U-Bass

The U-Bass has always been a funny concept to me. For an acoustic bass it doesn't carry the volume that I hoped though it was nice and portable like an ukulele. The feel is so so but has a pretty decent tone when plugged in. So. . . . why not just make it solid!

So here is the solid body U-Bass. With a groovy look and decent weight for the portability, the Solid U-Bass is a excellent addition to the arsenal. It passes airline restrictions for a carry on and once it is plugged you get that sweet fret-less bass the original U-Bass has. I've so far seen black and red which I feel fits the the asymmetrical look with the cuts looking like spikes. A little pricey but if your looking for something new to whack at I would give it a whirl!

Order from mahalo@pua2.com from Ukulele PuaPua

The Daylight Effect

Since we are doing a show next month at the Sandbox down in Waikiki, I felt compelled to take a couple of shots of what this outrageous joint looks like in the day time. This hardcore venue which holds the Once A Month Punk shows is dormant in the day with a quiet reserve that is almost deceptive until you get close up and look in the windows. You see everything pushed up to the walls with a light tint of discoloration on the glass. Neon signs with drink specials say it's a bar without really describing it's clientele. The regular foot traffic seems weak. Even the side ally is emptied of the usual crowd looking for a breath of fresh air. I can't help but feel that these diurnal people have no idea the pulse that flows in it's veins once the sun goes down and the music starts pumping. So if your feeling like seeing this sleeping monster alive, come down on Saturday July 9th for the Sex Puppets live. We'll make sure to keep the crowd living and to nip this giant in the ass. You might see a little of yourself there and potentially see a little bit of your monster come out as well.

Roots

I can feel a couple of meanings from this beyond the medicinal statement. It is as if a tree is between two worlds with no branches or leaves. Just roots fanned out on both surfaces of the same two worlds.

Funny imagery

The Eleuke!

I've tried a couple of solid body ukuleles before and have been completely turned off by them. Usual bad tone, uncomfortably heavy, and not too much of a practical element to it. I mean if you got a ukulele with great tone then just mic it or get a pick up installed. How could a solid body ukulele ever match one with both electric and acoustic elements?
The Eleuke changed my mind. Though I would still recommend using a strap for the weight, it has a couple of real neat elements to it. To start it has a nice feel. It's usually fitted with a cut-away which is nice since it makes a great lead instrument. With Aquila strings it has a nice solid semi-bright tone. So far I have tried just a basic overdrive with the Eleuke and it sounds pretty sweet. It eliminates a lot of the feedback problems you'd get with just an acoustic pick up. Also the designs are sick! To the left are two of the more common designs (One of the concerts has some Koa too!)
The icing on the cake is the mp3 feature. For those of us who have want to practice without disturbing anyone, whether it be at home late at night, on the bus, or even in a room full of people, the Eleuke has three jacks. One is for you quarter inch cable and two are eighth inch jacks for your headphones and your Mp3 player! Since it's powered with a 9volt, you can plug your headphones directly into the ukulele and jam away with minimal sound. And for those of us who like to practice with the music, you can put the current song you are working on on your mp3 player and hook it straight into the ukulele. That way coming out of your headphones is: 1: Whatever your are playing and 2: Whatever your mp3 is playing as well!
So if you are interested in a solid body ukulele, I think Eleuke makes a couple of great models (not to mention they are cheap!). Of course your best bet is to plug it in and get a feel for it. You can order them by sending an email to .

Art at PuaPua

Local artist have a tough time surviving and making a living anywhere. Waikiki is no exception with the cost of living higher than most pays. Though some artist find a way to work within the system and promote their craft. Eli Larkin has had is art posted up in various art galleries in Waikiki but now finds a place to sit at Ukulele PuaPua. At the Moana Surfrider, Eli has his art on display as well as some from his brothers who also paint. With an animated flair, he has a variety of classic island images such as Diamond Head, turtles, and surfers as well as a small section of the wall dedicated to some notorious pirate images. Giving a lot of life and character to PuaPua, Eli also does custom paint jobs on some of the ukulele per customers request. With easel and palette always set up, he comes and goes between his painting and hitting up the skate park to refresh. So come down to PuaPua to check out the latest and maybe even get a chance to see Eli at work!