What uke/ukes did George Harrison Play?

FormbyFanatic95 · Sep 8, 2014

Well George actually owned two of George Formby's banjo ukuleles as he was a huge fan and a member of the George Formby Society (as I am). He owned Formby's Ludwig (with Crowns) Banjo Uke which was Nickel Plated and his Dallas Model 'E' which was Gold Plated and is now in The Beatles museum. I've seen a clip of him on YouTube with Jeff Lynne playing banjo ukes, including a Gibson UB2 De-Luxe, so I suspect he owned others.

The Dallas Model 'E' in The Beatles Museum

George Formby's Ludwig that George Harrison later owned (can't find any pictures of it now)

George Harrison at The George Formby Society in Blackpool - that might be George Formby's Ludwig he has.

PeteyHoudini · Sep 9, 2014

Luved this entire thread! Thanks for the great info! Didn't John Lennon's mother, Julia play the banjo uke?

Petey

janeray1940 · Sep 9, 2014

PeteyHoudini said:
Luved this entire thread! Thanks for the great info! Didn't John Lennon's mother, Julia play the banjo uke?

Petey

I think it was the banjo, actually. I recall reading that when John first started playing guitar he used banjo chord shapes rather than guitar chord shapes.

PeteyHoudini · Sep 9, 2014

janeray1940 said:
I think it was the banjo, actually. I recall reading that when John first started playing guitar he used banjo chord shapes rather than guitar chord shapes.

It's strange to imagine banjo music in England back then. I know nothing about it.

I did buy the Blu-ray of "Living in the Material World" about George and that was great. It's so funny, that clip with Tom Petty who said, George just kept giving out ukes out of the trunk of his car... you always need more than one. What uke player can argue with that? hehe

Petey

janeray1940 · Sep 9, 2014

PeteyHoudini said:
It's strange to imagine banjo music in England back then. I know nothing about it.

I did buy the Blu-ray of "Living in the Material World" about George and that was great. It's so funny, that clip with Tom Petty who said, George just kept giving out ukes out of the trunk of his car... you always need more than one. What uke player can argue with that? hehe

Petey

"Banjo music" and "England" don't automatically go together in my mind either, but what do I know?

George and the handing out of ukes is the stuff of legends! At the shop where I play here in Santa Monica, the story goes that whenever he was in the area, he'd stop in and buy all of their Kamakas off the walls, to hand out to friends.

phil_doleman · Sep 9, 2014

The reso laying on the floor back on the first clip was made hy my friend Alan at Northworthy instruments in Derbyshire, UK. He was more than a little surprised when George turned up at his workshop in person! He brought a vintage uke that he wanted copying, and of course, Alan had to make him two!

kypfer · Sep 9, 2014

It's strange to imagine banjo music in England back then. I know nothing about it.

I don't remember banjos playing a very prominent role in UK music in the late '50's - early '60's ... more likely to have been found in a folk-setting than main-line entertainment or pop music. Shirley Collins used one to good effect on some of her early recordings. Just backing chords with a pick-strum type rhythm, possibly Pete Seeger inspired, but quite different for the time

DownUpDave · Sep 9, 2014

Thank you so much for resurrected this thread, very enjoyable reading, viewing and listening

zac987 · Sep 10, 2014

It really depends on the kind of banjo that he played. 5-strings were extremely popular in England from 1890 to 1920 or so. Then the tenor banjo was incredibly popular. It wouldn't be unheard of to have one of those banjos just laying around in one's closet.

Gillian · Sep 10, 2014

In the "Ain't She Sweet" video, he was playing a Kamaka concert. You can't miss the distinctive headstock shape.

HBolte · Sep 10, 2014

kypfer said:
I don't remember banjos playing a very prominent role in UK music in the late '50's - early '60's ... more likely to have been found in a folk-setting than main-line entertainment or pop music. Shirley Collins used one to good effect on some of her early recordings. Just backing chords with a pick-strum type rhythm, possibly Pete Seeger inspired, but quite different for the time

John's mother Julia did teach Lennon his first chords. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/348593/The-curious-tale-of-John-Lennon-s-missing-3m-banjo

stevejfc · Sep 11, 2014

There's a short clip floating around (which I can't locate right now) of George playing his banjo uke (Ludwig?) at an annual George Formby convention.
I chatted briefly with his son Dhani about George's ukes after one of Dhani's concerts and he said that he didin't know how many ukes his dad had, but there were a lot. That he loved Kamakas, his favorite was a concert and that they were all over the house.
If you've seen a picture of the Harrison house, Friar Park, you know that there are at least 50+/- (?) rooms which ='s a whole lot of ukes.
As George said to Tom Petty ".................you can't have enough ukuleles".

Ukecaster · Feb 23, 2018

southcoastukes said:
Very Cool!

In listening to the live cut (great to watch him play), I also found a studio YT post where the 6 string is more easily heard. Here are both:

Old thread, but what is the uke shown in the 2nd video? Is that a Kamaka concert with the crown headstock? I've seen his Kamaka concert with wave headstock in other videos.

KamakOzzie · Feb 24, 2018

Ukecaster said:
Old thread, but what is the uke shown in the 2nd video? Is that a Kamaka concert with the crown headstock? I've seen his Kamaka concert with wave headstock in other videos.

It looks like a pre 1960 Martin tenor to me.

mikelz777 · Feb 24, 2018

stevejfc said:
There's a short clip floating around (which I can't locate right now) of George playing his banjo uke (Ludwig?) at an annual George Fromby convention.

Here's George playing a banjo uke with Jeff Lynne.

Papa Tom · Feb 24, 2018

Great video pf George with Jeff Lynne.

I know I'm not dreaming this. Years ago, I found a YouTube audio segment of George appearing at some Ukulele conference somewhere in the world, early on in his ukulele fascination. He sounds very humble discussing his uke playing and then proceeds to play a song that I can't remember.

I wish I could find it again, but I'm glad to have that Jeff Lynne video to hold its place for now.

stevejfc · Feb 25, 2018

Papa Tom said:
Great video pf George with Jeff Lynne.

I know I'm not dreaming this. Years ago, I found a YouTube audio segment of George appearing at some Ukulele conference somewhere in the world, early on in his ukulele fascination. He sounds very humble discussing his uke playing and then proceeds to play a song that I can't remember.

I wish I could find it again, but I'm glad to have that Jeff Lynne video to hold its place for now.

Yes! That's the video of George at the Formby convention. I can't find it either.

Papa Tom · Feb 25, 2018

stevejfc said:
Yes! That's the video of George at the Fromby convention. I can't find it either.

Oh, sorry! I did something I don't like when others do. I replied to a thread before reading all the posts.

Anyway, yeah...where did that YouTube video go? If i remember right, it was only audio with, perhaps, a still of George on screen the entire time.

Canada Jim · Feb 25, 2018

George with banjolele.

Papa Tom · Feb 25, 2018

Bill1 said:
Could you edit the post to read "thats the video of George at the F......by Convention" ...Don't look up the word unless you want to be annoyed.

Oh man, that's hilarious! I noticed the typo right away, but didn't know the word has a meaning in the Urban Dictionary!

What uke/ukes did George Harrison Play?

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