What are some famous individual Ukes? For example Willie Nelson has his famous guitar, "Trigger" with the hole worn into it. What are some famous actual ukes? Who or what made them famous?
Bob Cuoco of Cincinnati has another one of Tiny Tim's sopranos, he brought it to UWC one year. It had been stolen and somehow Bob ended up buying it and then found out it was Tiny Tim's uke, at one point he met Tiny Tim and tried to give it back. Tim confirmed it was his, but Tim told him to keep it.
George Formby was known for playing Abbott and Ludwig banjo ukes, but it's hard to peg one specific uke to him. George kept several ukes on hand on different tunings for different songs. And despite having his name on a line of Dallas ukes, he rarely actually played one.
I'll throw out Eddie Vedder's Uke "Clarence". Although it kinda got a head start by 1. Having a name inlaid into the top, and 2. Being owned and played by a rock icon.
Even though he's gone through several tenors, the style of Jake's uke always stays very similar. I would say it's pretty iconic with the slotted headstock and "JS" on the fretboard.