A Beginner's Ukulele Resource Kit

Handy links to learning the ukulele online.

  • 7th
  • May
  • 2011

The Ukulele & You

The Museum of Making Music’s online exhibit “The Ukulele & You: America’s Love Affair with the Ukulele” offers an exceptional catalog of rare ukes: 

[the original exhibit] concentrated mainly on mass-produced instruments marketed to the American public beginning in 1915. The online catalogue preserves this core component and for the first time includes detailed front, back and side images of the collection along with physical descriptions, attributions and probable dates of manufacture.

Above are just a few of my favorites, including the Selcol “Skiffle Junior” ukulele, the outline of which bears an incredibly similarity to a certain round-eared mouse’s uke, manufactured by the same company, at about the same time. Hmmmmmm…

I’d love to see higher-res photos, but this site’s a terrific gift.  Thanks much!!!

Tagged: Collection museum uke ukulele plastic retro antique vintage

  • 5th
  • March
  • 2011
1920s Oscar Schmidt Ukelin Ukulele (via Heritage Auction Galleries) Not that I’m into “exotic” ukes (allowing for unbelievable awesomeness that is Kala’s travel uke… with headstock compass), but this is so durned odd. For one, how’s a bowed gajillion stringed instrument a ukulele?

1920s Oscar Schmidt Ukelin Ukulele (via Heritage Auction Galleries)

Not that I’m into “exotic” ukes (allowing for unbelievable awesomeness that is Kala’s travel uke… with headstock compass), but this is so durned odd. For one, how’s a bowed gajillion stringed instrument a ukulele?

Tagged: vintage uke ukulele Collection

  • 26th
  • February
  • 2011
Stereo Stack - truly is “A kaleidoscopic-wonderland of hi-fidelity and dual-dynamic vibrancy”. A hypnotic collection of those “stereo” labels that appeared on vinyl album covers (via espop) What’s this to do with ukuleles? See? Right there — “Mahalo — recorded in Hawaii” that’s enough for me!

Stereo Stack - truly is “A kaleidoscopic-wonderland of hi-fidelity and dual-dynamic vibrancy”. A hypnotic collection of those “stereo” labels that appeared on vinyl album covers (via espop)

What’s this to do with ukuleles? See? Right there — “Mahalo — recorded in Hawaii” that’s enough for me!

Tagged: retro vintage design commercial art vinyl collection ablum sleeve