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Original Post By:
Ukulele Rob
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Date: 3/14/2014 2:59:07 PM
(Updated: 3/14/2014 3:02:23 PM)
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Another recent thread on the this Bulletin Board sprang some legs and went far afield, including thoughts about what folks are willing to pay -- or accept -- to buy or sell a ukulele. Another poster suggested a new thread, so here goes:
If you're on this BB, you must have one or more ukes that are worth a lot to you. Perhaps you wouldn't part with your uke for a million dollars. Or maybe you spent a ton of money on it and just roll your eyes when your non-musician friends say "You spent WHAT on that silly ukulele?!?!" Or maybe you treasure it because you found it for free in your great-aunt's attic, or picked it up for a song at a flea market from someone who didn't value it the way you do.
So tell us about a uke you own (or once owned), and why it's priceless.
For starters:
I own new-ish custom ukes from two well-known builders. They look, sound and feel great, but they're priceless to me because the builders were friends before they built the ukes, and when I play the ukes, I'm cradling that friendship.
But even more priceless: One of my daughters recently found a photo of me, taken in 1956. I'm sitting on a wooden avocado picking crate outside my childhood home, dressed only in a palm-frond hat, flower lei, and Hawaiian-print shorts, cradling my first uke. It was a Maccaferri plastic (probably an Islander or TV Pal - can't tell from the photo), given to me by an aunt who was an Arthur Godfrey fan. A few years later I "graduated" to a big Sears-Harmony guitar, and that plastic uke just sort of disappeared. Over the years I've owned (and still own) an assortment of instruments that have had names like Martin, Gibson, Fender, and even Magic Fluke.
Ahhh, but what I wouldn't give to have that Maccaferri back in my hands again!
("A warm afternoon in the yard ... seven years old with a ukulele in hand and not a care in the world. Priceless. For everything else there's [whatever credit card you have on file with Flea Market Music]")
http://www.ukulelerob.com |
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Posted By:
Frank B
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Date: 3/14/2014 7:16:39 PM
(Updated: 3/14/2014 7:19:17 PM)
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My first ukulele was a junker someone gave me instead of payment for work I'd done. This was in 1960. I put strings on it, bought a chord book (which I still have) and started practicing. I picked it up rather quickly, so one afternoon when my father took his steel guitar out on the porch to play (not amplified) I asked if I could sit in. It was hard at first, because the old man wouldn't wait for me if a chord change was difficult: he just kept on playing. I continued to practice and play along with him and finally got the hang of rhythm uke. A few months later (1961), Dad handed me a new Martin style O soprano.
I recognized the Martin name and knew it was a good instrument. Probably cost him $30.00. I gave the junker to a friend and do not know what happened to it. I have kept the Martin all of these years, and will never part with it in this life.
I have other instruments: some expensive and some moderately priced, but none can hold a candle to the one Dad gave me. It is priceless.
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Posted By:
AJohn
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Date: 3/25/2014 12:19:19 PM |
My first/one & only uke (LoPrinzi concert) is priceless to me because it was given to me by my whole family for my 50th birthday.
They knew there was no way that I'd want a party of any kind, so this was perfect.
Funny that Arthur Godfrey was already mentioned, because my family laughed and joked that my birthday was like the episode of All in the Family, where Edith gives Archie an ukulele for 'his' 50th birthday.
He was thrilled, but asked, "What the he** am I gonna do with it. I can't play it." Edith responds, "Now you can learn to play like Arthur Godfrey."
Of course we enjoyed recreating that scene.
Andy
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Posted By:
Rob Uker
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Date: 3/25/2014 3:35:35 PM |
Back in 1960 my parents bought my big sister a Danelectro Convertible guitar that she never learned to play. After sitting in the closet for many years, I discovered the guitar and learned how to play it. That was where my love of music began.
About 10 years ago I became obsessed with the ukulele so my old Dano guitar got placed back in the closet.(yes I still own it)
As a tribute to my first musical love I built a tenor ukulele version of my Danelectro guitar.
If you Google "Danelectro Ukulele" I you can see the pictures of my one of a kind Danelectro inspired uke.
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Posted By:
Ukester Brown
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Date: 3/29/2014 11:44:06 PM |
Ukulele Rob- I went to your site and looked at your photo page. That's a great pic of when you were a kid and the uke looks like a Mauna Loa Plastic uke.
As far as what's important to me... I have a couple that I've had built for me and one will definitely go to my son.
Which one would I grab if there was a fire? The one by my bed... A very Special pink topped Red Maccaferri Islander DeLuxe Model. I'd hate for it to melt.
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Posted By:
Ukulele Rob
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Date: 3/30/2014 1:23:18 AM |
| Rob Uker: Don't be so modest about the "Dano" uke! Everyone should check it out, here: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/dano-uke-demonstration-feb-2-2013
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