I do like a Julia Nunes song once in a while, and not shared one for ages. Her take on Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, on ukulele, melodica and toy piano.
Tour dates and bloopers at the end too in typical Julia style!
( DIRECT LINK )
25 Feb 2013
25 Feb 2013T19:50
Tour dates and bloopers at the end too in typical Julia style!
( DIRECT LINK )
Read More »
Julia Nunes - Sweet Caroline
Tour dates and bloopers at the end too in typical Julia style!
( DIRECT LINK )
24 Feb 2013
24 Feb 2013T20:04
Another great vid from the Malbank Ukulele Club in Nantwich (known to us as The Muckers). They played us this in the pub a few weeks ago and had us all smiling. Their 80's medley on ukes and stylophone. How many songs do you know?
And and 80's medley is quite a thing from a bunch of players who range from 16 to 18 in age!
From left to right - say hello to Matt, Marc, Jack and Alice. Do them a favour and give the video a thumbs up!
( DIRECT LINK )
Read More »
The Muckers - 80's ukulele medley
I've posted about these guys before - as we are lucky to have them join the N'Ukes at our open ukulele jam each week.
Another great vid from the Malbank Ukulele Club in Nantwich (known to us as The Muckers). They played us this in the pub a few weeks ago and had us all smiling. Their 80's medley on ukes and stylophone. How many songs do you know?
And and 80's medley is quite a thing from a bunch of players who range from 16 to 18 in age!
From left to right - say hello to Matt, Marc, Jack and Alice. Do them a favour and give the video a thumbs up!
( DIRECT LINK )
T11:26
Nice WIUO review
----------------------------------
Say hello to the Corktown Ukulele Jam
----------------------------------
Jake - (AGAIN)
---------------------------------
So, it's a Craze now... (I thought it was just another musical instrument)
--------------------------------
Hello Motor City Ukes
--------------------------------
That Spongebob Ukulele Lawsuit (yawn)
-------------------------------
Hip-Hop Ukulele
------------------------------
Ukulele OAP's in the recording studio!
------------------------------
Smashing Banjos
-----------------------------
Buddington The Therapeutic Clown
----------------------------
More news again soon!
Read More »
Ukulele News - 24 February 2013
A look back at ukulele news around the globe over the last two weeks.
Nice WIUO review
----------------------------------
Say hello to the Corktown Ukulele Jam
----------------------------------
Jake - (AGAIN)
---------------------------------
So, it's a Craze now... (I thought it was just another musical instrument)
--------------------------------
Hello Motor City Ukes
--------------------------------
That Spongebob Ukulele Lawsuit (yawn)
-------------------------------
Hip-Hop Ukulele
------------------------------
Ukulele OAP's in the recording studio!
------------------------------
Smashing Banjos
-----------------------------
Buddington The Therapeutic Clown
----------------------------
More news again soon!
21 Feb 2013
21 Feb 2013T08:21
I intend to run a number of long term tests on instruments I have kept, as often the long term views can be more illuminating than the initial impressions. (See my REVIEWS PAGE for other long term tests I have done). So for this one - the Makala Dolphin, a uke I first came across nearly three years ago now. You can read my initial review of that instrument HERE. The Dolphin is an absolute entry level soprano ukulele made by Kala. This model featured the one piece moulded plastic back and sides.
So, how has it been? Well, the Dolphin is a cheap starter uke, and as you will see from my reviews I have since owned (or still own) a range of instruments with far bigger price tags since then. But you know what? The Dolphin still gets played on almost a daily basis.
Here is one of my dolphins today (yes, yes I know, it's not red, its purple, but I bought two when I wrote that review, and the red one has been gifted to my young nephew since then - this is the one we kept and gets played - same vintage!).
The reason it gets a lot of play is twofold. First, this kind of became my daughters ukulele. She is between three and four years old, so this uke is almost as old as she is! For that reason it sits in the living room, always on hand, and whenever she gets it out, I end up having a play too. But the second reason is because it really is just so good. In fact picking it up today it never ceases to amaze me how full and loud a sound these things can deliver. In that respect, what I said when I first got one still stands today.
And another plus point. Because this uke has been in the hands of a toddler, it stands to reason that it has been dropped, trodden on and generally abused. It is chipped and dinged in all sorts of places (that Dolphin thick glossy finish does chip easily I have found) but it still plays just fine.
So I will happily find myself still strumming this when at home - perhaps more than I do some of my other instruments. The tone is good, nothing offensive at all. I have even busked and played it publicly. Can't give it a much better endorsement. Friends in the band have also bought them as 'travel ukes' (the sort of instrument you won't shed a tear over breaking or being stolen) and band members have taken these to the far east and Australia last year!
As such, this retains its position as about the best starter ukulele I can recommend to people (for those wanting to spend next to no money). But my advice still comes with a couple of provisos.
1. Buy from a reputable shop. Southern Ukulele Store stock these, but going back to my original review I bought mine from Nigel at Highly Strung in Wantage. Ask him to check the setup - in fact, ask any shop to check the setup) A well setup Dolphin is just great, but at this price there WILL be duds.
2. I am not sure what strings they are now shipping these with, but you really want to try Aquilas on them. I know I don't like preaching about strings, and that you should experiment, but these have quite thick tops and the Aquila power can really drive them to get a good tone and volume.
And that is about that - highly recommended, even after three years. Also childproof!
Read More »
Long Term Ukulele Test - Makala Dolphin
Time for another long term test review of a ukulele that has been with me for some time. The Makala Dolphin.
I intend to run a number of long term tests on instruments I have kept, as often the long term views can be more illuminating than the initial impressions. (See my REVIEWS PAGE for other long term tests I have done). So for this one - the Makala Dolphin, a uke I first came across nearly three years ago now. You can read my initial review of that instrument HERE. The Dolphin is an absolute entry level soprano ukulele made by Kala. This model featured the one piece moulded plastic back and sides.
So, how has it been? Well, the Dolphin is a cheap starter uke, and as you will see from my reviews I have since owned (or still own) a range of instruments with far bigger price tags since then. But you know what? The Dolphin still gets played on almost a daily basis.
Here is one of my dolphins today (yes, yes I know, it's not red, its purple, but I bought two when I wrote that review, and the red one has been gifted to my young nephew since then - this is the one we kept and gets played - same vintage!).
The reason it gets a lot of play is twofold. First, this kind of became my daughters ukulele. She is between three and four years old, so this uke is almost as old as she is! For that reason it sits in the living room, always on hand, and whenever she gets it out, I end up having a play too. But the second reason is because it really is just so good. In fact picking it up today it never ceases to amaze me how full and loud a sound these things can deliver. In that respect, what I said when I first got one still stands today.
