Cordoba, Kala Solid Electric: Ukulele Window Shopping

Cordoba’s use of the term ‘Portuguese koa’ has long had me flummoxed. I noticed recently that they’ve stopped using the term and are now just using ‘koa’. So I contacted them to find out what up and this is what they said:

There has been a big debate over Koa throughout the entire industry over many years. In our efforts to free ourselves from the inquiries about our Koa used in the 25sk, 25ck, 25tk, and 25tk-ce we are marketing these ukuleles as just koa… Just to be clear, the models that are available today are still handmade in Portugal, but we would appreciate it if you would write about our ukuleles as koa ukuleles instead of using the terminology “Portuguese Koa”.

Make of that what you will.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the new Bugsgear EleUkes are being made by Kala. That’s the case in the UK at least. Looks like in the US the same ukulele is being branded as a Kala.

A not often seen Earnest Tululele (the one that looks like a Telecaster – as played by Eddie Vedder) on eBay UK.

MGM has a couple of KoAloha Sceptres for sale.

At first I thought this Kamaka Tiki was just a standard white label Kamaka that someone had stuck tiki design on. But, no, they were actually sold that way.

This week Bosko’s selling Ohanas to raise cash for the Oz Safari.

Combining the themes of Australia, electric ukes and Tele-a-likes, here’s a uke from Jupiter Creek.

Bosko and Honey Auctions, Ko’olau CE1: Ukulele Window Shopping

Bosko and Honey are auctioning off ukuleles to raise funds for their Safari. First up is a Kiwaya KC-4.

The solid body Ko’olau CE-1 is a very nice piece of work.

Broken Lanikai LU-21TE. Asking price: $95,000. If you’re thinking of buying it, I have some magic beans you might be interested in.

I can’t begin to imagine how it’s possible to play one comfortably, but that’s not going to stop me wanting a Harmony Aero ukulele.

A pair of Lyon & Healy 5Ks

Ukulele pictures: Odd man, Marilyn shaking her ass, ukulele calendar pin-up

New Look Buy a Ukulele Section, Joe Brown Signature Kala: Window Shopping

I’ve given the Buy a Ukulele section an overhaul. The used for that section stopped being updated and I haven’t been able to change anything on it for a long time. So I’ve switched the whole thing over to WordPress. I’ll probably be adding to it and messing around with the layout in the next couple of weeks. So if you’ve got any suggestions, let me know. You can still find the old version here for the time being at least.

The Southern Ukulele Store (henceforth to be referred to as SUS) have the new Joe Brown signature Kala ukulele.

And the other TLA seller (MGM) has two new ukuleles from Kala: flame mahogany and cedar top.

Mandolin on one side, ukulele on the other. The main picture looks very different from the actual item.

If you have twelve and a half million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, check out this Queen Lilioukalani music box.

Ukulele kitsch: Marilyn Monroe on the ukulele Christmas tree ornament.

Selmer, Loprinzi, SpruceHouse: Ukulele Window Shopping

I love the look of the old Django-endorsed Maccaferri guitars. It’s a shame Maccaferri didn’t use the shape for their ukuleles (other than the baritone). So it’s good to see the influence of the Maccaferri ukulele on Selmer.

For the sake of entertainment, I usually focus on more outlandish ukuleles but I do love beautifully simple ukuleles like this SpruceHouse and this Loprinzi.

If you had your interest piqued by the Mya-Moe interview earlier this week, there’s a fine looking tenor resonator up for sale.

Friend of the blog, Byjimini is selling off his Lanikai LU-21CE.

According to the Southern Ukulele Store, Eleukes are now being made in the Kala factory. Not much of a surprise when you look at the tabacco sunburst and f-holes on this one and compare it to the Kala archtop.

Musician’s Friend are having a sale on accessories. If you’re thinking of buying a case, looks like it might be a good time. They’re advertising this baritone case at 81% off.

Ukulele kitsch: miniature ukulele.

Ukulele photos: Robert Conrad, woman with ukulele and poodle

KoAlana, Ohana 6 String, Luna: Ukulele Window Shopping

KoAlana is KoAloha’s budget range of ukes (relatively speaking). They’re not made in the Hawaiian factory but in China (if memory serves) so it’s not surprising that the word on the street was that they are nowhere near the quality of the KoAlohas. They’re not regularly available but MGM has just started selling new solid wood versions of the uke.

I’ve been eyeing up 6-string ukes for a while and Ohana’s new six string is very tempting.

Larrivee stopped making ukuleles a few years ago so it’s rare to find them for sale. Even so, a starting bid of $600 seems a bit steep. But I’ve never played one so maybe it’s worth it.

Luna ukuleles are a new name on me, but if you’re dying to buy 6 fairly gaudy ukuleles at once you can now do so.

