Friday Links

The Institute of Hawaiian Music is looking for aspiring musicians to take part in its mentorship programme with some of the top Hawaiian players.

The original ukulele-sized bass, the Ashbory Bass disappeared for a while. But it’s now back in business and with a much-reduced price tag.

The story of the women who made Gibson’s best guitars during WWII.

Latest attempt to solve the ukulele strap problem: the Mobius strap.

Pictures
– The original cast of No, No, Nanette bust out the ukuleles (via @ShelleyRickey).
Cool hand uke.
Tall, Short, Uke, Bass.
Cthulu Ukulele Hero.

New Releases
– A bear-pun based album from Tyrone and Lesley.
– Buy Kyle Frazer’s debut album on his website or just the originals on CDBaby
Outside Myself by Maria Brosgol

Video
Oh Little Town of Pokemon, they call the Rising Sun – lots of songs to the tune of lots of other songs.

Some hilarious trolling from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner: “No matter what twee folk musicians and advertisers of online greeting cards will tell you, it sounds like a child’s instrument. It has all the resonance of an asthmatic flea blowing into a pillow and the clarity of a secret service document with all the verbs redacted. The ukulele is very much the poor relation of the guitar, banjo and mandolin.”

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12 Comments

  1. Evan March 15th, 2013 7:09 pm

    that dude from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner sounds like a real douche!!!! Uke On Woodshed!!!!!

  2. Allan March 15th, 2013 8:35 pm

    Did you realise that Highly Strung is run by Nigel Thornbory one of the original designers of the Ashbory Bass – and a very helpful and friendly chap he is too! Bought my first uke there :)

  3. Woodshed March 16th, 2013 8:03 am

    Evan: He’s just trolling for links. And it worked!

    Allan: Blargargh, smashing.

  4. Phredd March 16th, 2013 11:54 am

    Loved how the ukulele grump just used it as a front to vent against former band member/bass players with aspirations.

  5. John March 16th, 2013 5:36 pm

    The ashbory bass is very tempting at that price! I’ll have to get saving the Pennies

  6. Woodshed March 17th, 2013 10:54 pm

    Phredd: Hahaha! There are definitely some issues there.

    John: That was my reaction too. I’m trying to stay away from buying more instruments.

  7. John March 18th, 2013 10:06 am

    I have a one-in, one-out policy as it was getting a bit ridiculous! The wife might have had something to do with that too…

    Thinking the TV-Pal might have to go to make room for an ashbory. Wondering how much I can get for it…

  8. Woodshed March 19th, 2013 7:29 pm

    John: That’s a very sensible policy. Might have to introduce a one-in, two-out policy.

  9. Howlin' Hobbit March 27th, 2013 2:43 pm

    I know I’m late to the party but…

    those pics are not from the original cast of “No, No, Nanette.” They are from the 1971 revival of the thing. it originally appeared in the 1920’s.

    I had to Google like a son of a bitch to get the name of the guy I recognized the most, Jack Gilford.

    that’s OK though. as I had no idea that his marvelous talents were nearly quashed by the Great United States Fuck-Up Known As The McCarthy Era.

    I keep hoping that we’re beyond that but (relatively) recent events keep proving me wrong.

  10. Woodshed March 28th, 2013 8:41 am

    Hobbit: Nice work with the Google-fu. Thanks.

  11. John March 28th, 2013 10:58 am

    Oops, I appear to have bought an ashbory! It’s all the fault of this post. If the kids don’t eat this month I’m blaming you!

    “Sorry kids, you’re going to have to go scavenging for bugs in the garden to eat because daddy spent all the money on a minature bass guitar”

    Now to sell the TV-Pal…

  12. Woodshed March 29th, 2013 7:32 am

    John: Whoops! Good job fighting childhood obesity though.

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