Ukulele Stands, Bushman Baritone Ukes

Dedicated ukulele stands a few and far between. Usually you have to make do with a mandolin stand. But now there are these ukulele cradles. They are more expensive than any ukulele I own. But, still, very pretty.

If you’ve got a few low level luthiering skills, this set of five Bushman baritone ukuleles could be a good investment. They’re factory seconds and are just the body. But stick on a bridge, a nut and tuners and you shouldn’t have trouble selling them on for a profit.

Despite some ferocious bidding, this Custom Martin Style 5 failed to reach its reserve. It’s very unusual: mahogany, black and monogrammed.

I’m not a big fan of pictures on ukuleles. The obvious exception is the ultra sexy Le Domino. But sometimes they work when they’re hilariously naff or on the back (as with this Gibson Royal Flush.

Ukulele Kitsch of the Week is a fiercely fought title this week. Any other week the ukulele sushi set and the Hawaiian Santas would have triumphed. But there’s no competing with a necklace covered in pink flamingos playing the ukulele.

If this is your first visit here, you can find the chords/tab in those posts by clicking on the song title in red.

Formby Dallas C, Gibson Style 3, Jonah Kumalae 3K: eBay Window Shopping

There’s a Dallas C banjo ukulele previously owned by George Formby on eBay UK. Asking price: £10,000.

“I’m thinning out my ukulele collection,” is a bit of an eBay mantra at the moment. Very good news for us window shoppers. This seller has some gems for sale including a Gibson Sytle 3 and a Jonah Kumalae 3K.

Pono are going all out with the frills and filigree for the PKC-500 ‘flagship model’. At $1,120, it ain’t cheap. But, according to MGM, it’s, “styled and built just like a Koolau model 500 which cost $7,785.00.” (Koolau make Ponos, so they should know how it’s done).

Watermelons, Johnny Marvin Ukuleles and other eBay Totty

Pineapples and kiwis not to your taste? How’s about a watermelon ukulele from Kala?

Another seller thinning their collection, this time in the UK. Current picks include an adorable Gibson banjo-uke and a decorative Favilla with suspiciously blurry photos.

Plenty of stars put their name and face on a plastic ukulele, but Jimmy Durante? (Net research suggests Durante and Clark Gable were taught the uke by Bill Tapia).

A more understandable endorsement with this Johnny Marvin Professional. I think that bridge is supposed to be the shape of on aeroplane but it looks more like a goldfish playing the harmonica to me.

This week’s most staggeringly over priced ukes: Baritone Maccaferri Islander starting at $300, Swagerty Surf-a-lele for $400 and whatever this is supposed to be for $8,000.

eBay UK Ukes, Mahalo Les Paul

There are quite a few interesting ukes for sale on eBay UK right now. Hank’s Guitar Shop has a bunch of interesting ukuleles including Martins, Kamakas, KoAlohas, Fleas and Flukes.

Mahalo have been making Gibson Flying V style ukes for a while and now they’ve moved on to Les Pauls. You can buy them in Cherry and Black .

Also on eBay UK is this Gibson which has been attacked with a drill, but might still be worth watching.

Still in the UK, but confusingly on ebay US, is this strange “Trad Jazz Special” plastic ukulele.

There seems to be even more photos of topless ukulele girls than usual this week, but the photo that really caught my attention was this photo of a German boy from 1866. As well as the distractions of the hat and thrown, that’s a very interesting instrument he has there.

Gibson, Plastic Ukuleles and Koa Martin Ukuleles

I think working on Buy a Ukulele has started to drive me stir crazy. I set up a section on Ukuleliana and, gosh, there’s a lot of ukulele-shaped tat out there. A ukulele shaped sushi set? Lighter? Recipe holder? Or an inflatable ukulele?

Also, a lot of plastic ukuleles seem to turn up in the Collectibles section rather than the Musical Instruments section (which means there might be less competition for them). There’s this this Lisa ukulele (as used by Gus) with no bids, a few hours left and only $15 starting bid, a Carnival with its original packaging, and this Maccaferri currently at $10. Out-kitsching them all is this plastic uke which must be overpriced at $200. Back in the musical instruments section is a Baritone Maccaferri Islander. I love that the baritone has the same shape as the Maccaferri guitars (as made famous by Django Reinhardt).

For those of you who prefer the more refined tone of koa ukuleles, there’s a delicious Martin 3K currently attracting plenty of bids. If you’re on some sort of Brewster’s Millions type mission, you could always buy this Martin 5K and this 5K for firewood.

This Swagerty Trehopipee has got me wondering. How do you find strings for a Treholipee? The Worth double length strings might do the job.

I’m only guessing, but could the scratches on the back of this Gibson Uke-3 be caused by storing it in a pine tree?

eBay Ukulele Window Shopping

Nina Coquina dishes out some sound advice on buying ukuleles on eBay that’s well worth a read. It amazes me what some people think they can get away with. Like this guy trying to sell a “Vintage Martin ukulele” for $1,500 on the basis of one line and three dark photos. He should look at the photos for this Gibson ukulele and this Martin (both attracting plenty of bidders).

Curio of the week has to be this Swagerty Singing Treholipee as played by GUGUG. The brochure alone went for $45 so there’s obviously a big demand for it.

No surprises that the Black Bear Cigar Box ukulele is a cut above the standard cigar box uke.

The Ashbory Bass is a strange beast. It’s a bass guitar the size of a baritone uke. It sounds good next to a ukulele as well.

One day I’m going to get myself a National Reso-phonic ukulele.