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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
 Posted - 10/09/2010 : 08:52:49 AM
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I think Daniel Ho, among others, has been known to mess around with something similar.
The Tacoma Papoose is a similar instrument: a small, short scale guitar tuned up a fourth. Much more guitar-like, longer scale and guitar sized neck. It's got steel strings, which is cool. Big fun to play---particularly for Bossa cuz it kind of covers the cavaquinho parts--but sadly no longer made. Nice voice for slack key, too.
I've got a little nylon stringed travel guitar made by an ukulele maker that is the size of a baritone uke and tuned up a minor third from a guitar. It sounds great on slack key--it's all over one of my CDs.
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2010 : 09:41:19 AM
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I have a custom KoAloha D-VI
http://www.koalohaukulele.com/products/custom-works/daniel-ho-custom-d-vi/
(modeled after Daniel Ho's first specifications to Paul Okami. here are a few "under-construction" pictures. I found a nice piece of koa and sent it to Paul.
 
I play it often at home and have performed with it at our weekly SCSKS Open Mike and at our weekly ukulele kanikapila. There are major differences between the guitar and this six string tenor ukulele. The string (or note) sustain is very different than a steel string guitar. The tonal register is five half-steps (five frets) higher than the guitar.
However, I have found that it gives me another instrument to paint a "tonal pallette". Songs that are too hard for me to play and sing with the guitar as accompinment (say with Drop C tuning) now become a "Drop F" tuning on my D-VI which is a much more comfortable key to sing along in.
Since the sustain is different, I have to add more "filler notes" or hammer-ons, slides, or change the bass pattern to bring out more of the instrument's strengths and minimize its weaknesses in comparison to the steel string guitar.
Also, what I find as comfortable fingering above the 10th-fret on my guitar just becomes too cramped for me to play on the tenor ukulele.
What that means is the exact note-for-note tablature which sounds terrific on the steel string guitar can sound "a little empty" on the D-VI. I am forced to adapt and improvise -- not always a bad thing.
It has forced me to learn more about (as Peter Medeiros taught me) "Scordatura" -- or the relationships between/among tunings and similar stringed instruments.
Lastly, I have received several very nice comments after I play (sometimes well) so I am happy with my instrument - besides, it fits in the airline overhead better than a guitar.
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E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2010 : 09:50:12 AM
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-btw-
A very special "MAHALO" to Mark as it was he who was my first formal slack key teacher. Dusty (wdf), Shiela, and I attended a slack key workshop you held at Giacoletti's Music store in Carlsbad, CA many-many-many moons ago. I still have the notes and use your books and tablature to improve. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2010 : 11:52:37 AM
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hwnslacker has one ..... |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2010 : 05:33:42 AM
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Used to have one all koa Papoose - but in a moment of weakness he passed it along to me. And I loaned it to Ledward. This was the result:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGNHdKp_No
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2010 : 06:26:36 AM
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Aloha,
It sure is a pleasure to hear Uncle Ledward play slack key on virtually any stringed instrument. Someday someone with challenge him with improbable assortment of violins, cellos, double basses, and sitars. If we are lucky Fran will have his video camera handy.
Favilla made an instrument called a Model C3 Dulcet Guitarette that is similar to, if not identical to, the guitarlele. A picture is about two thirds of the way down this page:
http://www.catfish1952.com/favilla.html
There is also a Kanile'a guitarlele for sale at:
http://www.fleamarketmusic.com/marketplace/default.asp
Keep on pluckin.
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 8:03:00 PM
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I build one I call the Guitulele. I never figured out how to post pictures, but will send some to Andy.
Mine has a hollow neck weird sound hole configuration, side port, K&K electronics, 20" scale, cutaway gives access to 22 frets. I usually put extra light strings on them and tune them up to the fifth fret of a guitar, but some folks put heavies on and tune to standard pitch.
Just now recovering from shoulder replacement surgery (left) so I cannot rotate my arm out far enough to play a regular size instrument; doesn't matter, really, since the Guitulele has been my go-to instrument since I made the first one 2 years ago.
Thumbstruck played mine last spring when i was in Seattle looking for a surgeon.
From left; original Guitulele (all walnut), second generation Guitulele (maple, spruce top), second generation Medusa (myrtle, walnut, spruce), Weissenborn #2 (walnut) and a jumbo Taylor for size reference.
Side view showing side ports and neck thickness. Original Guitulele was made for a specific old case someone gave me, so it is thin in profile. Second generation is 3.25 inches deep, and a slightly larger body to fit a baritone uke case snugly. |
Karl
Frozen North |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2183 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2010 : 03:53:37 AM
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| What a fun instrument to play! Karl, you did a great job! Good to see innovations and new ideas. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 11:36:25 PM
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| Karl's photos have been posted above. Nice work, Karl! Hope that your shoulder is feeling better. |
Andy |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
538 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 09:03:56 AM
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| I just posted a clasified for a KoAloha kpa D-VI that I am sellling for a friend who moved out of the country. $800, excleent shape, located in Boise. |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 11:56:04 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fran Guidry
Used to have one all koa Papoose - but in a moment of weakness he passed it along to me. And I loaned it to Ledward. This was the result:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGNHdKp_No
Fran
Here is another result. Same guitar, different song, same virtuoso.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB_PWqXrdIg |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 12:33:59 PM
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| that was lovely :) |
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Topic |
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Guitarlele
