Disclaimer: No actual luthiers were harmed in the making of this story.
Bogus Builder Busted!
Although the criminal justice system sees no reason to become involved the ukulele community is buzzing over a scandal regarding the work of a relatively unknown luthier who has been trying to break into the high-end uke market by unorthodox and some say unethical means.
Mr. David Robert Jones of Cleveland, Ohio, stands accused of artificially lowering the weight of ukuleles he was selling.
"I should've known better but I bought one of his ukes based on it's advertised low weight" said a ukulele buyer who wished to remain anonymous because he feels stupid.
"People should have known better. I saw a couple of YouTube videos with his ukuleles and they seemed like over built bricks to me" said Ukulele Underground Forum member Jake Breaks who asked that his name be used because he feels smart.
High end ukuleles are known to be of surprisingly low weight. This allows the strings to most efficiently create the vibrations that become sound. Luthiers must work for years to gain the artistry and skill involved in their craft.
"I was played," said Emily Rose, another of Mr. Jones's customers. "The ukulele I bought had poor volume and no punch. I put it on scale and it weighed .78 ounces. I realized something was definitely wrong".
Mr. Jones appears to have invented a method of bonding helium to the wood of ukuleles to give them the lightest weight possible. Sadly, while he could have won a Nobel prize for his groundbreaking efforts he is now in hiding from angry ukulele buyers. Mr. Jones's research notes have disappeared with him and the world may never get the benefit of his genius.
A clearly distraught moderator of the Ukulele Underground Forum said "First the popsicle guy and now this!"
Jeff
Bogus Builder Busted!
Although the criminal justice system sees no reason to become involved the ukulele community is buzzing over a scandal regarding the work of a relatively unknown luthier who has been trying to break into the high-end uke market by unorthodox and some say unethical means.
Mr. David Robert Jones of Cleveland, Ohio, stands accused of artificially lowering the weight of ukuleles he was selling.
"I should've known better but I bought one of his ukes based on it's advertised low weight" said a ukulele buyer who wished to remain anonymous because he feels stupid.
"People should have known better. I saw a couple of YouTube videos with his ukuleles and they seemed like over built bricks to me" said Ukulele Underground Forum member Jake Breaks who asked that his name be used because he feels smart.
High end ukuleles are known to be of surprisingly low weight. This allows the strings to most efficiently create the vibrations that become sound. Luthiers must work for years to gain the artistry and skill involved in their craft.
"I was played," said Emily Rose, another of Mr. Jones's customers. "The ukulele I bought had poor volume and no punch. I put it on scale and it weighed .78 ounces. I realized something was definitely wrong".
Mr. Jones appears to have invented a method of bonding helium to the wood of ukuleles to give them the lightest weight possible. Sadly, while he could have won a Nobel prize for his groundbreaking efforts he is now in hiding from angry ukulele buyers. Mr. Jones's research notes have disappeared with him and the world may never get the benefit of his genius.
A clearly distraught moderator of the Ukulele Underground Forum said "First the popsicle guy and now this!"
Jeff