DaSilva Ukulele Co. Home Page

March 1, 2011

Here's a recently completed ukulele that was incredibly fun to build. See more ukuleles in the Instrument Gallery.

-Mike

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

It looks like this is going to be another great ukulele year with more ukulele festivals and events, certainly more instruments, and of course, much more ukulele music to enjoy.

So, just to be sure this new year gets off to a wonderful start, we are announcing the first, "A Day at the Shop", mini-ukulele festival, at DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Victoria Vox, Brook Adams and Mark Gutierrez will be here to provide a full day of music and ukulele education, then along with Mark's band, 4 Strings of Swing, they will reconvene for an evening extravaganza of ukulele music and fun.

Go here for full details - www.ukemaker.com/ADayAtTheShop.html

October 6, 2010

Hi, Here is a picture essay from Tony Coleman of the Mighty Ukulele event in San Francisco.

September 27, 2010

Hi, Tony Coleman just sent me this link to a short video on the Mighty Uke screening in San Francisco. Click here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bio-Af545fQ&feature=email

September 18, 2010

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the DaSilva Ukulele Co. table at last week's Wine Country Ukulele Festival. It was great to talk with everyone, the music was wonderful, the weather was perfect, and everyone was seen having lots of fun. Hats off to Elaine de Man for another successful event.

In the rest of this note are this week's very important calendar reminders, details on the Mighty Ukulele strum-along songs for the Guinness World Record attempt, and a contest to win a DaSilva ukulele.

Calendar Reminders

Berkeley Ukulele Club Meeting
Quarterly Potluck / Open Mic / Playalong
DaSilva Ukulele Co., Berkeley, California
Wednesday, September 22
6:30 pm. Bring food to share, or not. (there is always plenty)
http://www.ukemaker.com/ukeclub for more info and to download music.

Aldrine Guerrero in Concert

DaSilva Ukulele Co., Berkeley, California
Friday, September 24
7:00 pm, Please note the earlier than usual start time. $20 cash or check at the door.
www.ukuleleunderground.com

"Mighty Uke - The Amazing Comeback of a Musical Underdog"
Ukulele Documentary Movie Screening
&
Guinness World Record Attempt !!!!!

Castro Theater, San Francisco California
Sunday, September 26, 3pm.
http://mightyukemovie.com
Tickets here: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3081155

Here are the songs we'll be playing in the world record attempt.

Down by the Riverside
Audio File

(Click on image for full size version)

Keep on the Sunnyside
Audio File

(Click on image for full size version)

Please visit the Calendar page for full details on these events.

And now for the contest!

Mighty Uke Movie Contest

In recognition of the DVD release and San Francisco screening of the Mighty Uke movie, and the Guinness World Record Attempt, DaSilva Ukulele announces the following contest.

A single prize of a DaSilva Custom Ukulele will be awarded (minimum retail value - $750 USD, exact model and specifications to be determined in collaboration with winner).

Here are the rules:

Contest begins September 26, 2010 @ 6 pm PST and ends October 31, 2010 @ 6pm PST

Prize is a DaSilva Soprano Custom Ukulele. (Exact model and specifications to be determined in collaboration with winner.)

Winner will be randomly chosen from entries that anwer the 2 questions in the entry form correctly and are received within the contest period.

In the case of NO CORRECT ENTRIES, winner will be randomly chosen from ALL entries received within the contest period.

Entries will be time-stamped by the website message delivery system (and out of my control) so please do not depend on actual time to get your entry in on time.

You MUST use the entry form found at www.ukemaker.com/DaSilva-Contest.html to submit a contest entry. Email, postal mail, or phone submissions will not qualify.

Only one entry per person is allowed.

Duplicate entries will be discarded.

Notification of your entry will be sent to the submitted email, but delivery of notification is NOT guaranteed.

The two questions to be answered are:

1) How many individual DaSilva Ukuleles appear in the Mighty Uke movie? (Do not include instruments found in DVD extra scenes or in group ukulele playing scenes.)

2) Name at least 4 people that appear in the Mighty Uke movie holding their DaSilva Ukulele instruments.

Again, here is the entry form:
www.ukemaker.com/DaSilva-Contest.html

Oh, and if you are one of the people holding a DaSilva Ukulele in the movie, you're ineligible!

Good luck and happy Mighty Uke viewing,

August 31, 2010

Hi - I just figured out why it takes me so long to update my website. There are just too many ukulele events and items to cover. September turns out to be one of those months where you'll want to do it all. Hope you can find the time. And I have a new advanced beginner class to announce and a couple of new ukuleles to show you.