And another plus point. Because this uke has been in the hands of a toddler, it stands to reason that it has been dropped, trodden on and generally abused. It is chipped and dinged in all sorts of places (that Dolphin thick glossy finish does chip easily I have found) but it still plays just fine.
So I will happily find myself still strumming this when at home - perhaps more than I do some of my other instruments. The tone is good, nothing offensive at all. I have even busked and played it publicly. Can't give it a much better endorsement. Friends in the band have also bought them as 'travel ukes' (the sort of instrument you won't shed a tear over breaking or being stolen) and band members have taken these to the far east and Australia last year!
As such, this retains its position as about the best starter ukulele I can recommend to people (for those wanting to spend next to no money). But my advice still comes with a couple of provisos.
1. Buy from a reputable shop. Southern Ukulele Store stock these, but going back to my original review I bought mine from Nigel at Highly Strung in Wantage. Ask him to check the setup - in fact, ask any shop to check the setup) A well setup Dolphin is just great, but at this price there WILL be duds.
2. I am not sure what strings they are now shipping these with, but you really want to try Aquilas on them. I know I don't like preaching about strings, and that you should experiment, but these have quite thick tops and the Aquila power can really drive them to get a good tone and volume.
And that is about that - highly recommended, even after three years. Also childproof!
15 Feb 2013
15 Feb 2013T19:12
This works really easily on ukulele - The Coral, Dreaming Of You chords
Read More »
The Coral - Dreaming Of You - Ukulele Chords
This works really easily on ukulele - The Coral, Dreaming Of You chords
(Check video at the end for a play along)
Intro (after bass line) [Am] [F] x2
[Am] The top of my heart when it [F] skips a beat (skips a beat)
[Am] I don't feel no pavement right [F] under my feet (under my feet)
[C] Up in my lonely room (waaaa ooooh)
[G] When I'm dreaming of [F] you
Oh what can I do?
[Am] I still need you, but
[F] I don't want you now [Am] [F] [E7]
[Am] [F] x 2
[Am] When I'm down and my [F] hands are tied (hands are tied)
[Am] I cannot reach a pen for [F] me to draw the line (draw the line)
[Am] From this pain I just [F] can't disguise (can't disguise)
[Am] It's gonna hurt but I'll [F] have to say goodbye (say goodbye)
[C] Up in my lonely room (waaaa oooh)
[G] When I'm dreaming of [F] you
Oh what can I do?
[Am] I still need you, but
[F] I don't want you now [Am] [F] [E7]
[F] [E7] x 3
Repeat chords only of first verse and first chorus
Then chords of first verse with (oooooh ooooh over the top)
[C] Up in my lonely room (waaaa ooooh)
[G] When I'm dreaming of [F] you
Oh what can I do?
[Am] I still need you, but
[F] I don't want you now [Am] [F] [E7]
14 Feb 2013
14 Feb 2013T10:28
For the next month, you can grab my omnibus edition The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know AND my chord book Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know with 33% off the price (making them far cheaper than a pint of beer!)
The books are available in all popular ebook formats (including Kindle, ePub, pdf etc). Just click links above or on the book covers below and enter the promo codes listed below at the checkout to get the saving. Feel free to share these codes around too!
Enjoy
Read More »
Time for a ukulele book promotion!
OK, I am overdue a promotional price on some of my ukulele books, so for anyone who hasn't seen the books, this could be a good time to have a look.
For the next month, you can grab my omnibus edition The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know AND my chord book Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know with 33% off the price (making them far cheaper than a pint of beer!)
The books are available in all popular ebook formats (including Kindle, ePub, pdf etc). Just click links above or on the book covers below and enter the promo codes listed below at the checkout to get the saving. Feel free to share these codes around too!
Enjoy
 |
| PROMO CODE - LT43L |
 |
| PROMO CODE - DK98F |
Offers end 14 March 2013!
13 Feb 2013
13 Feb 2013T16:54
Barnes and Mullins is a trade name of a very old UK instrument manufacturer that has been brought back to life on a range of new instruments including ukuleles. That heritage does not however mean that the ukes are hand built in a dusty English factory, as their range are made in the far east like so many ukuleles today. The Calthorpe line replaces the popular Bowley range of ukes which I think are no longer made by the company, but received many decent reviews. How does this one stand up?
This Calthorpe was bought from Southern Ukulele Store for a little over £200, and is the concert model with an active pickup fitted. Out of it's case for the first time and it really is quite a looker, particularly on account of the woods and the colouring. This is a deep deep bright red and really rather pretty from all angles. The whole body is finished in gloss. The body shape is traditional uke with a double bout though as you read on you will note one or two elements which set the uke apart from others.
The top of the instrument is made from solid spruce and has been stained a deep red colour which I think looks just great. Bling wise the front of the ukulele is tasteful, with a simple soundhole rosette and standard looking black / white / black plastic edge binding. All very nice. The bridge mounting is made of rosewood with a nice thin pair of white inlays which make it look a little different. The bridge is a tie bar design and the saddle is plastic, though compensated.
But it is on to the back and sides where things start to get really pretty. The sides and back of the Calthorpe are laminate woods, not solid, but are faced with a flamed maple veneer which is really rather stunning to look at. It has a really shimmery stripe to it, and again is finished in a red stain which sets it off. I really like the back of this ukulele! The back is also slightly arched which is good to see and will help volume protection.
Inside the uke is fairly standard looking, with notched kerfling. The bracing looks a little rough with some wood curls hanging off them, and there are also spots and smears of the outer finish in the inside - a messy interior!
On to the neck and things remain really pretty. The neck too is also made of flamed maple and the stripes in the wood pattern continue here - really rather nice. In my reviews I will often mention whether the neck is made from a single piece of wood, or in several parts. It doesn't really affect the way a uke sounds or plays, but it is an indicator of the quality of the instrument (generally speaking), as a single piece neck takes more work and effort to produce. Well this appears to be a two piece neck, but not like one you often see. I think the neck is put together in two halves along its whole length and where they join is a very attractive black inlay which I think looks great. The neck profile is not too chunky but very comfortable to hold.
On to the fingerboard. This is topped with ebony which is nice to see at a ukulele of this price. It is dark and very nicely finished. It is also bound on the edges hiding the fret ends which is a nice touch. There are 16 nickel frets with 12 to the body and they are all seated and finished nicely with no sharp edges. Fret markers are inlays of mother of pearl in star shapes at the fifth, seventh, tenth and twelfth frets. There is also a single solitary side fret marker at the seventh. Honestly..... I often rally about why some makers fail to include side markers (being the markers that the player finds useful!), so come on Barnes and Mullins - if you chose to put one on the uke, why not put one on the other frets - I mean, it is only a dot!
