I took a custom made concert to one of his shows. Afterward, I asked him to play something on it, so I could tell people it was played by Jake. He laughed and said that he did not get asked to play it, just sign it. He said that he really liked the looks of quilted maple with a dark walnut stain on it, and how well it sounded and played. He asked if he could sign it. Since there was nothing between the strings on the front of the peghead, there is now a long J with a long S under it.
A year later , at the same place I went through the line again and wanted him to sign a CD to sign for my daughter in Iraq. He said that he remembered me because I had the beautiful quilted maple ukulele he signed. He asked if the young woman in Iraq was he same one who was with me the year before. Incredible!! He really does talk TO people not THROUGH or AROUND. Both the music and the man are amazing. Aldeen Guerro signed the back of the peghead at another event. He laughingly said that he felt honoured to be on the other side of a uke signed by Jake.