Here are the September highlights, go to the Calendar for full details.

Strawberry Music Festival
Camp Mather, Yosemite, California
Thursday, September 2 - Monday, September 6, 2010
http://www.strawberrymusic.com

3rd Annual Wine Country Ukulele Festival
Napa Valley, California
Friday, September 10 - Sunday, September 12, 2010
http://winecountryukefest.com

Aldrine Guerrero in Concert
DaSilva Ukulele Co., Berkeley, California
Friday, September 24
7:00 pm, Please note the earlier than usual start time. $20 cash or check at the door.
www.ukuleleunderground.com

"Mighty Uke - The Amazing Comeback of a Musical Underdog"
Ukulele Documentary Movie Screening
&
Guinness World Record Attempt !!!!!
Castro Theater, San Francisco California
Sunday, September 26, 3pm.
(More details to come)
http://mightyukemovie.com

New!!! Advanced Beginner Ukulele Lessons

Track 1 - 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
6:30 pm - 8:30pm
$10

Track 2 - 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.
6:30 pm - 8:30pm
$10

Advanced Beginner Instruction
or How To Make the Music Your Own

Now that you know the basics you are ready to select the songs you want to play and craft your own style. We'll help you do that by teaching you easily learned but tasty techniques for adding some variety to your playing. We'll teach additional strums, basic fingerpicking and embellishment techniques, demonstrate and practice simple improvisation tricks while we explore different musical styles, how to listen and transcribe songs, as well discover how applied music theory can simplify the ukulele fretboard.

Each track will explore similar techniques but will utilize different music styles and songs. This will allow the more adventurous to attend every week with lots of material to work on, or allow the player with limited practice time to learn the same techniques but only meet twice a month.

We'll be mixing up the techniques quite a bit, and always include basic lessons, so no need to have any prior sessions under your belt. Just drop in to any class, no signup necessary.

First session is on the Monday following Labor Day, 2010

Upcoming Classes

Track 2 - September 13 & 27, 2010

Track 1 - September 20, 2010

Track 1 - October 4 & 18, 2010

Track 2 - October 11 & 25, 2010

Track 1 - November 1 & 15, 2010

Track 2 - November 8 & 22, 2010

Track 1 - December 6 & 20, 2010

Track 2 - December 13 & 27, 2010

And a couple of new ukes

Here are a couple of recently completed ukuleles. The pineapple soprano is for sale and I'll be exhibiting it at the Wine Country Ukulele Festival. The very experimental Bent Archtop Concert is something I have wanted to attempt for awhile and turned out to be lots of fun. Even though I am slightly biased, I must say they both sound quite good. Let me know what you think about how they look. The Archtop is also special because it was a gift for my best friend Mark "Spanky" Gutierrez. Many of you have run into Mark and his excellent workshops on the ukulele festival circuit, but I also want to let you know that Mark now has a great blog for all levels of serious ukulele players. He was kind enough to post a nice video review of the Archtop as well as his very custom James Hill tenor. Please visit Mark's Blog to take a closer look at the ukulele and hear how it sounds.

#233 - Bent Archtop Prototype

Click for Fullsize (1024x768) or Huge (2048x1536) image

#235 - Soprano Pineapple Custom

Click for Fullsize (1024x768) or Huge (2048x1536) image

And finally, I've been writing up some of my ideas on the many ukulele building and playing topics that I have run into since I embarked on the humbling journey of becoming a ukulele maker. I'll be sharing these musings in upcoming newsletters. I'll be offering both general ukulele building and maintenance assistance as well as somewhat technical discussions on topics ranging from what strings to use, how different woods affect the tone of a ukulele, and how to measure and test intonation. I look forward to this new project, I hope you will too.

July 13, 2010

Hi - Just updated the calendar with two July evening concerts and the Berkeley Ukulele Club and Beginner Class dates for the next quarter. And be sure to scroll down and view a definite treat from the one-and-only James Hill. You WILL be blown away.

Cafe Musique - evening concert
Friday, July 23, 2010 7pm
$20 cash or check at the door.

Cafe Musique absolutely blew us away with their visit to DaSilva Ukulele Co. last September. And now they are back to dazzle us once again. With their just released CD "Catching Your Breath", I am sure their captivating mixture of unbelievable violin, soulful accordion, sweet harmonies and superb arrangements will make for an astounding evening. As anybody who was here last time will tell you, this band is not to be missed.

