Just made my first eBay purchase. From a seller in Melbourne, Australia, no less.
And I don't even know how to play the ukelele. I only recently figured out how to spell the damn word. Guess I'll be learning how.
In context, it beats the time I tried to learn the bagpipes. I was enjoying it, up until my wife had what could best be described as an intervention. I was still in the chanter part of learning. I hadn't advanced to full bag and pipe. Probably saved the marriage.
So there were no American ukelelies (not sure if that's the plural or not) you could find?
Posted by: Sarah at April 27, 2004 10:43 AMThe uke is a blast to play. It's also fun -- and a little ridiculous -- to smash it Pete Townshend-style.
I've done both.
Posted by: Lancaster at April 27, 2004 12:27 PMI just flashed on Tiptoe Through The Tulips. You need to send pictures, hon. Heh.
As for the bagpipes? I've found that most either love 'em or hate 'em. No inbetween. Fortunately for me, I love 'em. Since hubby plays 'em n' all.
Love,
M
It's actually spelled "ukulele," which was introduced to Hawaii by the Portuguese, and which translates into "jumping flea," a term used by the Hawaiians to describe the speed with which the Portuguese immigrants' fingers moved on the fretboard. In Hawaii, I saw handmade beauties, but they carried a price tag in excess of $1,000.
There is a bit of interesting history here:
http://www.geocities.com/~ukulele/history.html
Good luck with it. Be careful though, because if playing the ukulele really gets on your spouse's nerves, it is much easier for her to smack you over the head with a uke than it would be with a bulky set of bagpipes. :-)
Posted by: Parkway Rest Stop at April 27, 2004 11:53 PMI'm thinking if you're buying musical instruments from Australia you should get a digereedo--and I can't spell that either:)
Posted by: emil at April 28, 2004 12:15 AM