Samantha Muir ukes

The one with the extended fretboard with no frets is the wunderkammer. She is the reason I have one on order.

Lately she has been playing a Rob Collins.

Both sopranos.
 
I know Sam

Earlier stuff is def Liam Kirby (Wunderkammer), but more recently Rob Collins (Tinguitar)
 
I know Sam

Earlier stuff is def Liam Kirby (Wunderkammer), but more recently Rob Collins (Tinguitar)

If you have opportunity then would you be willing to ask her to post here a bit more please? It's always interesting to hear expert opinion and have information about her work/videos. I think that her last post was about a year ago.

Sam could have bought anything and maybe have been gifted some Ukes by large manufacturers keen for her endorsement. Instead she plays hand made Ukes built by local British craftsmen, to me that says a lot of good things. Perhaps I am mistaken but when looking at one video of her playing the Wunderkammer ( https://m.youtube.com/watch?ebc=ANy...SKZSYBcRMTDZkbb_wHpHDU8AqAEf6RA&v=NoKXWD6C3iY ) I see that (three?) additional frets have been added - something Baz talked about in his review of that instrument.
 
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I will do - though I think she spends most time telling people what she is doing on her Facebook page.
 
Hi Folks!

Barry just alerted me to this conversation - as yes, indeed, I am on Facebook more. I will try and remember to keep an eye on UU too!

Re: my ukes. I am a big believer in supporting individual luthiers and as I am based in the UK then particularly UK luthiers. Having said that in my earliest videos I am playing a Tanglewood soprano (I'd have to look up the model). One of my 1st 'headless' videos! lol :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80T1ILZCpFg


This was my 1st uke and I loved it! When looking for an upgrade I came across a spruce and walnut uke made by Rob Collins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaZ4GJi0P8


I bought this uke and loved it until I came across Liam Kirby of Wunderkammer instruments. I actually bought the 1st uke Liam sold (mahogany soprano 12 frets). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHIUX_Q3NDM


I then asked Liam to make my another uke with 15 frets so I could play the Bach Prelude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoKXWD6C3iY

This is also a beautiful uke. But, then, as does happen I played a mahogany soprano made by Rob Collins at a uke festival and was completely blown away by the sound. I immediately ordered a mahogany soprano from Rob (Tin Guitar). This is the uke I am currently playing in most of my videos. I am so happy with this uke I actually have 2 more ukes on order from Rob.... So this is the no.1 mahogany soprano I am playing now. 15th fret and Planetary tuners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvCv5MTspdE

Meanwhile, I decided to try a 5 string (low G / hi g) tenor and this uke is made by Dave Morgan or DJ Morgan Ukuleles. This uke is cedar top and sounds beautiful! I use it for playing Renaissance music and also folk music. I tune this uke to A=415, or one semitone lower than normal because I love the sonority I get from this tuning. I'll be posted more videos with this uke later in the year.
Here's the 5 string tenor in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxlzduaKlCI

Here are the luthier's websites....
Rob's website: http://tinguitar.com
Liam's website: http://www.wunderkammerinstruments.co.uk
Dave's website: http://djmorganukuleles.co.uk

I hope that is helpful! I'm happy to answer any questions... Just let me know....

Thanks!

Sam x
 
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Yay! The ukulele community works!
 
I've watched a bunch of Samantha's videos...great stuff. But what are the ukes she plays? I don't see any mention of that. Are they sopranos or concerts? One in particular has a fretboard extension on the body, with no frets.

I do usually try to remember (!) to specify what uke I am playing in the information section of the YouTube videos. I only play soprano, I don't play concert, the only exception is I now play a 5 string tenor. The uke with the fretboard extension and no frets is an early Wunderkammer. See thread below for full info...
Sam :)
 
There are one or two videos where I am playing a Klassico Soprano which Matt Fuddle, then of Omega Music and now of World of Ukes, asked me to demo. I thought it was a very good uke at a very good price. Plus it had a wide neck which some prefer.

More info on the Wunderkammer uke and Tin Guitar uke below...

:) Sam
 
I will do - though I think she spends most time telling people what she is doing on her Facebook page.

Thanks for doing that. What a fantastic response from Sam too.

Videos posted by the likes of Sam and the (sadly late) John King inspired me to take up the Uke; to me it's just amazing what the Uke can be used to play and that that versatility is available from something so (relatively) affordable.

I'm not very far into my Ukulele journey and am currently limited to enjoying strumming and singing, practice sessions will soon include fingerstyle again - posts by those with fingerstyle skills assist many folk by providing demonstrations which encouragement and motivate.

From season 154 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SjhqFIzCWc
....... is a season of fingerpicking possible?
 
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Thanks for doing that. What a fantastic response from Sam too.

Videos posted by the likes of Sam and the (sadly late) John King inspired me to take up the Uke; to me it's just amazing what the Uke can be used to play and that that versatility is available from something so (relatively) affordable.

I'm not very far into my Ukulele journey and am currently limited to enjoying strumming and singing, practice sessions will soon include fingerstyle again - posts by those with fingerstyle skills assist many folk by providing demonstrations which encouragement and motivate.

From season 154 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SjhqFIzCWc
....... is a season of fingerpicking possible?

Just beautiful. Not fully up on my playing terminology just yet...obviously fingerstyle, but would Samantha's style (at least in this piece) be called Campanella?
 
The piece has the melodic notes woven into the arpeggio. Arpeggio being a chord that is 'broken' rather than strummed as a block of sound. Ca the Ewes does have a campanella element. For those who may not know - campanella is where the melodic notes are placed across the strings to create a harp-like effect. The name campanella means little bells and refers to the notes ringing on and over each other. The piece uses the arpeggio as the harmonic accompaniment and it's quite cool the way the melodic notes blend into the accompaniment - if that makes sense! So, arpeggio & melody is the style of playing but with hints of campanella (sounds like a wine now!!!!)

Here's an example of proper campanella :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuMkdHgS3kg

Sam x
 
Thanks for coming back and posting here Sam! I'm still working on your little handout "20 Exercises For Right Hand Development", and it's getting a little better every day, although sometimes I feel like "Gee, I've never played this before". Then I giggle at myself. Must be getting old....
 
Samantha,
First time hearing your playing and you are terrific. Thank you for sharing and giving us insight into you instruments and progression. I am a tenor player and must admit, until hearing your beautiful playing I always thought soprano ukuleles were Plinky sounding. You have changed that perception forever. Great collection of ukuleles. Your second video, soprano make by Rob in walnut with spruce top really spoke to me. Exceptional sound. I love the sound of that ukulele. Thank to all for sharing in this post. I will listening to all you videos. Cheers
 
I have only recently found Samantha's material and have found it brilliant to listen to and have had some fun trying to play some of her arrangements.Sinner Man was an old tune I knew so made a good starting point. I am going to order the Scottish tune book in the future it makes a nice change from the old time / mountain type of music I often try playing.
 
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