For more info please visit their website at www.cafemusique.org.

To check out tracks from their new CD, please visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/CafeMusique1

James Hill in Concert
Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 7:30 pm
$25 - cash or check at the door

By this time you should know that anytime James Hill shows up to play, you should be there. It is that simple. But just in case - here is a video of James performing his debut of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" at the recent Seattle Ukulele Festival. Unbelievable. Enjoy.

And please visit James at his website - www.ukulelejames.com

Ongoing Events

Berkeley Ukulele Club
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Please note new start time.
6:30pm - Beginner session (Instruction for beginners)
7:00 pm - Regular session

Berkeley Ukulele Club

Have fun, learn how to play, and grow as musicians. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. We meet at DaSilva Ukulele Co. which has easy parking, lots of room, lots of chairs, lots of ukuleles and other instruments and no noise level restrictions.

As many have found out, the ukulele is a wonderful instrument for all music levels. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned player, please join us twice a month to share songs, techniques and music and uke talk. Everyone is welcome - if you don't own an instrument or have never played one, this is a great way to find out about them and an easy way to learn. There will definitely be ukuleles at the meeting for you to try out. If you have been playing for awhile, there is no better way to expand your music horizons by meeting and playing with others and also sharing what you know.

There is no cost to attend, no need to signup. Just visit when you can.

There will be prepared songs with handouts to sing and strum with but please bring music and ideas with you.

Next Club Meetings

July 14, 2010

July 28 2010

August 11, 2010

August 25, 2010

September 8, 2010

September 22, 2010 (Quarterly Potluck and Open Mic!!!)

New! Group Ukulele Lessons
1st, 3rd and 5th (when there is one) Wednesday of each month.
6:30 pm - 8:30pm
$10

Basic Instruction on How To Play the Ukulele

Want to learn the basics of playing a ukulele? How to learn chords? How to strum? How to play different picking styles? Need playing exercises to improve your technique? Just drop in to our new classes, no signup necessary.

Upcoming Classes

July 7, 2010

July 21, 2010

August 4, 2010

August 18, 2010

September 1, 2010

September 15, 2010

September 29, 2010

February 28, 2010

I really hope you made it to one of the three recent Bay Area screenings of the new ukulele documentary "Mighty Uke" that also included very special performances by James Hill. If you did not, or you just have to see it again, please join us on March 6 for an intimate screening of this wonderful film. Director, Tony Coleman and producer, Margaret Meagher will be in attendance to answer questions and strum along with a little jam session after the movie. So, bring your ukes, your friends that get it, and your friends that don't so they will.

Mighty Uke - A documentary by Tony Coleman and Margaret Meagher
Saturday, March 6, 2010
7:30 pm, $10
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
http://mightyukemovie.com

I can't believe January is already gone. I was just warming up to the idea of a new year and there it went. Well, here are the first calendar updates for 2010 and some photos of recently completed ukuleles. We've got a couple of great festivals to attend early in the year and some wonderful workshops and concerts coming up. Hope you can make it.

Regarding the ukulele business, after attending this year's music industry trade show, NAMM, in Anaheim, it looks like another banner year for the ukulele. Ukuleles were everywhere! Of course, the Berkeley Ukulele Club is going strong with new members each meeting and my beginner ukulele sessions always seem to have a handful of brand new players ready to join in the fun. I will complete my sixth year of making ukuleles soon and I want to thank all of you for the tremendous support you have given me.

Lil' Rev
Sunday, February 7, 2010
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Workshop and short concert, $20
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Learn from a great grab bag of easy and fun ukulele songs from the blues, jazz, ragtime and rock traditions while also learning how to spice them up with classic novelty strokes like the zig-zag, figure-8 and fan stroke. Humorous, bawdy, antiquated and silly are the songs you will find in this collection. Open to all levels.

Based in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, the Gorge Uke Fest is held annually to benefit local area school music programs.

This years activities, artists, and teachers include a screening of "The Mighty Uke", a documentary about the ukulele, performances by Moe Dixon, James Hill, Victoria Vox and the Langley Ukulele Ensemble and workshops with them and many others. Hope you can make it.

Tahoe Area Ukulele Festival II
March 19-21, 2010
Sparks, Nevada
http://playuke.net

For 2010, the fest will be held March 19-21 at the beautiful John Ascuaga’s Nugget Resort in Sparks, Nevada, (think Reno), just a few miles up the freeway from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. With the low rates Southwest has been offering, there’s no reason you shouldn’t hop a plane and come on up! Your uke rides free!

