Sunday, September 30, 2012

Honeybell Ukulele Labels

The other day over a cheroot and a friendly game of checkers over at Mighty Fine Guitars, I remarked to Stevie Coyle (proprietor) how unimaginative most custom ukulele and guitar soundhole labels are. A fine instrument should have a fine label, doncha think?

Here are some labels created by One Swell Illustrator for Honeybell ukes, made by The Guitar Factory. I have no idea how good their ukes are, but if the labels are any indication, they're swell. Link

(Image credit: Billy Davis, aka One Swell Illustrator)

Doctor Who-kulele!

Whofans rejoice. A Tardis-shaped uke.

Aquila String Harvest



A brilliant documentary on the annual string harvest. From the video description:

"Ever wondered where ukulele strings come from? This recently-discovered, hitherto-unseen archive film may date back decades, but is as true today as it's ever been. 
One of the Extras on the Litmus Films double-disc DVD The Ukes Down Under, a documentary on the UOGB's first tour of Australia, available at www.litmusfilms.com."

Via Uke Hunt, Cont.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Country Gentleman, May 1928

I think I'd subscribe to this if it were still around. Link

Brittni Paiva's Tab for "Safe and Sound"



Ain't She Sweet? To celebrate her birthday, Brittni Paiva has transcribed her version of Safe and Sound (featured in The Hunger Games, performed by Taylor Swift, featuring The Civil Wars). It's tabbed for low G ukulele and I'm strictly a high g guy, so maybe I'll try it on my bari.

Thanks, Brittni!

Download the tab here.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Unofficial Kamaka Ukulele Blog

It may be Unofficial, but this blog has lots of great reference information on Kamaka ukuleles. Unofficial Kamaka Ukulele Blog

Friday, September 21, 2012

Ukulele Plays Small, Unexpected Role in Birther Controversy

Eddie Vedder recently appeared at a fundraiser for Barack Obama.
"At one point, Vedder broke out a Hawaiian-made ukulele and joked, 'It's got a little birth certificate right in there.'"
Link

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Lil' Rev and the Milwaukee Uke Fest

Catch up with Lil' Rev as he gets ready to present the 4th Annual Milwaukee Ukulele Festival in this interview with Express Milwaukee.
"Lil’ Rev has built an under-the-radar national musical career. Touring the U.S. by car, he plays a circuit of folk clubs and festivals and a string of house parties, elder homes and Jewish community centers; he’s released a dozen CDs and eight ukulele instruction books or DVDs for music publishing giant Hal Leonard. And while he began as a more-or-less conventional guitar-and-harmonica folksinger, Rev came into his own with the ukulele revival, one of those vital if far from mainstream currents that run through our eclectic era. He’s also a principal organizer of the Fourth Annual Milwaukee Ukulele Festival, held Oct. 20 at Sunset Playhouse."
Better yet, reserve your tickets for the event at the Festival's site here.

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

One Last French Cover

I like this one, especially the lettering. And the illo reminds me of Braque. Link

If You Like Madame Oukoulili...

...Madame Oukoulili like-a vous! French sheet music cover for Richard Whiting's Ukulele Lady. Yet another truly frightening bit of cover art from France. If you can peel your eyes away from Madame's horribly disfigured lips, check out the uke she's, um, holding. Nuff said. Link

Here's what appears to be a later three-color version that is a bit more demure, but still has the NC-17 ukulele.


Vintage Sheet Music Illustrator Fail

Were this a photograph, and of recent publication, I would call this out as an example of bad PhotoShop. As it is, it looks like a normal person wearing a Mardi Gras papier mache head and holding a toy uke. Shudder. Link

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

2012 Wine Country Ukulele Festival

The big Wine Country Ukulele Festival is on for this weekend in St. Helena, California. Hoping to head up myself, so say howdy!

Events start on Friday the 7th and run through Sunday the 9th. Gala performance on Friday night at the Napa Valley Opera House.

Complete details on the festival site. Link

Sunday, September 02, 2012

Martin 2 Ukulele

The most remarkable thing about this 1930s vintage Martin is that it's over 100 years old. Link

 
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