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.

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?

Friday Links: The KoAloha Story, Earth Day Ukuleles

KoAloha Ukulele Story is an animated short film about the history of KoAloha and has even picked up awards. I don’t know when we’ll be able to get to see it, but you can get a taster of it with this charming interview with Alvin about the Sceptre (want one).

C is the official chord of Earth Hour. Third Sunday, the other Wellington Ukulele Orchestra, is encouraging us to reduce our carbon skidmark and upload our “I’m just one ukulele player, what can I do? videos. As the WIUO have done. Subscribe to Earth Hour 09 Ukuleles

The American Astronaut is one of my favourite films. So I was very excited to see the trailer for the follow up Stingray Sam. I was even more excited when a ukulele cropped up in it. Cory McAbee (director, star and music guy) was credited with the ukulele at the end of American Astronaut – but I can’t hear one on there.

Chords for Lemon Tree on Uker Tabs.

Ukulele hitter: (of a batter) tending to hit mostly singles.

One for all the facial hair loving ukulele gals.

Speaking of which. Now the ‘cute ukulele girl’ thing is getting boring boring – it’s morphed into a new trend: cute girl desert ukulele jumping. Example 1. Example 2. Get on the bandwagon while it’s still hot.

Friday Ukulinklinks

Some very diverting videos this week: Eddie Thomas & Carl Scott, Lego ukulele and KazooKeyLele.

On the subject of ukulele videos, UkeToob is a new blog and podcast showcasing the best ukulele videos.

Jumping Flea Market looks like it might be the recipient of a few of my hard earned Euros once the online store opens. Only two Euros for ‘Ukulele Huren’? (Except the sign is in Dutch)

A new, free and exceptionally good album from Minor Constellations.

Jonathan Coulton’s Just As Long As Me and The White Stripes’ Offend In Every Way.

Warren Buffett takes to the road with his uke, his son and Akon.

The KoAloha Ukulele Story: A film charting the rise of KoAloha.

Foggy Ruins of Time has an mp3 from and an interview with The Elated Sob Story (”Outta Me is my favourite song of yours…” “That’s a cover song.” Ouch.)

For everyone who was interested (Hi, Lonna) the tracks I quoted on Manha Manha were: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Top Gun Theme, Top Hat by Woody Mann, Have Love, Will Travel, and The Stripper.

Lyle Lite, KoAhola Scepter, Tangi and WaverlyStreet

There’s a new book in the Jumpin’ Jim/Lyle Ritz Ukulele Masters series just out: Lyle Lite. As the name suggests, it’s aimed a little lower than his other books at the beginner/intermediate level. You can pick one up from FMM for $25, on Amazon for $18.80 (but they’re currently out of stock), or there’s one on eBay with a Buy It Now of $17.70 (and a hefty delivery charge).

It’s not often you get a chance to pick up one of KoAloha’s Signature Series Tenor Sceptre. According to their blog, they’re back ordered up the wazoo. But MGM has one up for sale at the moment.

A couple of very interesting Tangi ukuleles: a playable, scale model ten and a half inch ukulele and a violin shaped uke.

Dave Gjessing of WaverlyStreet ukuleles has a painted pineapple uke with a nautical design by the Artful Dodger up for sale.

Tripping Lily, Uni and her Ukulele and Others

Videos from Alvin ‘Pops KoAloha‘ Okami, Tripping Lily and Uni and her Ukulele.

Alvin Okami & Gordon Mark – Days of Wine and Roses [Read more]

Friday Links

Revolution is in the air again in Boston. Not content with the seditious act of adding tea to water, Viva La Revo-UKE-tion will be kicking off on Monday with the fantastically named The East Boston Make-Out Club Band, the equally fantastic but more boringly named Michael Wagner, Ed White and Ian Schwartz. All you non-Massachusettsians can check out TEBMOCB’s Davina Yannetty on next week’s edition of MUD. EDIT: I’ve been chided for failing to mention that they’re raffling off a homemade uke.

