A Beginner's Ukulele Resource Kit

Retro pin-up doodler Sibylline’s homage to “Some Like It Hot” and McFly’s “Love Is Easy” video.

(via SibyllineSketchBlog)

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!!!

Custom Derek Yaniger Tiki/Hipster Ukuleles

Derek is a whirlwind of productivity whose loose, free-flowing lines hearken a nostalgia-tinged classic tiki life are a natural continuation of Jim Flora’s 50’s hipsters. He’s designed some fantastic tiki mugs … and adorned a few musical instruments, too, including these ukuleles and bongos.

Hello, Chord Master!

I’ve gone gaga over Bakelite ‘n plastic ukuleles in past posts, however, this device, attached to the neck of one of these gems allowed one to play 6 — count ‘em SIX! — chords at the touch of a button! Sounds a bit like Ford’s old “teletouch” transmissions. 

ChordMaster.org’s stupendous compendium of plastic ukes, ads, gadgets, and folks happily playing (sometimes underwater — why not? it’s plastic!) is worthy your leisurely perusal. You’ll be amazed by such models as the Islander Ukette, T.V.Pal, Uke-A-Doodle, Ukeatune, Mousegetar, and many, many more!