Pete Howlett Tenor - REVIEW
- Thread starter Ken Middleton
- Start date
UKISOCIETY
Well-known member
All I could say in the YT comments was "Congratulations". Any adjectives to describe the beauty of that uke would have been redundant or too obvious.
I could have added
COVETOUS!
:iwant:
I could have added
COVETOUS!
:iwant:
Rzr
Well-known member
Sounds and looks great!
Ken, your new uke is beautifully simple - and simply beautiful.
Gorgeous looks, wonderful sound. You must be a very happy man!
John C. (Ukantor).
Gorgeous looks, wonderful sound. You must be a very happy man!
John C. (Ukantor).
Dominator
Well-known member
Ken,
I agree. There is no question this ukulele looks and sounds fantastic. I would like to hear it without the reverb as I think a little of the real magic of the sound was getting lost in the effect. Congrats. And yes, the wait on a commission is usually worth it.
I agree. There is no question this ukulele looks and sounds fantastic. I would like to hear it without the reverb as I think a little of the real magic of the sound was getting lost in the effect. Congrats. And yes, the wait on a commission is usually worth it.
OP
OP
Ken Middleton
Well-known member
I wanted the uke to look simple but with beautiful figuring.
I wanted a clean, pure sounding uke.
I am very pleased with both.
Simplicity is what I wanted, John. No bling.
The room where I had to record it is very "dead" acoustically, Dom. I may have overdone the reverb a tad, I admit. And it certainly has a purer natural sound than my other ukes. And there is no reverb at all in the middle - just the first minute and at the end.
That's pretty much what I said when i first saw it, Seeso.
Pippin
Well-known member
Ken, that is a beautiful instrument. Pete does a wonderful job.
SuperSecretJohn
Well-known member
The bling is in the wood.
6stringconvert
Well-known member
Ken,
Great review, as ever. Really good to have a review of a Pete Howlett ukulele. Man that is the ultimate for us Brits I think!!
Love, I mean LOVE, that Coldplay - that sounds super sweet. I'm so gonna have to try and learn that one!
Enjoy the instrument.
6sc
Great review, as ever. Really good to have a review of a Pete Howlett ukulele. Man that is the ultimate for us Brits I think!!
Love, I mean LOVE, that Coldplay - that sounds super sweet. I'm so gonna have to try and learn that one!
Enjoy the instrument.
6sc
OP
OP
Ken Middleton
Well-known member
To be fair on Pete, it is probably the ultimate for anyone. I think that there are very few makers that can match him.
Thanks.
OP
OP
Ken Middleton
Well-known member
buddhuu
Super Moderator (Retired)
Wow, Ken. You are a lucky so-and-so. 
That is SO pretty. And to sound as good as it looks must take real skill and artistry by the maker. No wonder Pete's work is so highly thought of. :drool:
Meh, but at the end of the day, it's just a lump of wood with some fishing line... Not at all envious, me. [/tongue-in-cheek]
That is SO pretty. And to sound as good as it looks must take real skill and artistry by the maker. No wonder Pete's work is so highly thought of. :drool:
Meh, but at the end of the day, it's just a lump of wood with some fishing line... Not at all envious, me. [/tongue-in-cheek]
OP
OP
Ken Middleton
Well-known member
I never had any real doubt about the quality of sound I would get from a Howlett instrument. But I wanted to be able to choose the wood and specify the design. That's why I commissioned it.
Pete Howlett
Well-known member
All of these comments are well founded and most welcome. However there is no magic or mojo working here. I chose the best materials to suit the player and put them all together the best way I can. Care and concern all the way with an attention to detail.
Secondly, it is possible to ruin the sound of such an instrument by over playing it. Ken, very much to his credit, is a sensitive player who knows how to coax the best sound out of his ukulele.
Ultimately, it really isn't down to one thing getting such a good sound. Except this was a very special piece of koa.. usually it is a combination of craftsman and artist working together to produce something that will meet the standards of both.
Secondly, it is possible to ruin the sound of such an instrument by over playing it. Ken, very much to his credit, is a sensitive player who knows how to coax the best sound out of his ukulele.
Ultimately, it really isn't down to one thing getting such a good sound. Except this was a very special piece of koa.. usually it is a combination of craftsman and artist working together to produce something that will meet the standards of both.
6stringconvert
Well-known member
Pete,
that's very interesting, your comments on gentle love and care to get the best out of the uke.
Speaking as more of a guitar player, I find a damn good thrashing/exersise of the soundboard really opens the instrument up. Much playing is also needed on a new instrument to get the board worn in.
6sc
that's very interesting, your comments on gentle love and care to get the best out of the uke.
Speaking as more of a guitar player, I find a damn good thrashing/exersise of the soundboard really opens the instrument up. Much playing is also needed on a new instrument to get the board worn in.
6sc
"I find a damn good thrashing/exersise of the soundboard really opens the instrument up."
Does this apply to soundboards made of ALL types of wood?
Ukantor.
Does this apply to soundboards made of ALL types of wood?
Ukantor.
6stringconvert
Well-known member
That's the precise question to my mumblings.
My experience is spruce and maple topped guitars.
6sc
My experience is spruce and maple topped guitars.
6sc
I suspect Koa and Mahogany, when used for sound boards, might respond differently. I'd definitely follow Pete's suggestion on that - but then, if I were breaking a horse, I'd try to do it with kindness and understanding, rather than just imposing my will on it.
Guess I'm just an old softie.
Ukantor.
Guess I'm just an old softie.
Ukantor.
