Uke Guy – Page 30 – Ukulele Guy

Update: Lanikai LU-21TE Acoustic-Electric Tenor Ukulele Rosewood Fretboard

So, this morning I headed over to Musician's Friend to see what was on clearance. Oftentimes their ukulele deals don't get the big splash that their other specials get, but it's still worth the search because sometimes you find something really special. For example, today I found this
Lanikai LU-21TE Acoustic-Electric Tenor Ukulele Rosewood Fretboard.

It's only $99.99 and that includes free shipping! Also, there are 10 reviews and the average rating is 4 1/2 stars! Someone was just asking me, on Twitter, about good deals on Tenor ukuleles. Well, this is it! You need this one!

From the product description:

The Lanikai Tenor Ukulele features Shadow electronics for rich, amplified tone. It has Nato top, back, and sides. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge with die-cast geared tuners and binding on the top.

Lanikai ukuleles including the LU-21TE uke, have great playability, sound, and aesthetics at a price that will surprise you.

I, personally, own a Lanikai tenor acoustic-electric and I love. But, I'm pretty sure I paid $399 for mine. Dang!

Update: Some of the reviews of the pick-up in this ukulele aren't especially favorable, which is weird because the overall ratings are very high. But, I think this is boiling down to price. It's a little bit tricky to find a tenor acoustic/electric ukulele for under $200. The other Lanikai model that hits this price point is the Lanikai S-TEQ.

Lanikai S-TEQ Spruce Series Tenor Acoustic Electric Ukulele

But at $189, it's nearly double the price of the Lanikai LU-21TE over at Musician's Friend. Also, after doing some reading, I believe that it uses the same pick as the LU-21TE, so it might not be the best way to spend your extra $99.

To make it more confusing, if you want to spend a little bit more, you could get the exact ukulele that I own, the Lanikai CK-TEQ.

Lanikai CK-TEQ Tenor Curly Koa Acoustic Electric Ukulele

Now, I know that $279 is a lot of money, but it's only $90 more than the Lanikai S-TEQ, albeit it's $180 more than the Lanikai LU-21TE. I've owned my CK-TEQ for something like 5 years and I play it almost every day. I love it to death! So, I'm not sure if that makes your decision any easier, but it looks like the world isn't exactly overrun with budget acoustic-electric ukuleles. And, that's unfortunate. I can tell you that the CK-TEQ doesn't use the same pickup system as the other two ukuleles. Mine uses a 9-volt battery, and not a watch battery and I don't have any complaints with it. I like the sound I get out of it when I go into an amp or PA.

Anyway, I wish you the best on your acoustic-electric tenor ukulele purchases. It might be time to talk to Santa, right?

Youngsters and their Big ukulele band!

So, a few weeks back I read an article about kids making their own ukuleles from an old margarine tub and a piece of wood. I believe one of my British twitter friends turned me on to it. When I remember their name, I'll mention it here. Anyway, it sounds like the six month project is finally complete and the kids had their performance! Huzzah!

From the Evening Telegraph's article, Big ukulele band is utterly brilliant, comes this picture and quote:

The performance in Willow Place, Corby, was the result of six months of work under the Corby Ukulele project across the Corby area, getting youngsters to create their own instruments from a piece of wood and an old margarine tub.

I LOVE IT!

Original Song: Simon Alton, Indeed by Ukulele Guy

So, exactly one month ago, today, I made a ridiculous promise on Twitter that I'd release an original ukulele song every #MusicMonday. I haven't let you down let (although today it was close, as my chest cold has returned with a vengeance). I had planned to use my new Gorillapod and my FlipVideo to make a cool video and song, but my voice is wrecked today. See.. I've been sick for about a week, but regardless of that, I had to play a show on Halloween with my heavy new wave band. It was our 10th anniversary of our interpretation of the David Bowie Ziggy Stardust record. So, long story short, I feel like hammered crap today.

But.. never fear! I'm not going to break my promise (yet). Here is a ukulele ditty that I recorded for my new born son back in 2004. I had this concept in my head that I wanted to be the Leon Redbone of ukulele or something. You know, bolo ties, mint juleps and whatnot. Anyway, that explains the production on this recording, anyway. I still play this song all the time, it's one of the first songs I wrote on ukulele and I love to play it. Although, I play it maybe too fast these days. I like how jaunty it is in this version.

Simon Alton, Indeed by Ukulele Guy

Ukulele Tabs: Monster Mash (just in time, right?)

alli_marshall, on Twitter, asked, "what's a good and easy ( 3 chords, preferably no B!) Halloween song to learn on #ukulele?" Ask and you shall receive! Well.. I guess it's 4 chords, but you can do it!