Here’s an interesting instrument from Sicilian luthier Stefano Caponnetto. But it’s positively bland compared to some of his guitars

I’m glad people don’t know the difference between ukuleles and mandolins. Otherwise I wouldn’t have seen this photo otherwise.

Ukulele Estate Sale: eBay Window Shopping

The Hidden Lake Estate Sale looks like a mine of great vintage ukes including this William Eden custom tenor. But the real stroke of genius is that they’re offering a weekend getaway where you can try out all the instruments for yourself.

Oh crap, the Kala UBass has hit the UK.

This uke is advertised as a “1910’s Nunes Ukulele”. But I don’t remember ever seeing a fretboard like that on an instrument that old.

A shoebox full of fascinating ukulele photos knocking around this week:

- African American man with ukulele #1
- African American man with ukulele #2
- African American woman with ukulele.
- Farm girls
- Lynne Thorne ukulele pin-up.
- Teenage girl playing a ukulele.

Kala U-Tar Guitarlele, Cheap Ponos: Ukulele Window Shopping

When Yamaha’s guitarlele became a bit of a hit I expected a few other makers to jump on them. But since then, guitarleles have been very hard to find. Now Kala have come out with their own version: the Kala U-Tar. Thus resurrecting the whole keytar vs guitboard debate.

MGM is practically giving away some Pono ukuleles. He has the Pono Mango at $260. And the Ebony Pono at $599 (you’ll have to move fast on that one). Must admit, quite tempted by the mango.

When it comes to weird instruments, the phono fiddle ukulele takes some beating.

Ukulele kitsch: salt and pepper shakers.

Road Toad Mana, Kala Sunburst: Ukulele Window Shopping

Ukulele4U has an usual looking Road Toad Mana Tenor. It looks like the bottom half of a Vita uke spliced to the top half of a standard uke with the soundhole shunted into the corner. I’m not too keen on the look of it myself.

But I am keen on the look of the Kala Koa Sunburst ukuleles. They’re being called ‘limited edition’. So if you want one, best get your skates on.

The Southern Ukulele Store are doing a bang up job of bringing quality uke brands to the UK. The latest additions include Honu and Pono.

MGM describes the cut-out soundhole on this Ana’ole custom tenor as, “resembling a maple leaf.” But it looks a whole lot more like a more medicinal type of leaf to me.

Ukulele photos: long hair ukulele, harp guitar and what might be a taropatch. It’s a mandolinetto. Thanks, Karl

To Buy: Ukulele Shopping List

1. KoAloha Sceptre – I’ve been lusting after one of these since they first came out two years ago. And listening to Jason Arimoto, Terry Kinakin and Alvin Okami’s mythologising just exacerbated it.

2. Le Domino – Surely the coolest ukulele ever made.

3. National Resonator – So I can play as loud as a banjolele without having to play a banjolele.

4. G-String James Hill Custom – Because if I get one then I’ll definitely be able to play like James Hill.

5. Martin Style 3 – They appeal to me more than the 5K. Don’t have quite the same air of conspicuous consumption.

6. Pono Mango Pineapple – In the past I’ve been less than enthusiastic about spalted mango and pineapple ukuleles. But I still want one of these.

7. Kala Archtop – Because I want to be just like Christofer Drew Ingle. hes like so totally dreamy lolz

8. Brunswick Telecaster – I’m too cheap to get a K-Wave, so this will do nicely.

9. Obama with uke dashboard doll – The phrase ‘Only in America’ was invented for items like this. I don’t think there are many people buying Gordon-Brown-plays-the-bassoon hood ornaments.

What’s on your shopping list?

Splated vs. Curly Mango: Ukulele Window Shopping

Mango seems to be the wood-du-jour. Most of the big uke makers now have a range of mango ukes. Perhaps as a reaction to koa being increasingly difficult to get hold of. The curly mango ukes (such as Kala’s curly mango) certainly offer a similarly beautiful look. For some particularly good examples of curly wood take a look here – you would swear some of those weren’t flat.

But the big eye-catchers are the spalted mango ukuleles – such as the Lanikai spalted mango and Pono’s mango ukuleles – with their dark, wavy figure. This effect is created by fungus in the wood (I had to look it up). Personally, I think I prefer the more subdued and elegant look of the curly mango.

Can anyone give me a definition of flamed wood? On the site I with the curly wood pictures they say, “Terms such as “feather” and “flame” should not be relied on if you haven’t actually seen the wood, as they are used VERY freely. I’ve seen one gun-stock maker who states on his web site that he always calls all crotches flame crotches because ‘it sounds more impressive’. ” Which is what I suspected.

Lots of good photos this week:

- Dour girl next door.
- The belter.
- Ukulele/accordion duo.
- Seaweed swimsuit.
- Teen boy and girl.

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