Up to the headstock, and past the plastic nut and we see a quite unusual shaped headstock which I think brings a bit of relief from the scores of instruments that simply copy the Martin three pointed crown shape. It's rounded and faced in the same flamed maple. The Barnes and Mullins logo is screen printed in black under the gloss and looks classy. Tuning is provided by sealed, unbranded geared tuners with pearloid buttons. They work just fine, but I think they stick out a little too much and would have preferred friction tuners, particularly on a headstock of this shape (and with it being a concert).
The pickup system is unbranded, but is under saddle and is powered by a 9v battery housed in a compartment on the side. Treble bass and volume control are provided by sliders (I would prefer dials and find these fiddly) but they do the job. I am told that the pickup is actually a UK2000 system which are considered to be reasonable. Output for the instrument lead is provided by a jack socket on the base but off to the side, and as such this doesn't come with a strap button (the one in the picture I fitted myself). If you are building an electro ukulele and are drilling a hole in it for the jack socket, why not just put the jack squarely on the base and fit an integral strap button?
Finally, the instrument is strung with (what else....) Aquila brand strings.
So there you have it, a rather nice looking instrument. How does it play?
Unplugged the uke has a decent volume and a nice bouncy and bright sound as a good concert should. It has a nice voice that is comparable with other instruments in it's price range by the likes of Kala and Mainland. It won't win prized for a hugely complex tone with rich harmonics, but it has a very nice voice. It is comfortable enough to hold and nicely balanced, but I think it feels a little heavy, most likely on account of that chunky 9v battery. This could have been overcome by using a cell battery and a smaller pickup system. Perhaps this won't be as noticeable on a tenor version, but it is noticeable on this one.
Plugged in the pickup is reasonable sounding. Not particularly clean and airy, and can easily be a bit heavy on the bass (or perhaps a little unbalanced across the strings). Body noise is also easily picked up, but having had a tinker with the instrument played through a mixer and adjusting some of the eq there, a lot of this can be eliminated. Let us just say that the pickup does it's job in a workmanlike fashion.
But my main gripe... that finish. Earlier in the review I pointed out how pretty the uke looks, and it really does - it is a real looker. But that finish is not the toughest by any means. After two playing sessions I noted that the gloss was wearing on the top. Not just being scratched, but worn through to the light coloured spruce underneath. Now gloss does two things for a ukulele. Firstly it adds some bling, but it also serves to protect the instrument, or at least it should. I am frankly staggered that after only a couple of sessions, the gloss has started to wear, leaving me wondering just how the ukulele will look after a year. If you are going to gloss your instrument at least make the gloss tough enough to not start to wear through after two days! And that is a real shame as one of the key selling points of this instrument will be it's looks. Barnes and Mullins - you need to think about protecting those!
But all in all, it is a good little ukulele with a nice voice for a nice price (considering the pickup is added to the spec). The looks are really decent, and if you are a player who doesn't mind battle scars being picked up then it's definitely worth a look. If you like your ukes to stay in museum condition, then perhaps look elsewhere!
PROS
Them looks
Nice voice
Good price
CONS
Heavy
That finish!
No strap button on jack socket
SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 6.5
Sound - 8
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL - 8
Read More »
Barnes and Mullins BMUK3CE Calthorpe Ukulele REVIEW
Time for a new ukulele brand for me, but one that has quite a bit of buzz about it - Barnes and Mullins, and their Calthorpe model concert with pickup - the BMUK3CE.
Barnes and Mullins is a trade name of a very old UK instrument manufacturer that has been brought back to life on a range of new instruments including ukuleles. That heritage does not however mean that the ukes are hand built in a dusty English factory, as their range are made in the far east like so many ukuleles today. The Calthorpe line replaces the popular Bowley range of ukes which I think are no longer made by the company, but received many decent reviews. How does this one stand up?
This Calthorpe was bought from Southern Ukulele Store for a little over £200, and is the concert model with an active pickup fitted. Out of it's case for the first time and it really is quite a looker, particularly on account of the woods and the colouring. This is a deep deep bright red and really rather pretty from all angles. The whole body is finished in gloss. The body shape is traditional uke with a double bout though as you read on you will note one or two elements which set the uke apart from others.
The top of the instrument is made from solid spruce and has been stained a deep red colour which I think looks just great. Bling wise the front of the ukulele is tasteful, with a simple soundhole rosette and standard looking black / white / black plastic edge binding. All very nice. The bridge mounting is made of rosewood with a nice thin pair of white inlays which make it look a little different. The bridge is a tie bar design and the saddle is plastic, though compensated.
But it is on to the back and sides where things start to get really pretty. The sides and back of the Calthorpe are laminate woods, not solid, but are faced with a flamed maple veneer which is really rather stunning to look at. It has a really shimmery stripe to it, and again is finished in a red stain which sets it off. I really like the back of this ukulele! The back is also slightly arched which is good to see and will help volume protection.
Inside the uke is fairly standard looking, with notched kerfling. The bracing looks a little rough with some wood curls hanging off them, and there are also spots and smears of the outer finish in the inside - a messy interior!
On to the neck and things remain really pretty. The neck too is also made of flamed maple and the stripes in the wood pattern continue here - really rather nice. In my reviews I will often mention whether the neck is made from a single piece of wood, or in several parts. It doesn't really affect the way a uke sounds or plays, but it is an indicator of the quality of the instrument (generally speaking), as a single piece neck takes more work and effort to produce. Well this appears to be a two piece neck, but not like one you often see. I think the neck is put together in two halves along its whole length and where they join is a very attractive black inlay which I think looks great. The neck profile is not too chunky but very comfortable to hold.
On to the fingerboard. This is topped with ebony which is nice to see at a ukulele of this price. It is dark and very nicely finished. It is also bound on the edges hiding the fret ends which is a nice touch. There are 16 nickel frets with 12 to the body and they are all seated and finished nicely with no sharp edges. Fret markers are inlays of mother of pearl in star shapes at the fifth, seventh, tenth and twelfth frets. There is also a single solitary side fret marker at the seventh. Honestly..... I often rally about why some makers fail to include side markers (being the markers that the player finds useful!), so come on Barnes and Mullins - if you chose to put one on the uke, why not put one on the other frets - I mean, it is only a dot!
