I have to admit that I didn't have any idea who George Formby was until 3 weeks ago. It seems to me that here in the states, if you only know one thing about the ukulele then you know about Tiny Tim. I think across the pond, over in the UK, it's George Formby instead. Now.. everyone should know that I love Tiny Tim dearly! He was like a walking encyclopedia of tin pan-era music. But, he's not really an exceptional ukulele player. I mean, he's great, after watching Formby it seems to me that Tiny Tim is outmatched. Formby has some crazy strums! Also, he's a real crack-up! I mean, look at those facial expressions! What do you mean, "Look at what?". Oh.. right. Here's the video:
I've been working on a version of this song, but just watching the video now I realize that I play it in a different key. I start with F and then go to F7 but I think George starts at C and goes to C7. I'll make a video soon of me playing, but don't get your hopes up. George is definitely the master. Maybe I can get my son (Age 5) to sing it with me, though, he loves this song. This and Big Rock Candy Mountain are our big duos (besides our Ramones covers).
So, ever since I first head Mr. B's Chap-Hop History, I've been in stalker mode. In case you want to join me, you can stalk Mr. B The Rhyming Gentleman in the following places:
Well, during my stalking adventures I learned that Mr. B has a record called "Flattery Not Included". Well, I need that. But, I was having a hard time finding where you can purchase it. I'm still not 100%, but I think you can only get it on ebay:
Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer: FLATTERY NOT INCLUDED (2008)
If anyone is able to turn one up from another online location, please let me know!
So, I got a tweet from PedroFFerrai asking, "Cigar box uke? Wtf?" WTF, indeed, my friend. I hadn't heard about cigar box guitars or ukuleles until I read it in this issue of Make Magazine (which is an incredible magazine, by the way).
Make, Volume 4: Technology on Your Time (Make: Technology on Your Time) (Paperback)
Then, just a few weeks later I see a guy selling them at the local farmer's market. I bought my first one for $99 and it's a real beauty. Here's some pictures of her:
Cigar Box GuitarCigar Box GuitarCigar Box Guitar
The details are my favorite thing about this guitar. For example, both the bridge and the nut are made from elk bone. The fret markers are 22 shell casings. Oh shoot! I didn't take a picture of the input jack. Yup, that's right. There is a piezo in there so you can plug it into your amp. It's not an awesome sound, but you can still make it pretty fun. I'll upload a video of it soon.
So, some weeks later I'm at a show and I see a guy playing a cigar box guitar that's similar to mine by the amplified sound is really great! I talk to him and it turns out that the fella that made my first cigar box guitar has taken it up a notch. He's getting pickups hand wound for him now. So, of course, I had to get another one commissioned. I think it was like $250 and here's some pictures of it:
This one isn't technically a cigar box guitar because it's made of old barn wood. The tuners are recycled from some old broken guitar I think. All in all, it's a real beauty, but I'm still working on the tuning for it. It has a floating bridge that I can never seem to get where I want it. Also, the guy that makes these guitars is more of an outdoorsman type and not so much of a luthier. So, they are pretty rugged and rustic. But, I like the challenge of playing them. It makes you feel like you should be in the Mississippi Delta and also blind (possibly considering selling your soul at the crossroads and whatnot).
So, you want one of these buy you don't want to buy the Make Magazine. Well, for heaven's sake, don't just buy the magazine to learn how to make the guitar (although, if you like fun projects and general nerdiness, then you really should subscribe, it's my favorite magazine!).
This was one of the first Ukulele songbooks I ever bought. Up until this point I was searching on Youtube and Google and whatnot trying to find guitar tabs and then translating the fingering to learn fun songs. While that was certainly educational, it was also a bit of a hassle. So, I decided that I needed a good book and I wanted one with fun songs (especially Tiptoe Through the Tulips, by Tiny Tim). Then I found Jumpin' Jim's '60s Uke-In: Ukulele Solo (Paperback).
Jumpin' Jim's '60s Uke-In: Ukulele Solo (Paperback)
Check out the songs you can learn (from the description on Amazon):
Jumpin' Jim's '60s Uke-In is a collection of 25 fab songs from the 1960s arranged for the very first time for ukulele. It includes lots of big Beatles hits (All My Loving * Eight Days a Week * Here Comes the Sun * Michelle * Penny Lane * Something * When I'm Sixty-Four * Yellow Submarine * and more) as well as other classic '60s tunes, such as: Daydream Believer * Georgy Girl * Happy Together * Moon River * Those Were the Days * and more. Features an appreciation by George Harrison, a foreword by Jumpin' Jim, a chord chart, and a groovy, psychedelic cover.
This thing normally sells for $14.95 (and I find some at Amazon for that price) but then I found it listed for $10.17. That's a great deal!
dropDavid, on Twitter, asked me the following, "hey uke guy 😀 i need professional advice, should i buy the lanikai lu21 concert uke? is it a good buy for the price?"
Well friend, I think you are gonna be psyched. Let me start out by saying that I have been the proud owner of a CK-TEQ Lanikai Ukulele for about 5 years and I absolutely love it! I know we aren't talking about me or my ukulele, but look at this pretty thing!
Lanikai CK-TEQ Tenor Curly Koa Acoustic Electric Ukulele
Anyway, I did some research on the Lanikai LU-21 and it looks like a pretty great ukulele for the price.
Lanikai LU-21 Soprano Ukulele
$49 is a great price for your first ukulele and looking through the reviews, it sounds like a good value. There were a total of 12 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars. Not too shabby! Lanikai ukuleles are well made and they sound great. Like I said, I'm totally in love with mine. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all.
Another uke you might look at is the Oscar Schmidt OU2 Concert Ukulele. It's only $7 more and it looks beautiful. I've never personally played one, but I hear people say that they are quality instruments.
