
    S149.25.

  3. david beckingham July 2nd, 2011 7:08 am

    My problem with slotted headstocks is that they are usually fat and heavy. I like my ukes to float at the fretting end.

  4. sanford(andsong) July 2nd, 2011 7:14 am

    Does anyone know if the slotted headstock has any benefit beyond it’s aesthetic appeal? (I like the look of them, anyway…)

  5. david beckingham July 2nd, 2011 7:33 am

    Oh, and if I was selling a $9500 uke I’d probably offer free shipping.

  6. Jake Wildwood July 3rd, 2011 3:29 am

    The benefit of slotted headstocks is more down-angle on the string at the nut… this tends to lend a clearer and punchier voice.

  7. sanford(andsong) July 4th, 2011 5:02 pm

    Thanks Jake

  8. Woodshed July 6th, 2011 12:11 am

    Gary: It’s his hairstyle I’m after.

    Ron: Thanks for the heads up on Amazon.

    david: One of the justifications I’ve heard for them – from Jake Shimabukuro if I remember correctly – is that they’re lighter.

    sanford: They’re more aerodynamic so you can spin round faster with them.

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