Uke Players?

bassturtle · #1 06-29-2006, 11:41 AM

So I decided that I wanted something to strum on, but wanted something other than a guitar. A good customer of mine is an insane uke player. I was talking to him and he had a concert uke that he wasn't using very much, so I was able to trade him for a 60's Gibson tube amp that I had that he wanted.

Honestly, I'm having a blast with it! I didn't expect that. My wife is ready to stab herself in the ear with an icepick, but I think she'll get over it.

Anyone else play?

HotTubesGrooves · #2 06-29-2006, 11:52 AM

I dont play, but check out a band called the King Blues - acoutic ska/folk/reggae with a Uke thats just great.

bassturtle · #3 06-29-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotTubesGrooves

I dont play, but check out a band called the King Blues - acoutic ska/folk/reggae with a Uke thats just great.

Cool thanks! I just listened to them on their myspace page. A little too raggae for me, but still some cool stuff.

nateo · #4 06-29-2006, 12:38 PM

I picked up a uke a few months back to help me improve my strumming. It's a fun little thing but I still need to do a bit of work to get the intonation right. Dang re-entrant tuning makes compensating the bridge a bit tricky.

And I know all about punishing those around you with the ukulele. Luckily I now live on my own and I can strum to my heart's content.

-Nate

EmmSee · #5 06-29-2006, 01:25 PM

I went to college for a year in Hawaii and learned it there. I still haven't bought my own, but I could play pretty well. It's easy to pick up if you have extensive bass/guitar experience, IMO!

Kruton · #6 06-29-2006, 01:48 PM

I play Ukulele too! I have a baritone so it is tuned DGBE like a guitar so I don't have to figure chords out myself. I just look at what the guitarist is playing. I enjoy playing blues with it the most surprisingsly. But everything is very fun.

groovemachine · #7 06-29-2006, 07:53 PM

You can check out my uke-based band at either myspace.com or www.kawaihae.net. Glad to see so many uke players from all over the world.

superbassman2000 · #8 06-29-2006, 08:45 PM

i play the ukelele a lot too....my grandma was a good player, and i play her's whenever i am there

The Golden Boy · #9 06-29-2006, 08:57 PM

I have an old Harmony that I got from my Dad. It's still in my old closet at my folks' house.

jumbosilverette · #10 06-30-2006, 12:23 AM

Uke? You bet. Play a G string, Koaloha, Beltona resonator. Old Martins are good.

Correlli · #11 06-30-2006, 01:45 AM

While My Guitar (uke) Gently Weeps

http://www.transbuddha.com/mediaHolder.php?id=576

groovemachine · #12 06-30-2006, 06:40 PM

You guys may also wanna do a search on Bill "the Duke of Uke" Tapia.

pocket_groover · #13 06-30-2006, 07:52 PM

I grew up in Hawaii and we had to learn ukulele in the 7th grade. Our teacher took a few of us out for gigs...was neat! Anyway, the ukulele playing led me to guitar playing and then to bass!

I still play a little; have an old 60's Martin Style 0 uke.

Have you checked out Jake Shimabukuro? Also, Ohta-san (his son too) was really popular when I was younger. Anybody remember Tiny Tim ?

FreeSpirit · #14 06-30-2006, 08:13 PM

I grew up in Brampton On...Canada and we played uke from 4-6...I wish my parents had bought me one then when we had the buy out option, I did great in that class. I have been pondering the thought of getting one recently, just whenever the money appears for one I spend it on bass stuff. hahaha

bassturtle · #15 07-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Wow! Surprised to see so many players.

It was kind of an off the cuff choice to get the Kamaka Uke I've got now, but I'm loving it. I got it on trade, but there's no way I would have dropped the kind of money on this thing that the previous owner did.

I've been playing it for hours on end. I haven't had that kind of desire for an instrument in a while. I have no idea if I'm going to actually do anything with it, but it's a fun thing to plink around on.

bassturtle · #16 07-01-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumbosilverette

Beltona resonator.

That's cool! I'd really like to get a resonator or a banjolele at some point.

Kruton · #17 07-01-2006, 11:00 PM

I'm looking to get a new one. Preferably one with electronics so I can record. Any reccomendations?

jumbosilverette · #18 07-01-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassturtle

That's cool! I'd really like to get a resonator or a banjolele at some point.

Go either Beltona or National and buy used. I like my blue Beltona resonator, a concert model. Sounds just like the 1920's.

gottawalk · #19 07-01-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

While My Guitar (uke) Gently Weeps

http://www.transbuddha.com/mediaHolder.php?id=576

I remember that! Great playing and interpretation! There's also a great intro to "Something" on the tribute concert CD to George Harrison called "For George" that Eric Clapton put together. Paul McCartney does the intro to the tune doing the first verse and chorus on the Uke! It's really something great to hear for those of us that never gave it a thought as far as his music was concerned! Paul explains the intro before playing the piece. George really loved that instrument along with others. Have fun!

5Thumbs · #20 07-03-2006, 01:31 PM

Hehehehe...I just found an electric uke on ebay