Little Hokum Rag

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

National Kazoo Day

Here's a little ditty featuring kazoos in honor of National Kazoo Day. We recorded this in 1995. Our little band, the Hokum Scorchers used to play it at festivals such as Northwest Folklife-

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Presenting Tickler # 3: "Twitch" Concert Ukulele designed by Amy Crehore, built by Lou Reimuller

You will find more information at the bottom of the photo stream and some links.

(Click on image above to enlarge)

Presenting the Tickler #3- A Concert Ukulele, “Twitch” by Amy Crehore (instrument designer, painter, illustrator) and Lou Reimuller (luthier, sculptor, musician and creator of Teenar): a uniquely designed and painted concert ukulele by artist Amy Crehore, lovingly hand-built to Amy's design with great attention to detail by luthier Lou Reimuller.

Featuring:

1. Honduras mahogany sides with a beautiful, figured mahogany back

2. Carbon fiber reinforced mahogany neck with ebony center stripe on back

3. Maple top hand-painted with original painting by artist Amy Crehore

4. Hand-carved ebony bridge (Amy’s unique scroll design, sculpted by Lou Reimuller), bone saddle, ebony bridge pins with pearl dots

5. Bound catwood (a.k.a. ziracote wood) fingerboard

6. Bindings and back stripe made of boltaron, wood veneer, and fiber

7. Tiny hand-carved bow tie on headstock sculpted by Lou Reimuller, endgraft inlay, heel cap, top inlay- all are made of stabilized green dyed figured maple

8. Amy’s uniquely designed headstock is enhanced by an original painting. Painted areas are varnished with polyurethane (hard, abrasion-resistant finish).

9. “Peghed” brand geared tuners

10. French polished back, sides and neck

11. Interior braces made of Adirondack spruce

12. Ebony nut

13. Bound oval sound hole, Tickler Ukulele label inside

14. Amazingly beautiful harp-like tone

15. Most of the wood has been aged for over 30 years

16. Dimensions: total length 23 ½”, scale length 15”, side depth 2 1/2” -2 7/8” , upper bout across 6 ¼”, lower bout 8”, body length 11 1/8”, waist 5” (Large and deep body)

Twitch was the name of a cat who inspired this one-of-a-kind fine art ukulele. Here's the link to process photos of this ukulele being made. And, here's the link to the only other ukulele that I designed from scratch, a pineapple soprano (Tickler #2, 2009, sold). Huge thanks go to Lou Reimuller (luthier) for his incredible craftsmanship and dedicated, hard work on both of these rare and special instruments. Note: the concert size is larger than a soprano.

Inquire: amy@amycrehore.com
The Art of Amy Crehore

Thanks for posting about this ukulele, BOINGBOING- link boingboing
And there is a new interview with me about this uke on Architects and Artisans
and Huff Post