Up to the headstock, and past the plastic nut and we see a quite unusual shaped headstock which I think brings a bit of relief from the scores of instruments that simply copy the Martin three pointed crown shape. It's rounded and faced in the same flamed maple. The Barnes and Mullins logo is screen printed in black under the gloss and looks classy. Tuning is provided by sealed, unbranded geared tuners with pearloid buttons. They work just fine, but I think they stick out a little too much and would have preferred friction tuners, particularly on a headstock of this shape (and with it being a concert).
The pickup system is unbranded, but is under saddle and is powered by a 9v battery housed in a compartment on the side. Treble bass and volume control are provided by sliders (I would prefer dials and find these fiddly) but they do the job. I am told that the pickup is actually a UK2000 system which are considered to be reasonable. Output for the instrument lead is provided by a jack socket on the base but off to the side, and as such this doesn't come with a strap button (the one in the picture I fitted myself). If you are building an electro ukulele and are drilling a hole in it for the jack socket, why not just put the jack squarely on the base and fit an integral strap button?
Finally, the instrument is strung with (what else....) Aquila brand strings.
So there you have it, a rather nice looking instrument. How does it play?
Unplugged the uke has a decent volume and a nice bouncy and bright sound as a good concert should. It has a nice voice that is comparable with other instruments in it's price range by the likes of Kala and Mainland. It won't win prized for a hugely complex tone with rich harmonics, but it has a very nice voice. It is comfortable enough to hold and nicely balanced, but I think it feels a little heavy, most likely on account of that chunky 9v battery. This could have been overcome by using a cell battery and a smaller pickup system. Perhaps this won't be as noticeable on a tenor version, but it is noticeable on this one.
Plugged in the pickup is reasonable sounding. Not particularly clean and airy, and can easily be a bit heavy on the bass (or perhaps a little unbalanced across the strings). Body noise is also easily picked up, but having had a tinker with the instrument played through a mixer and adjusting some of the eq there, a lot of this can be eliminated. Let us just say that the pickup does it's job in a workmanlike fashion.
But my main gripe... that finish. Earlier in the review I pointed out how pretty the uke looks, and it really does - it is a real looker. But that finish is not the toughest by any means. After two playing sessions I noted that the gloss was wearing on the top. Not just being scratched, but worn through to the light coloured spruce underneath. Now gloss does two things for a ukulele. Firstly it adds some bling, but it also serves to protect the instrument, or at least it should. I am frankly staggered that after only a couple of sessions, the gloss has started to wear, leaving me wondering just how the ukulele will look after a year. If you are going to gloss your instrument at least make the gloss tough enough to not start to wear through after two days! And that is a real shame as one of the key selling points of this instrument will be it's looks. Barnes and Mullins - you need to think about protecting those!
But all in all, it is a good little ukulele with a nice voice for a nice price (considering the pickup is added to the spec). The looks are really decent, and if you are a player who doesn't mind battle scars being picked up then it's definitely worth a look. If you like your ukes to stay in museum condition, then perhaps look elsewhere!
PROS
Them looks
Nice voice
Good price
CONS
Heavy
That finish!
No strap button on jack socket
SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 6.5
Sound - 8
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL - 8
To understand my review scoring and see this result in context - visit my review page at
12 Feb 2013
12 Feb 2013T08:26
Birdie Song on Guitarlele
Now, let me get one thing straight.... I am not showing my support for the Birdie Song in this post (also, apparently known as the Chicken Dance!). That song stands as one of the most irritating memories of my youth at the school disco...
However, this is some wonderful picking on a guitarlele!
( DIRECT LINK )
Read More »
However, this is some wonderful picking on a guitarlele!
( DIRECT LINK )
10 Feb 2013
10 Feb 2013T13:50
Ukulele puts the fun in music (can't argue with that!)
----------------------------------
Ukulele now the number one selling instrument in Australia
----------------------------------
Ilkley Ukulele Group seeks new members.
----------------------------------
Revolution on four strings
----------------------------------
Nice feature on James Hill
----------------------------------
Ukebox hero ( yes, Jake, again...)
----------------------------------
Nice feature on Marcy Marxer
---------------------------------
Joe Brown talks ukulele
---------------------------------
Another news roundup next week!
Read More »
Ukulele News 10 February 2013
I didn't do a ukulele news spot this time last week, so this is a bit of a bumper one looking back over the last fortnight.
Ukulele puts the fun in music (can't argue with that!)
----------------------------------
Ukulele now the number one selling instrument in Australia
----------------------------------
Ilkley Ukulele Group seeks new members.
----------------------------------
Revolution on four strings
----------------------------------
Nice feature on James Hill
----------------------------------
Ukebox hero ( yes, Jake, again...)
----------------------------------
Nice feature on Marcy Marxer
---------------------------------
Joe Brown talks ukulele
---------------------------------
Another news roundup next week!
T11:51
It's pretty straightforward, but to get it right is all about the fast driving rhythm. See the video at the end of the words for something to play along to. I also see this a lot in Am, but it's in Dm. Works great with a low G and some hammering on and off the strings on the Dm to F change throughout. The chorus line is played with single sustaining strums.
INTRO [Dm] [F] x4
[Dm] Weep for yourself my man
You'll never be what is in your [F] heart
[Dm] Weep little lion man
You're not as brave as you were at the [F] start
[C] Rate yourself and rape yourself
[Bb] take all the courage you have [F] left
[C] Wasted on the fixing all the
[Bb] problems that you made in your own [F] head
CHORUS
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
[Dm] [F] x2
[Dm] Tremble for yourself my man
You know that you have seen this all [F] before
[Dm] Tremble little lion man
You'll never settle any of your [F] scores
[C] Your grace is wasted in your face
your [Bb] boldness stands alone among the [F] wreck
[C] Learn from your mother else
[Bb] spend the days biting your own [F] neck
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
Didn't I my [F] dear..
[Dm] [F]
[Dm] [F]
[C]/// [F]/// [Bb]/// [Bb]///
[C]/// [F]/// [Bb]/// [Bb]///
[C] Ahhh [F] Ahhh [Bb] ahhh (repeat to suit song)
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
Didn't I my [F] dear..
Repeat chorus with no chords.
Read More »
Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons - Ukulele Chords
Not personally much of a fan of Mumford and Sons, but this song does work very well on the ukulele. Little Lion Man.
It's pretty straightforward, but to get it right is all about the fast driving rhythm. See the video at the end of the words for something to play along to. I also see this a lot in Am, but it's in Dm. Works great with a low G and some hammering on and off the strings on the Dm to F change throughout. The chorus line is played with single sustaining strums.
