From the Fall 2017 issue of Ukulele | STORY AND PHOTOS BY SANDOR NAGYSZALANCZY To many, vintage Hawaiian ukuleles look fairly alike: All of them are soprano-sized and most have thin-waisted, Spanish-guitar-shaped bodies built from koa wood. They differ primarily…
Compiled by Audrey Coleman & Greg Olwell Submission Info Have an event coming up? Please contact us with information about artists and workshops, plus dates, location, and how people can find out more information: editors.uke@stringletter.com ALABAMA UKE FEST September 9, 2017…
By Greg Olwell A ukulele once owned by entertainer George Formby, sold for £28,500 (over $36,000 at the time of the sale), through an auction on June 30, 2017. The Gibson UB-3 banjo-ukulele, which was sold through Hansons Auctions, came with many…
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By Jim D’Ville In the shadow of the majestic Cascade Mountains in central Oregon, Ukulele University is an annual gathering of those dedicated to higher education on the ukulele. Held at 3,600 feet above sea level, UU6 was once again…
By Audrey Coleman How many ukulele events that you’ve attended have opened with a solemn chant in Hawaiian followed by a ceremonial hula performed to a pahu drum? And how many uke instructors do you know that receive the Hawaiian…
By Greg Olwell Recently, singer-songwriter Tom Freund grabbed his ukulele and teamed up with his old friend, guitarist Ben Harper, to record a cover of “Let My Love Open the Door,” a classic from Pete Townshend. There is supposedly going to…
At the 2017 Summer NAMM show in Nashville, Ryan Cooper of Cordoba Guitars took a moment to show off the new Cordoba 15CB ukulele. This concert-sized uke is made with bocote, a wood of striking light and dark contrasting…
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At Summer NAMM 2017, Saga introduced new ukuleles from Diamond Head and Hamano, including the Hot Rod series ukes, which come in a gold metal paint sparkle finish. Other sparkle colors include blue, red, and pink. In addition, Saga’s David…
At Summer NAMM 2017, Ovation re-introduced ukuleles to its lineup of its now-classic bowl-back styled instruments. The soprano comes with a solid top, satin-finish black, roundback composite body, and acoustic/electric capabilities. It also comes in a striking koa top model.…