In addition to a workshop lineup of superb uke instructors and displays by numerous uke makers and vendors, the fest will feature twin concerts in the Nugget’s Celebrity Showroom featuring two of the premier ukesters in the universe, Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill!

Casey MacGill's Blue 4 Trio
Friday, March 26, 2010
8:00 pm concert, $20
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Casey MacGill's Blue 4 Trio performs music that swings. Nat "King" Cole Trio meets the Mills Brothers. Fats Waller meets Fats Domino. Slim Galliard meets Fred Astaire. It is music of many decades and no decade in particular, all happening at the same time, woven into a seamless, beautiful whole. At the core of this group's sound are the band's sometimes sweet, sometimes rough-hewn three-part harmony vocals and a piano-ukulele-bass-and-drums rhythm section that swings in a variety of textures.

Brook Adams
Saturday, March 27, 2010
2:00 - 5:00 pm workshop and concert, $25
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Brook Adams is a ukulele madman with a strong voice and guitar and ukulele chops too. He describes his collection of novelty songs, tv themes, modern pop and swing-era classics as a musical cartoon of the 20th century. Of course, he is well known for playing the Beatles' ABBEY ROAD album start to finish on ukulele.

Here are the dates for the Beginner Ukulele Class and Berkeley Ukulele Club meetings for the first three months of 2010. Please note the cancellation of the Berkeley Ukulele Club meeting on January 13 due to my attendance at the music industry NAMM event in Anaheim, CA.

Group Ukulele Lessons
1st, 3rd and 5th (when there is one) Wednesday of each month.
6:30 pm - 8:30pm
$10

Berkeley Ukulele Club Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
6:00 pm - 9:00pm

January 13, 2010 - Meeting Cancelled
I will be attending NAMM in Southern California

Well, the first part of the "Join the Safari" video contest for Bosko & Honey's Ukulele Safari OZ 2010 is in the can! Now it is time to help them figure out the WINNERS of the trip to Australia. All you need to do is view a bunch (60 submissions!!!) of very cool ukulele videos and let them know what you like. So, fire up that web browser, get comfy, go to http://ukulelesafari.com/contest.php, then select the videos you like, and click the Submit button to send in your very important vote. Oh, and if you had not noticed, I think we can definitely say the ukulele is a global phenomenon.

Also, to support the Ukulele Safari 2010, Kiwaya Japan, Ohana Ukulele and DaSilva Ukulele Co., will be providing some very nice ukuleles to be auctioned. You can check out the instruments here - http://ukulelesafari.com/index.php?pid=11548, and stay tuned to find out the start of the auctions.

And don't forget - the regular Berkeley Ukulele Club meeting will be preempted by a concert with Boulder Acoustic Society. They have promised to lead some songs, so bring your ukes!

Boulder Acoustic Society
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
7:30 pm Evening Concert, $20
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

First of all, thanks to everyone for the kind comments regarding the ukulele for Bill Tapia. Two items today - one global, the other local.

Bosko and Honey are at it again. Don't know them? Well, they describe themselves as a home-made ukulele duo and married couple based in the rainforest village of Kuranda, near Cairns, Queensland, Australia. They began playing ukulele in 2005 and soon fell in love with this wonderful instrument. After posting a series of videos on the internet called "Bosko & Honey's Ukulele Love-In" they were spotted by the organisers of the New York Ukulele Festival. So in 2007 they bought some shoes and went to NYC, where they met a bunch of really great people... and discovered there was actually an international ukulele scene! The fun and excitement of this experience inspired them to begin a project called: BOSKO & HONEY'S UKULELE SAFARI 2008. In this project, they traveled the globe for 11 months performing, making friends and video reporting in 14 countries and 3 continents. I was able to be part of the Safari by hosting a concert and providing a tenor ukulele for Honey.

Their new project, while limited to Australia, is no less ambitious and of course, crazy. They plan to distribute their ukulele fun throughout Australia for 3 months by traveling in a small bus with friends from Europe and Japan, pick up "ukulele hitchhikers" on the way, and get this - FLY THE WINNERS OF A UKULELE VIDEO CONTEST TO AUSTRALIA to participate in the Safari. For all the details please visit the Safari 2010 website.

So, tune up your ukulele, warm up that voice and fire up the video camera. You've got 12 more days to submit a video. Get all the contest details here - http://ukulelesafari.com/index.php?pid=11472. Even if you don't submit a video, check out the video submissions here. I am doing my best to support this Safari, so look to some new ukuleles that will be heading to Australia.