INTRO [Dm] [F] x4
[Dm] Weep for yourself my man
You'll never be what is in your [F] heart
[Dm] Weep little lion man
You're not as brave as you were at the [F] start
[C] Rate yourself and rape yourself
[Bb] take all the courage you have [F] left
[C] Wasted on the fixing all the
[Bb] problems that you made in your own [F] head
CHORUS
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
[Dm] [F] x2
[Dm] Tremble for yourself my man
You know that you have seen this all [F] before
[Dm] Tremble little lion man
You'll never settle any of your [F] scores
[C] Your grace is wasted in your face
your [Bb] boldness stands alone among the [F] wreck
[C] Learn from your mother else
[Bb] spend the days biting your own [F] neck
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
Didn't I my [F] dear..
[Dm] [F]
[Dm] [F]
[C]/// [F]/// [Bb]/// [Bb]///
[C]/// [F]/// [Bb]/// [Bb]///
[C] Ahhh [F] Ahhh [Bb] ahhh (repeat to suit song)
But it was [Dm] not your [Bb] fault but [F] mine
And it was [Dm] your heart [Bb] on the [F] line
I really [Dm] fucked it [Bb] up this [F] time
Didn't I my [C] dear?
Didn't I my [F] dear..
Repeat chorus with no chords.
9 Feb 2013
9 Feb 2013T13:45
The chords below are an approximation. There is an E in that second section of each verse, but on the uke (to my ears) it doesn't work too well, so an Em will work I think. This is just the bare bones of the song of course - the real trick is in getting the twiddly bits and lead right!
INTRO [G] [Am] [C] x3
[G]Guess who just got [Bm] back today
[C] Them wild eyed boys [Em] that had been away [Bm]
Haven't changed, [Em] hadn't much to say
[Am7] But man I still think them [D7] cats are crazy
[G] They were asking if [Bm] you were around
[C] How you was where [Em] you could be found
[D] Told them you were living [Em] down town
[Am] driving all the old men [D7] crazy
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C]
[G] You know that chick that [Bm]used to dance a lot
[C] Every night she'd be on the [Em] floor shaking what [Bm] she got
Man when I tell you she was [Em] cool she was red hot
[Am7] I mean she was [D7] steaming
[G] And that time over at [Bm] Johnny's place
[C] Well this chick got up and [Em] she slapped Johnny's face
[D] Man, we just [Em] fell about the place
If that [Am] chick don't wanna know [D7] forget her
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C] riff
[G] Friday night, [Bm] dressed to kill
[C] down at Dino's [Em] bar and grill [Bm]
The drink will flow and the [Em] blood will spill
[Am7] And if the boys wanna fight you better [D7] let em
[G] The jukebox in the [Bm] corner blasting out my favourite [C] song
The nights are getting [Em] longer and it won't be long [Bm]
Won't be long till the [Em] summer comes
[Amy7] Now that the [D7] boys are here again
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C] riff
Read More »
The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy - Ukulele Chords
Been thinking of introducing this one to our set for a while. The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy
The chords below are an approximation. There is an E in that second section of each verse, but on the uke (to my ears) it doesn't work too well, so an Em will work I think. This is just the bare bones of the song of course - the real trick is in getting the twiddly bits and lead right!
INTRO [G] [Am] [C] x3
[G]Guess who just got [Bm] back today
[C] Them wild eyed boys [Em] that had been away [Bm]
Haven't changed, [Em] hadn't much to say
[Am7] But man I still think them [D7] cats are crazy
[G] They were asking if [Bm] you were around
[C] How you was where [Em] you could be found
[D] Told them you were living [Em] down town
[Am] driving all the old men [D7] crazy
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C]
[G] You know that chick that [Bm]used to dance a lot
[C] Every night she'd be on the [Em] floor shaking what [Bm] she got
Man when I tell you she was [Em] cool she was red hot
[Am7] I mean she was [D7] steaming
[G] And that time over at [Bm] Johnny's place
[C] Well this chick got up and [Em] she slapped Johnny's face
[D] Man, we just [Em] fell about the place
If that [Am] chick don't wanna know [D7] forget her
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C] riff
[G] Friday night, [Bm] dressed to kill
[C] down at Dino's [Em] bar and grill [Bm]
The drink will flow and the [Em] blood will spill
[Am7] And if the boys wanna fight you better [D7] let em
[G] The jukebox in the [Bm] corner blasting out my favourite [C] song
The nights are getting [Em] longer and it won't be long [Bm]
Won't be long till the [Em] summer comes
[Amy7] Now that the [D7] boys are here again
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back in town) [Am] [C]
I said the [G] boys are back in town [Am](boys are back in town [C]
The [G] boys are back in town (boys are back)
The [Am] boys are back in town [C] (boys are back)
[G] [Am] [C] riff
8 Feb 2013
8 Feb 2013T09:37
The festival looks to be an interesting affair, and we are playing on the afternoon of the 18 August.
For more details, tickets etc have a look at their website http://www.justsofestival.org.uk
See you there!
Read More »
N'Ukes take ukulele to the Just So Festival
We are quite looking forward to this one. The Nantwich N'Ukes are delighted to be taking their ukulele set to the Just So Festival at Rode Park, nr Alsager in Cheshire.
The festival looks to be an interesting affair, and we are playing on the afternoon of the 18 August.
For more details, tickets etc have a look at their website http://www.justsofestival.org.uk
See you there!
6 Feb 2013
6 Feb 2013T23:59
New Kala Resonator ukulele - featuring Jas AKA Captain Lovehandles
Well, am I loving this ukulele vid from Uke Republic...
Featuring Facebook friend Jas Ingram (AKA Captain Lovehandles ). Nice bit of slide ukulele!
( DIRECT LINK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFmcZgDX4Pk )
Read More »
Featuring Facebook friend Jas Ingram (AKA Captain Lovehandles ). Nice bit of slide ukulele!
( DIRECT LINK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFmcZgDX4Pk )
5 Feb 2013
5 Feb 2013T17:54
It's actually a pretty easy song to play, but it is all in the chords and the rhythm. A couple of elements you will want to take on board.
Before each verse there is a repeated pattern of A in to G. To get the feel of this right you need to be hammering on and off the the E string third fret when you play that chord. Have a listen to our sound cloud at the end (playing it far to fast and you should get the idea). But for beginners you can just play A and G.
The second element is the fast triple strum on the A at the end of the intro chord sequence of A, D, G, A , and in the repeat of that sequence before the final verse. It's basically a couple of very quick triple strums of the A chord, down up down. It's marked as A/// in the chord sheet below.
