Monday, January 18, 2010

strap or no strap? I prefer to play the tenor uke with a strap. I can play without one but do not get the same kind of control over chording that I do with one. So try using a a strap-preferably something wild and crazy!

Friday, January 15, 2010

I should let you know about the instruments I'm currently playing.

My uke is a 2008 Halekoa(made in Hawaii)solid Koa Limited Edition TU 2CK Tenor w/Markley passive pickup. You can see a photo on my banner. I use a Fishman Platinum EQ/DI which gives me "plug and play" pretty much wherever we perform. A wonderful sounding ukulele given to me by my Paraclete band mate Amy Kim. I am going to change out the gears to a set of micro planetary geared set as I don't care for the friction gears currently on it. I use Aquila strings at present but I have no problem with D'Addario sets or GHS. I DO NOT use a pick. Ukulele, as far as I'm concerned, should be played with your fingers.

My acoustic is a Larrivee C-10 w/custom inlay by Wendy Larrivee circa 1986. Headstock pic on banner. I owned a music store at one time and I picked this guitar up when we first took on the line. Larrivee guitars are the most overlooked acoustics on the planet. I have an L.R. Baggs Element active pickup installed under the saddle. The Element is, in my opnion, one of the finest pickups out there. Having owned a music store I've tried most out there. BTW, the Baggs Para DI is a great preamp as well! I've been using the Ernie Ball Coated Titanium Tech. strings 12-54. I will use D'Addario,Cleartone or GHS. I do not now nor have I ever cared for Elixer.

For the Swing Connection- http://www.swingconnection.org/ -I play a 2000 Guild Johnny Smith Artist Award. I do not deserve this guitar. It is a masterpiece. But it was offered to me at an incredible price from the Guild rep and I could not pass it up(G.earA.qusitionS.yndrome)GAS. I had a Gibson ES something-or-other that I was not that thrilled with so I moved it along on eBay to a fellow in Germany. Managed to scrounge the other funds and she was MINE! Hand signed by Bob Benedetto. I use Thomastik Jazz BeBop BB 113 strings. I play this guitar thru a Hendricksen jazz amp.

My electric solid body is a guitar I put together. I used a Warmoth swamp ash body with a Saga neck. I have a Fender noiseless single coil pickup set installed and Sperzel locking gears. String it up with D'Addario XL 110s. I use this with my Johnson Marquis 50 guitar amp. Between guitar and amp I use a Dunlop Wah and a Demeter opticomp.

I have a number or other instruments but they get limited use and primarily in my studio.
And BTW, I also teach guitar. Styles include acoustic strumming, fingerpicking and a combination. Electric rhythm and lead in rock,blues,pop and jazz.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The ukulele is a wonderful instrument! It's fairly easy to make music on in a fairly short period of time. Of course if you want to progress and get beyond the basics you will have to spend time. But anything worth doing well takes time.

I like it best as an instrument to accompany vocals. Strumming and singing away your favorite tunes suits it well. Still, it sounds great on it's own-http://www.jimiteachuke.com .

I play in a duo with Amy Kim called Paraclete. We've been working on some recordings that I will post up in the near future.

So long for now...