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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
 Posted - 10/10/2006 : 07:51:26 AM
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Mea ho omaka and Claudia,
Could you please let us know how this turns out? The situation has been rather unusual, and we like to know the answers to mysteries.
...Reid |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2006 : 09:13:43 AM
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Thanks Mea ho omaka (and Claudia)...
...for the reference to the Ukulele Cabaret.
Nice site, and you have a lovely voice Claudia.
It is a pity that all these folks are playing a Hawaiian instrument, but I could not find any Hawaiian songs or tunes on the site. The closest thing I found was a rendition of John Prine's "Talk Dirty in Hawaiian", which is a funny song he wrote after his first trip out.
It would be good idea to show up and play some real mele, e Claudia!
Smaller guitars with shorter scale lengths do make sense these days.
The original reason for the large body guitars was to increase acoustic volume (loudness), especially in the lower registers. Now that most everyone plays amplified in peformance (with a mic or plugged in), the absolute loudness of the instrument is not so important. Take, for instance the Hui Aloha CD from Dancing Cat, where the famous Dennis Kamakahi mostly plays a baby Taylor. Sounds fine on the recording!
I mostly play Dreadnaughts, but I am looking at buying one of those new shorter scale but "standard size" Taylors, because my hands get tired quickly on these big guitars. (even though I have big hands)
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 10/10/2006 11:04:12 AM |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2006 : 10:01:02 AM
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A smaller guitar is always a good choice these days, although our main guitars (including our absolute fave) are all 15" lower bout OM sized (even if not actually OMs).
We have 2 0 sized guitars, one 14 frets and the other 12 frets to the body, the latter with a short scale. And we have a 00 sized 14 fretter, too. They give up very little in sound volume to most of the OM sized guitars, because they have other attributes that contribute to the sound - like a surprising amount of air/body volume (remember, Martin squished the upper bouts to help get the 2 free frets, and the 0 body is long) and the bridge is in the "sweet spot" in the middle of the lower bout on the 12 fretter. Again, Martin and their imitators moved the bridge up toward the sound hole to help get the free frets. The tone on these guitars is swell, too, and the fretting with the shorter scale is quite nice on the aging hands and fingers. Plus the fretboard is moved closer to the front of my face and my failing eyes (and failing cervical vertebrae) so I don't have to twist my neck so much.
For Sarah, the sweet young thing, it doesn't matter much, physically, which she plays. But we got rid of our very nice Dread years ago. Totally unmanageable for both of us.
...Reid |
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Claudia
Lokahi
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2006 : 4:10:40 PM
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Mahalo, Lawrence for your sweet compliment! Glad you enjoyed the Ukulele Cabaret site. I indeed have done a couple of Hawaiian songs at the Cabaret, but the producer has scores of clips and cannot put them all up. I'll make a special request at the next show....
Returning to the "junior" guitar thread - I am 5'1" and have tiny hands and yet I am happy with my dread and OM guitars. In an insecure moment, I did buy a short-scale 000 Martin, but really, with lots of practice, my hands are finally making the stretches I want at this stage in my slack key playing and I don't "need" the short scale nearly as much I thought I would. I actually play the dread the most! So I haven't been drawn to the junior size. |
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Menpachi Man
Lokahi
274 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2006 : 4:54:57 PM
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Claudia:
Just watched the videos on Ukulele Cabaret. You have a pretty voice indeed! I also enjoyed Amy Gordon's broadway style of entertainment and her excellent ukulele techniques. It was pretty entertaining. I also liked Paul Hilder's music.
Mahalo's for introducing me to that site!
Glenn |
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Claudia
Lokahi
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2006 : 03:30:34 AM
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Mahalo, Menpachi Man!
Yes, I agree that the Paul Hilder clip on Ukulele Cabaret is very good. Paul is a charming British fellow who plays a mean blues ukulele and he won First Place in the Open Mic Competition at the New York Ukulele Fest last spring. His prize was a beautiful KoAloha ukulele! |
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Ginny
Aloha
43 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2006 : 6:11:27 PM
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Hi Claudia sorry to take a moon to post back. I can work long hours some times. I sure would like to meet up with you but after I learn a little. I know nothing, zip, -zip as a matter of fact LOL. I have just been so busy. Thank you for the very kind offer will absolutely take you up on it when I know some of the basics.
I think I have heard you sing at the Hawaii cultural foundation picnic in central park, you do have an incredible voice. And it was such a treat to hear Hawaiian language songs in central park. I actually asked a few people if your group performed locally.
How is everyone else getting audio on that site? I tried to get audio on two different computers, no luck. I will come back at yah Claudia thanks again.
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