JUMPING JACK FLASH
Intro: A D G A, D G A, D G A.... A/// A///
A G x4
I was [A] born in a [G] crossfire hurricane [A] [G]
And I [A] howled at my [G] ma in the driving [A] rain [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
A G x 2
I was [A] raised by a [G] toothless bearded [A] hag [G]
I was [A] schooled with a [G] strap right across my [A] back [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
A D G A, D G A, D G A.... A/// A///
A G x 2
I was [A] drowned, I was [G] washed up and left for [A] dead [G]
I fell [A] down to my [G] feet and I saw they [A] bled [G]
Yeah and I [A] frowned at the [G] crumbs of a crust of [A] bread [G]
Oh yeah yeah
I was [A] crowned with a [G] spike right through my [A] head [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
A///
Read More »
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones - UKULELE CHORDS
Time to share another ukulele chord sheet for a tune we play in the Nantwich N'Ukes. Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones
It's actually a pretty easy song to play, but it is all in the chords and the rhythm. A couple of elements you will want to take on board.
Before each verse there is a repeated pattern of A in to G. To get the feel of this right you need to be hammering on and off the the E string third fret when you play that chord. Have a listen to our sound cloud at the end (playing it far to fast and you should get the idea). But for beginners you can just play A and G.
The second element is the fast triple strum on the A at the end of the intro chord sequence of A, D, G, A , and in the repeat of that sequence before the final verse. It's basically a couple of very quick triple strums of the A chord, down up down. It's marked as A/// in the chord sheet below.
JUMPING JACK FLASH
Intro: A D G A, D G A, D G A.... A/// A///
A G x4
I was [A] born in a [G] crossfire hurricane [A] [G]
And I [A] howled at my [G] ma in the driving [A] rain [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
A G x 2
I was [A] raised by a [G] toothless bearded [A] hag [G]
I was [A] schooled with a [G] strap right across my [A] back [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
A D G A, D G A, D G A.... A/// A///
A G x 2
I was [A] drowned, I was [G] washed up and left for [A] dead [G]
I fell [A] down to my [G] feet and I saw they [A] bled [G]
Yeah and I [A] frowned at the [G] crumbs of a crust of [A] bread [G]
Oh yeah yeah
I was [A] crowned with a [G] spike right through my [A] head [G]
But it's [C] all [G] right [D] now, in fact it's a [A] gas
But it's [C] all [G] right, I'm [D] Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a [A] gas, gas gas! A/// A///
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
[A] Jumping Jack Flash [G] it's a gas!
A///
4 Feb 2013
4 Feb 2013T22:34
Now before I get into the bones of the review I have an admission to make. When I had seen these ukes in stores I was not of the impression that they were going to be much good. Wrong of me to misjudge, of course, but was I right? When you read on you will see that I was very wrong! And keep in mind, these ukes retail for a shade over £150.
The EUC-5NS is a standard shaped concert ukulele, made in China, but with a striking difference to 99% of ukes on the market. Just where you expect to see a sound hole, you don't! It's up on the top left of the top of the instrument, and comes paired with a second sound hole on the side of the body that faces the player. It's a technique borrowed from their parent company Boulder Creeks guitar line. Gimmick or helpful feature? Read on!
The body is made from laminated mahogany and is stained a chocolate brown colour. It is very nicely finished all over with no drips or runs, but I think it would have been nicer to let the grain of the wood laminate show through a little more. That isn't to say the finish is overly thick, it isn't but to my eyes it looks a little flat and plain (it may be the lack of traditional sound hole I suppose - as it creates a LOT of wood to look at on the top).
The rosewood bridge is nicely shaped though on the bottom side and it holds what looks like a Tusq saddle (a synthetic bone material). There is nothing else on the top of the instrument at all except the small sound hole at the top left which is nicely edged with a white binding strip.
The sides of the instrument are in two pieces, with the side facing the top when played holding both the pickup controls and the second soundhole - again edged with white binding.
The pickup system is an under saddle variety and the controls are labelled as a Boulder Creek UK300T (which I think is a rebadged Belcat pickup). There are pickup controls for volume, tone and bass which is nice to see, and it also has an integral tuner with a full bypass which is a cool feature. At the press of a button, the uke mutes to the output and the tuner turns on. The whole thing runs on two cell batteries to save weight, but saying that it does look like quite a chunky unit.
The jack socket for the instrument is on the base, but just off centre meaning it comes with no strap button. I'd prefer it fitted in the middle with an integral button, but it's not a big issue as the uke has a tailblock so fitting a strap button is a simple and cheap affair.
The back is pretty plain looking and not arched, but as I said, finished very well.
That side soundhole is handy for letting you see what is going on inside the instrument, and I must say it all looks very tidy, with no glue spots and notched kerfling neatly applied. Some instruments with off centre sound holes are built that way to allow the luthier to use an alternative bracing system such as Kasha. That isn't employed on this uke, and it uses two traditional top braces, although one runs across the upper bout (under where a traditional sound hole would lie).
On to the neck, and the wood is not specified, but it may be mahogany. It's nicely finished also and made from three pieces with a joint at the heel and at the headstock. The fingerboard is rosewood with a nice bit of colour variation and stripe in it. We have 18 nickel frets with 14 to the body and they are all very nicely finished without a hint of a sharp edge. There are no fretboard markers to add to the minimalist look, but thankfully they have included side markers in white mother of pearl at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th frets. The nut appears to be Tusq also.
The headstock has an appealing look to my eyes, with a striking angular design I am quite taken with. Certainly nice to see somebody doing something a bit different to the standard three pointed crown that so many ukuleles sport. The Riptide logo is a transfer in silver, but is applied well and looks great.
Tuning is provided by sealed brandless geared tuners with nice looking amber buttons. I do think though that the buttons are too big for a ukulele and smaller ones would have looked far better. Still, they are smooth and work very well.
Completing the package, it comes strung with Aquila strings... what else?
So looks and finish wise I think it's very good indeed. No flaws at all and those sound holes, I think, look great. Setup too is extremely good and this arrived with action at the nut and saddle just how I like them so no adjustments needed. That leads to an accurate playing experience. One thing I would point out is the uke is a little on the heavy side, perhaps on account of that chunky pickup. That is not to say it's a pain to hold (it isn't, its nicely balanced too) but it just feels heavier to me than a concert normally would.