Monster Mash - Boris and the Crypt Kickers
Ukulele Tab

I was [G]working in the lab late one night
When my [Em]eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my [C]monster from the slab began to rise
And [D]suddenly, to my surprise

Chorus:
(He did the [G]mash) He did the Monster Mash
(The Monster [Em]Mash) It was a graveyard smash
(He did the [C]mash) It caught on in a flash
(He did the [D]mash) He did the Monster Mash

From my [G]laboratory in the Castle East
To the [Em]Master Bedroom where the vampires feast
The [C]ghouls all came from their humble abode
To [D]get a jolt from my electrode

Chorus

The [G]scene was rocking all were digging the sound
[Em]Igor on chains backed by His Baying Hounds
The [C]Coffin Bangers were about to arrive
With their [D]vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five

The [C]Zombies were having fun (In-a-shoop-wha-ooo)
The [D]party had just begun (In-a-shoop-wha-ooo)
The [C]guests included WolfMan (In-a-shoop-wha-oooSTOP)
[D]Dracula and his son (Drum fill)

[G]Out from his coffin Drac's voice did ring
It [Em]seems he was worried 'bout just one thing
[C]Opened the lid and shook his fist, and said
[D]"Whatever hoppened to my Transylvania Tvist?"

Chorus

Now [G]everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my [Em]Monster Mash, it's the hit of the land
For [C]you, the living, this Mash was meant, too
When you [D]get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Chorus

G - 0232
Em - 0432
C - 0003
D - 2220

Banjolele, the hunt begins!

So, after watching that awesome Mr. B video earlier this week, I really got a taste for a banjolele! I currently have a metal body resonator ukulele (although kind of a cheap one, I'll take pictures later) and I really like the sound of it. Every time I play it, I feel like I should be wearing a straw hat , chewing on a piece of grass and drinking a mint julep.... all the while singing through a old conical megaphone apparatus. Well.. the banjolele sounds seems like it takes that concept to the next level even. And I HAVE to get to the next level, right? 😉 In case you need a refresher. Here's Mr. B, The Rhyming Gentleman, performing on his banjolele live. I love that he references the Pharcyde in this one!

Yay. I just watched it again and I'm invigorated! Ok. Time to get serious. The first place I looked was Musician's Friend. And I found this pretty little Goldtone Banjolele.

Hay! That's not too bad, right? I'm just psyched that someone is still making banjoleles so I don't necessarily have to buy a vintage instrument that I'll never be able to maintain (I'm not handy). Here's some notes:

Unique banjo-like tone from the Gold Tone Banjolele brings uke parts to the foreground. Curly maple headstock is a perfect complement to the bound ebony fretboard with snowflake inlays. Brass tone ring on the 8" head and maple rim.

Goldtone Banjolele Features:

Maple neck

Ebony fretboard

Curly maple headstock

Archtop design for formby-style strumming

Brass tone ring

Adjustable truss rod

Bone nut

No-knot tailpiece

Ooh! I kept searching and found the fancier big brother, who goes by the name of
Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe. (Yup, just like the sandwich)

Here's some notes about the Deluxe version:

Bound ebony fretboard with snowflake inlays, curly maple headstock, and bound full-walled maple resonator provide luxurious visuals. Resonator design, one-piece flange, 8" head, and bone nut pump out big stage tone with generous volume.

Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe Features:

Unique design

Maple neck

Bound ebony fretboard

Maple resonator

Brass tone ring

One-piece flange

No-knot tailpiece

13-3/4" scale

8" Remo head

Archtop design for formby-style strumming

Bone nut

But... what if you are a handy man (or lady) and you don't mind a bit of a project? Well, I found a few ebay auctions that you should check out. These aren't for me, personally, because fixing things makes me have to put money in the swear jar at my house and my kids don't need rocket bikes (see... the swear jar is pretty full).

The first ebay auction I checked out was for freaking 5 banjoleles!?! Banjo Ukulele Banjolele Rolando, Winner, etc. LOT OF 5!

Defintely check this auction out, there are lots and lots of really detailed pictures so there won't be any surprises when those sweet banjoleles arrive at yer casa.

The next auction that I checked out was for a 1930s-era banjolele that looks pretty similar to the bottom banjolele in the picture above.

Circa 1930s Banjo-Ukulele Banjolele Segmented Wood NICE

The last banjolele project I found was a VINTAGE B & J MELE BANJO UKULELE banjolele project.

There ya go, fixer-upper-types, get a bidding! Just to be complete, I also searched Amazon to see what they have in the way of banjoleles. First I saw one for $199 but the review made it sound like garbage. Then I found the Goldtone instruments again because it looks like Musician's Friend sells them through Amazon also. But, I'll include one of them because maybe you are already heading to Amazon to buy something else completely random.

So, there ya go. Say, if one of you guys buys one of the banjolele projects on ebay, please contact me. If you write a review about it for my site I'll buy you a Uke Thong!