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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
 Posted - 06/15/2007 : 7:05:24 PM
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I want to publicly thank my luthier friend, Dennis Lake, for helping me create an instrument like no other.
It is an acoustic Hawaiian lap steel, which he helped me build. The body is based on a Martin baritone ukulele, with a 20" scale length.
Dennis has the patience of Job, and the wisdom that comes with a lifetime's experience of making musical instruments. It is rock solid, yet sings like a bird.
I am using a John Pierce 7300 string set tuned to Taro Patch open G. The pickup is a jazz humbucker made by Lindy Fralin. This little beauty puts out more bass than my Superior Weisenborn-ish guitar.
Those of you who see him --------->
at Aloha Camp, should be aware that his mild manor and amiable appearance belie a mind like a fox, and a rapier like wit.
Mahalo, Dennis!
-Konabob
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Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
Edited by - Konabob on 06/15/2007 8:36:07 PM |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2007 : 04:30:21 AM
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Gorgeous, Konabob. Also, it is a unique genius idea. Lucky guy you are (although I have a neat one of my one in another style).
So that is what Dennis has been working on all this time. Maybe after Camp, he'll have some time to work on my order.
Good Going.
...Reid |
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RobO
Akahai
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2007 : 04:40:16 AM
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| Wow! Beautiful instrument and great idea. |
a hui hou... Rob
"Lawe i ka ma'alea a ku'ono'ono"
Translation: Acquire skill and make it deep |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2007 : 6:58:28 PM
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Aloha! Sue and I are at Hale o Lake even as I enter this. I won't repeat what comments Dennis had on the discussion here :D
One of the best things of hanging around Po Mahina is to see all the things Dennis and Nancy are working on. There's so much talent down here in Na'alehu.
aloha,
Keith
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2007 : 8:33:11 PM
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AHA!
That's why my Mango! Mango! Ukulele is on the back burner!!!
I knew it. That Dennis, just so popular that you have to stand in line to get anything built. Hrmph
Julie
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2007 : 10:58:24 AM
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| http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/ That is one beautiful instrument. if you go this link: you will hear that steel I think. I do know that if you click on the song Waikiki you will definitely hear Art Akina. One of my musical partners. We played together before I moved to Washington and he moved to Kona. Our act was just coming together when life took one of its myriad unexpected turns. Someday we will put out a recording so that our grandchildren will have an idea of who we were. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2007 : 4:57:03 PM
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Half the job is tools, half the job is practice.
So happy for you! Now, PRACTICE! Congrats! |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2008 : 07:15:03 AM
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julie, now that you have your Mango!Mango!, post a photo of it!
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2008 : 08:50:06 AM
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| Gorgeous...I love Dennis' work. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2008 : 7:49:05 PM
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Hi Keith,
I loved getting to meet my Mango!Mango! and playing it at Aloha Music Camp. It sounded and looked just wonderful! But I asked Dennis to mail it to me because I already had too many items to take with me on the plane. (Older Po Mahina tenor uke, vintage Rickenbacher Silver Hawaiian.) So as soon as it arrives in California, I will take photos of it and post it. However, since we plan on trying to get a copyright on it, so Dennis can make and market them, this may take a little while.
For those of you curious about Mango! Mango!, it is a mango shaped uke made out of mango wood...
We should all be so lucky to have a fantastic luthier as a friend!
Julie |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 03:26:05 AM
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... not only is it a mango `ukulele shaped like a mango, it has a wonderful tone and is LOUD! it's one of a kind...
dennis may not be fast, but his instruments are always worth the wait. his wife nancy claims that she can always tell when dennis is thinking about bracing because he thinks in the shower - long showers implies new bracing. my guess is that the water supplies of na`alehu dropped significantly during the design phase of the Mango! Mango!
aloha,
keith
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 7:45:22 PM
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"WELL, YOU KNOW..."
(I quote one of Dennis's famous favorite intro of a new interesting subject)
I understand that the bracing of the Mango!Mango! caused some problems. I hear that just when it was finished, Dennis added strings and the poor thing just collapsed. The uke, not the maker. Which explains those looong showers, as not only was he rethinking the bracing, he was also hot under the collar.
It was a long wait but I'm thrilled with the result.
Aloha, Julie |
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