So, what about those sound holes? Gimmick? I don't think so. The first thing that struck me when I played this was how loud it is. That side sound hole does a fabulous job of projecting sound to the player. However, and importantly, none of the volume out front is sacrificed. This really does have a good clear sound that I am impressed with. And remember, this is a laminate ukulele. And what about the tone - well again, this surprised me too. This instrument has a tone that belies both its price and its construction - its clear, good separation between the strings when strummed and seems capable of both giving a bark when you want it to and delivering a sweet tone when plucked too. It's not a Hawaiian tone, sure - its a laminate £150 instrument, but I must say it has a voice that sounds far better to my ears than some ukes I have played costing MUCH more, solid wood ukes included. Not quite sure what is contributing to that, and perhaps it is the sound holes or the lack of a brace on the top on the lower bout, but whatever it is, it works.
I would be tempted to experiment with strings ( I am no fan of Aquilas) although being a laminate uke, Aquila strings may be helping getting the volume out of this. Can't be sure, but would be intriguing to try something else.
Plugged in things are pretty good also. It's a fairly cheap pickup that helps with the price of the instrument. As such, you are not getting LR Baggs or Fishman acoustic tone - it sounds more like an electric guitar, as many pickups in this price bracket do, but it is well fitted, the strings play in equal volume and is clear as a bell. It also needs little gain from the mixer or amp so is running quite hot on it's own which makes for an easy plugged in experience. The tuner is a nice addition, but be aware that it is more of a guide tuner to get you close due to the fact there is no needle. For complete accuracy I wouldn't ditch a good clip on tuner for this instrument, but it's a handy addition. As a first ukulele, that tuner will work just fine for most people.
So quite a package really and for a decent price too. The sound holes work, and also add to giving it a look you just don't see with other instruments. I have been impressed with the few weeks I have been playing it and would give it my recommendation. Funny how you can be wrong about things some times eh?
SCORES
Looks - 8.5
Fit and finish - 9
Sound - 9
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL - 8.8 out of 10
Read More »
Riptide EUC-5NS electro concert ukulele REVIEW
Time for another review of an ukulele sent to me by Riptide to take a look at. I have seen these ukes on shop listings but never had one in my hands before. So here we go with the Riptide EUC-5NS electro concert model.
Now before I get into the bones of the review I have an admission to make. When I had seen these ukes in stores I was not of the impression that they were going to be much good. Wrong of me to misjudge, of course, but was I right? When you read on you will see that I was very wrong! And keep in mind, these ukes retail for a shade over £150.
The EUC-5NS is a standard shaped concert ukulele, made in China, but with a striking difference to 99% of ukes on the market. Just where you expect to see a sound hole, you don't! It's up on the top left of the top of the instrument, and comes paired with a second sound hole on the side of the body that faces the player. It's a technique borrowed from their parent company Boulder Creeks guitar line. Gimmick or helpful feature? Read on!
The body is made from laminated mahogany and is stained a chocolate brown colour. It is very nicely finished all over with no drips or runs, but I think it would have been nicer to let the grain of the wood laminate show through a little more. That isn't to say the finish is overly thick, it isn't but to my eyes it looks a little flat and plain (it may be the lack of traditional sound hole I suppose - as it creates a LOT of wood to look at on the top).
The rosewood bridge is nicely shaped though on the bottom side and it holds what looks like a Tusq saddle (a synthetic bone material). There is nothing else on the top of the instrument at all except the small sound hole at the top left which is nicely edged with a white binding strip.
The sides of the instrument are in two pieces, with the side facing the top when played holding both the pickup controls and the second soundhole - again edged with white binding.
The pickup system is an under saddle variety and the controls are labelled as a Boulder Creek UK300T (which I think is a rebadged Belcat pickup). There are pickup controls for volume, tone and bass which is nice to see, and it also has an integral tuner with a full bypass which is a cool feature. At the press of a button, the uke mutes to the output and the tuner turns on. The whole thing runs on two cell batteries to save weight, but saying that it does look like quite a chunky unit.
The jack socket for the instrument is on the base, but just off centre meaning it comes with no strap button. I'd prefer it fitted in the middle with an integral button, but it's not a big issue as the uke has a tailblock so fitting a strap button is a simple and cheap affair.
The back is pretty plain looking and not arched, but as I said, finished very well.
That side soundhole is handy for letting you see what is going on inside the instrument, and I must say it all looks very tidy, with no glue spots and notched kerfling neatly applied. Some instruments with off centre sound holes are built that way to allow the luthier to use an alternative bracing system such as Kasha. That isn't employed on this uke, and it uses two traditional top braces, although one runs across the upper bout (under where a traditional sound hole would lie).
On to the neck, and the wood is not specified, but it may be mahogany. It's nicely finished also and made from three pieces with a joint at the heel and at the headstock. The fingerboard is rosewood with a nice bit of colour variation and stripe in it. We have 18 nickel frets with 14 to the body and they are all very nicely finished without a hint of a sharp edge. There are no fretboard markers to add to the minimalist look, but thankfully they have included side markers in white mother of pearl at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th frets. The nut appears to be Tusq also.
The headstock has an appealing look to my eyes, with a striking angular design I am quite taken with. Certainly nice to see somebody doing something a bit different to the standard three pointed crown that so many ukuleles sport. The Riptide logo is a transfer in silver, but is applied well and looks great.
Tuning is provided by sealed brandless geared tuners with nice looking amber buttons. I do think though that the buttons are too big for a ukulele and smaller ones would have looked far better. Still, they are smooth and work very well.
Completing the package, it comes strung with Aquila strings... what else?
So looks and finish wise I think it's very good indeed. No flaws at all and those sound holes, I think, look great. Setup too is extremely good and this arrived with action at the nut and saddle just how I like them so no adjustments needed. That leads to an accurate playing experience. One thing I would point out is the uke is a little on the heavy side, perhaps on account of that chunky pickup. That is not to say it's a pain to hold (it isn't, its nicely balanced too) but it just feels heavier to me than a concert normally would.
So, what about those sound holes? Gimmick? I don't think so. The first thing that struck me when I played this was how loud it is. That side sound hole does a fabulous job of projecting sound to the player. However, and importantly, none of the volume out front is sacrificed. This really does have a good clear sound that I am impressed with. And remember, this is a laminate ukulele. And what about the tone - well again, this surprised me too. This instrument has a tone that belies both its price and its construction - its clear, good separation between the strings when strummed and seems capable of both giving a bark when you want it to and delivering a sweet tone when plucked too. It's not a Hawaiian tone, sure - its a laminate £150 instrument, but I must say it has a voice that sounds far better to my ears than some ukes I have played costing MUCH more, solid wood ukes included. Not quite sure what is contributing to that, and perhaps it is the sound holes or the lack of a brace on the top on the lower bout, but whatever it is, it works.