Win yourself a Bushman ukulele. All you have to do to enter is upload a video of you playing ukulele to YouTube and mention the competition at the beginning of the video. Have a go if you think you can beat this.

Chuck Moore makes some gorgeous ukuleles and lives in even more gorgeous surroundings.

Can anyone on the correct side of the Atlantic tell me what the deal with the Nalts ukulele freak is?

Fin Raucous: not just the toast of the ukulele world.

KDUS does more great work, bringing us Bugs Bunny on the ukulele.

Uke Gal tackles a couple of golden oldies and meets Jake S.

Giggity, giggity, giggity. Just look at those curves. God, I’d love to run my fingers up and down that neck. Those KoAlohas are hot. Oh, and Gina Gershon is in the picture too. (via the New York Post, MANY thanks to Uncle Budd for that one).

Former Test Icicle and current Lightspeed Champion, Dev Hynes with a Mahalo in The Guardian.

Old Blue Bus has mp3s of Miss Ada Powers on the uke and her family.

How do you stop feedback from an ukulele pickup?

No pain, no gain.

Suggest lyrics for a ukulele/fez song and join Howlin’ Hobbit in the Order of the Fez.

Friday Links

Musicguymic has new KoAloha Sopranino ukuleles. Only nineteen and a half inches long. Aww bless.

San Francisco’s MoCFA is currently holding an exhibition on the Evolution of the Ukulele. It includes a two day ukulele festival featuring Jake Shimabukuro, The Paper Dolls and many others. If you can’t make it, you can still read another excellent article by John King.

Temporarily Distraught has the artwork and tracklisting for the forthcoming Beirut album.

BlipTV has an interview and performance from UOoGB and mad ukulele/bikini skills.

Hipsters/dupes can tune their ukuleles with their iPhones.

BKLYN Song of the Day has an mp3 of Bob Brozman and Rene Lacaille collaboration. Highly recommended.

Fretboard Journal alerts us to the danger that scented plugins pose to the happiness of your instrument.

Flame On! Rock Uke – a death metal ukulele.

Jenny Flame of Ukulele Nation has discovered a family history of ukulele. She was digging around in old family photos when she came across these two amazing photos of her great aunt in the 1940’s. It’s quite clear her great aunt knew how to rock the ukulele and tilted hat look back in the day.

Friday Links

Jake Shimabukuro is to release a new EP entitled My Life. The tracklist includes Over The Rainbow, In My Life, Going to California and Time After Time. Via Honalulu Advertiser. Pre-order on Amazon.

La Blogotheque has a series of beautifully shot videos Daniella ‘Rio En Medio‘ Stech-Homsy singing and ukeing in the streets of Paris.

Musicguymic has the new and strangely shaped KoAloha Sceptre. Quite possibly the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen.

MP3 Blogs: Not Quite Rocket Science offers up a podcast full of charming lo-fi uke songs from the likes of Magnetic Fields, Jakob Borshard and Beirut. While Songs:Illinois presents mp3s from occult banjolele playing psychic Madame Pamita and Cover Freak has a list of the top 5 ukulele cover versions.

Amy Crehore has produced her first art ukulele.

A collection of rare and unusual Flukes and Fleas.

Nellie McKay is to provide a ukulele version of PS I Love You for the forthcoming film of the same name.

Another picture in the Lewis Carroll machete series. (Thanks to Rufus).

My YouTube Videos

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I’ve finally got round to uploading a couple of videos to YouTube. I’d resisted previously due to my embarrassement at the hideous facial gurning I do when playing. But there were a couple tunes that required more than an mp3 to get the full effect.

I had to demonstrate the KoAloha Pink Crystal Colored Ukulele Strings generously given to me by the lovely Jenny Flame. And, well, you can see for yourself why the Smeck tribute above had to be a video.

Let me know what you think.