soupking
Well-known member
I've never posted a new uke day thread; usually my only started-threads are for-sale ones However, I felt compelled to post about this awesome Black Bear I got earlier this week. It's a soprano scale bell-spaped number, one-of-a-kind, with all sorts of interesting features, which you can see in the pics/video. The only thing I was apprehensive about going into the purchase was the shape, since I've never played or held this type of ukulele before- I thought maybe it'd be awkward to cradle. Yet, I actually find it easier to manage. The larger lower bout offers more real estate to grasp onto underneath the arm, I suppose in much the same way a pineapple shape would be, although I've only played a Kamaka Pineapple once for about three and a half seconds a few years ago. Also, I got a great price from Duane on it, too, who was great to deal with. Another thing I like, while I don't ever play up the neck, which you'll see if you're brave enough to play the video, is that it's joined at the fourteenth fret, so since I usually strum around the twelfth fret, there's enough space to where I'm not thrashing the soundboard like on a normal figure-eight shaped soprano; not that that really matters to me as I don't baby anything and/or mind about play wear, it's just something I noticed.
And the handmade light green colored knobs… I'm over-the-moon about! They're so cool! It's like a cherry on top of an amazing sundae. Anyway, very happy with this and wish I'd tried a Black Bear sooner… I'll definitely be keeping my eye on the marketplace for these. I played this thing Tuesday night, the day I got it, until about 4am because I could not put it down. I kind of freestyled this little ditty that evening, if that's what you want to call it. I redid it just now in daylight so that I look less zomby-esque This thing is so great that I'd rather play it all day instead of clean the basement that my no-good children routinely destroy day in and day out -- Matt
And the handmade light green colored knobs… I'm over-the-moon about! They're so cool! It's like a cherry on top of an amazing sundae. Anyway, very happy with this and wish I'd tried a Black Bear sooner… I'll definitely be keeping my eye on the marketplace for these. I played this thing Tuesday night, the day I got it, until about 4am because I could not put it down. I kind of freestyled this little ditty that evening, if that's what you want to call it. I redid it just now in daylight so that I look less zomby-esque This thing is so great that I'd rather play it all day instead of clean the basement that my no-good children routinely destroy day in and day out -- Matt