I would be tempted to experiment with strings ( I am no fan of Aquilas) although being a laminate uke, Aquila strings may be helping getting the volume out of this. Can't be sure, but would be intriguing to try something else.
Plugged in things are pretty good also. It's a fairly cheap pickup that helps with the price of the instrument. As such, you are not getting LR Baggs or Fishman acoustic tone - it sounds more like an electric guitar, as many pickups in this price bracket do, but it is well fitted, the strings play in equal volume and is clear as a bell. It also needs little gain from the mixer or amp so is running quite hot on it's own which makes for an easy plugged in experience. The tuner is a nice addition, but be aware that it is more of a guide tuner to get you close due to the fact there is no needle. For complete accuracy I wouldn't ditch a good clip on tuner for this instrument, but it's a handy addition. As a first ukulele, that tuner will work just fine for most people.
So quite a package really and for a decent price too. The sound holes work, and also add to giving it a look you just don't see with other instruments. I have been impressed with the few weeks I have been playing it and would give it my recommendation. Funny how you can be wrong about things some times eh?
SCORES
Looks - 8.5
Fit and finish - 9
Sound - 9
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL - 8.8 out of 10
To understand my review scoring and see this result in context - visit my review page at
2 Feb 2013
2 Feb 2013T13:33
The Pub Prop is a pocket sized device that provides a place to hold a ukulele safely pretty much where ever you are without using a bulky stand. The word Pub in the title is a clue for where it is really designed to be used, but it works pretty much wherever there is a table or a rail. The intention is solve those issues when playing a crowded room where you need to take a break or switch instruments leaving you with a choice of putting the instrument on the table top with the beer spills or leaning against something. I've been in the latter situation with a guitar and had a friendly guest of the hostelry knock the instrument right over and ding it.
The Pub Prop arrives in a draw string carry bag with some simple instructions. It comes in two halves that you slot together - the first being a G Clamp, and the second being a mount that you insert the clamp in to. When set up it allows you to clip it to a pub table (or any table for that matter) firmly by tightening the clamp, and that leaves the clever bit hanging off the side.
The holding mechanism is a simple affair, shaped like the cross section of an instruments neck with a safety bar across the front that you unclip to put the neck of the uke in, and then clip back on to secure it. The instrument then hangs freely from the headstock. Clever.
It also can be put together in a different configuration to allow you to hang the prop off a horizontal rail on a wall which is handy. It also comes with some size adapters (one of which you need to use for ukuleles) to narrow or change the shape of the holder. Without the adapter it is designed for holding a guitar, and with the adapters you can hang a ukulele, mandolin, or violin. The guitar use intrigues me as on most pub tables I would expect them not to be tall enough to 'hang' a guitar, and presume it is intended to hold the neck of the guitar whilst the base is on the floor. With a uke though, even a tenor, it should hang freely.
It's all made very well - the G Clamp itself is metal in construction covered with a rubberised material for protection of both the instrument and the table top. The piece that holds the ukulele is made of tough rubber meaning it is slightly flexible, and that allows the bracket to open to put the instrument in place.
So how does it work? Well, it's so simple that naturally it works extremely well and is a clever idea for a more safe place to put your ukulele between songs or instrument changes. A couple of provisos though. Something like this (rather like any stand) is only part of the process keeping an instrument secure. In the same way as an instrument on a stand can easily be knocked off, if somebody is determined to smash into the instrument while it is hanging, it is still likely to get damaged. But it certainly is a whole lot better than leaving it on a table top or, worse, leaning against the pub or bar wall. There are also going to be some instruments that wont work, such as the RISA Uke Solid but that is nit picking.
All in all, a clever item that is small enough to go in the gig bag and could avoid tears on jam nights. In the UK you can find it at the Southern Ukulele Store amongst other places for just under £10. Bargain! Also available on Amazon here via Omega Music.
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The Pub Prop - REVIEW
This was a nice little gift from the missus this Christmas - the Pub Prop ukulele / instrument holder.
The Pub Prop is a pocket sized device that provides a place to hold a ukulele safely pretty much where ever you are without using a bulky stand. The word Pub in the title is a clue for where it is really designed to be used, but it works pretty much wherever there is a table or a rail. The intention is solve those issues when playing a crowded room where you need to take a break or switch instruments leaving you with a choice of putting the instrument on the table top with the beer spills or leaning against something. I've been in the latter situation with a guitar and had a friendly guest of the hostelry knock the instrument right over and ding it.
The Pub Prop arrives in a draw string carry bag with some simple instructions. It comes in two halves that you slot together - the first being a G Clamp, and the second being a mount that you insert the clamp in to. When set up it allows you to clip it to a pub table (or any table for that matter) firmly by tightening the clamp, and that leaves the clever bit hanging off the side.
The holding mechanism is a simple affair, shaped like the cross section of an instruments neck with a safety bar across the front that you unclip to put the neck of the uke in, and then clip back on to secure it. The instrument then hangs freely from the headstock. Clever.
It also can be put together in a different configuration to allow you to hang the prop off a horizontal rail on a wall which is handy. It also comes with some size adapters (one of which you need to use for ukuleles) to narrow or change the shape of the holder. Without the adapter it is designed for holding a guitar, and with the adapters you can hang a ukulele, mandolin, or violin. The guitar use intrigues me as on most pub tables I would expect them not to be tall enough to 'hang' a guitar, and presume it is intended to hold the neck of the guitar whilst the base is on the floor. With a uke though, even a tenor, it should hang freely.
It's all made very well - the G Clamp itself is metal in construction covered with a rubberised material for protection of both the instrument and the table top. The piece that holds the ukulele is made of tough rubber meaning it is slightly flexible, and that allows the bracket to open to put the instrument in place.
So how does it work? Well, it's so simple that naturally it works extremely well and is a clever idea for a more safe place to put your ukulele between songs or instrument changes. A couple of provisos though. Something like this (rather like any stand) is only part of the process keeping an instrument secure. In the same way as an instrument on a stand can easily be knocked off, if somebody is determined to smash into the instrument while it is hanging, it is still likely to get damaged. But it certainly is a whole lot better than leaving it on a table top or, worse, leaning against the pub or bar wall. There are also going to be some instruments that wont work, such as the RISA Uke Solid but that is nit picking.
All in all, a clever item that is small enough to go in the gig bag and could avoid tears on jam nights. In the UK you can find it at the Southern Ukulele Store amongst other places for just under £10. Bargain! Also available on Amazon here via Omega Music.
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