my focus continues to shift, from classical on a godin multiuke to strumming on an 8 string Lanikai, but along the way I picked up easily one of the two best built instruments I have played. a gourd banjo built by Jeff Menzies. The best quality uke I have played is a mya moe, after that a kanilea. This banjo is in line with the mya moe!
Pics of it are at this link. https://imgur.com/gallery/5GRPS
In many ways it is uke-ish, nylgut strings, reentrant tuning... i actually use it to play the very old style of banjo music played attributed to Joel Sweeney, most of who's songs only use 4 strings anyway.
I recently emailed Jeff to encourage him to make a gourd uke, and he responded that he already makes them! I never have luck posting photos directly to this website but here's an attempt.
Anyway, if anyone gets a hankering for a gourd uke, check him out, it's true functional art!
(Not an ad I promise, just an admiration/appreciation!)
Ben
Pics of it are at this link. https://imgur.com/gallery/5GRPS
In many ways it is uke-ish, nylgut strings, reentrant tuning... i actually use it to play the very old style of banjo music played attributed to Joel Sweeney, most of who's songs only use 4 strings anyway.
I recently emailed Jeff to encourage him to make a gourd uke, and he responded that he already makes them! I never have luck posting photos directly to this website but here's an attempt.
Anyway, if anyone gets a hankering for a gourd uke, check him out, it's true functional art!
(Not an ad I promise, just an admiration/appreciation!)
Ben