I recently wrapped up recording, mixing and engineering the second CD to come out of the DaSilva Ukulele Co. recording studio. So, we're having a party!

Come celebrate the release of Megan Lynch's long overdue CD - "Songs the Brothers Warner Taught Me". You've probably heard these songs on a Looney Tunes cartoon, but now you can get the full take on these tunes. Megan can really sing and with the likes of Tony Marcus on guitar, mandolin and fiddle, Robert Armstrong on Hawaiian steel guitar, accordion, banjo and musical saw, Steven Strauss on bass and ukulele, and other supporting musicians, it is definitely worth a listen. You can listen and download at http://meganlynch.bandcamp.com. The real CDs are being pressed as we speak and will be available at the concert.

Megan Lynch - CD Release Concert
with Tony Marcus, Steven Strauss and Friends
Friday, October 23, 2009
8:00 pm Concert, $15
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Last April, I was lucky enough to have Bill Tapia perform at the shop on my birthday. During that visit, Bill fell in love with Mary's Dias reproduction soprano ukulele. Bill talked about how it reminded him of his first ukulele (a Nunes) and how he had a very small ukulele just like it that used to fit in his jacket pocket. A couple of weeks later, I get this phone call. It's Bill Tapia. He is in the car (somewhere in the Northwest, at 101 years old!) going off to another gig, and he called to ask about purchasing a Dias reproduction. I had a nice conversation and gave him some info and the price for the ukulele. I thought he might call back, but I did not hear back from him, so I decided to build him a Dias reproduction as time permitted.

Well, Bill Tapia played at the new Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley last Sunday. I had just finished the Dias ukulele that day. Here is video of what happened -

Please check out the Calendar for the many great events for the next few weeks. I feel so lucky to be in the San Francisco Bay Area to be able to enjoy so much great music. Hope you can join us.

The Instrument Gallery has a new slideshow feature. Let me know what you think.

I managed to complete a couple of ukuleles for sale in between custom orders. One is a 1890 Santo reproduction that came out especially nice and the other is an all koa concert that is the sister instrument to the one I had at the Portland Ukulele Festival that I could have sold many times over but was ultimately purchased by the great Piper Heisig. Please take a look.

Small in size but not in tone and volume. The spruce top on this 13.0" scale, 17 fret instrument delivers clear highs and a very full sound. It is no wonder that the original ukuleles became so popular. The herringbone rosette and center-strip and the 4-color rope binding is all custom-made.

This ukulele truly looks on fire due to the curly-figure and the translucent tortoise-shell binding. This instrument has the typical bright sound associated with koa bodied ukes but also exhibits very strong low and mid-tones. It also delivers exceptionally clear notes making it work very well for both strumming and fingerpicking.

And speaking of Piper Heisig - don't forget she will be at DaSilva Ukulele with her band, "Cafe Musique" for a show this Saturday. Look and listen at their website - http://www.cafemusique.org. This and other upcoming events are in the Calendar section.

And wish me luck as I begin teaching "Beginning Ukulele" tonight at Berkeley's Freight and Salvage.

Our regular September 2, 2009 Beginner ukulele class is CANCELLED due to vacation scheduling.

Our regular September 16, 2009 class will be replaced by a workshop by Jim DeVille. Cost is $20.

Jim DeVille is the genius behind the "Play Ukulele By Ear" DVD and will be delivering his very practical and enlightening workshop.

Berkeley Ukulele Club meeting with special guest Michelle Kiba
Wednesday - September 9, 2009
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Michelle will be helping us get through another fun and educational club meeting. Please join us.

"Play Ukulele By Ear" workshop with Jim DeVille
Wednesday - September 16, 2009
DaSilva Ukulele Co.

Jim DeVille is the genius behind the "Play Ukulele By Ear" DVD and will be delivering his very practical and enlightening workshop.

Please note the time change - Aldrine Guerrero (and friends) in Concert
August 8, 2009, 6:00 p.m. $20
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Berkeley, California

Reminder - James Hill Workshop
July 19, 2009, 2:00-4:00 p.m., $25
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Berkeley, California

We all know James Hill (www.ukulelejames.com) as one the best ukulele performers around. But did you know he is also every bit as good at teaching someone to play the ukulele . Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, James has something for you.

Just Added! - Aldrine Guerrero (and friends) in Concert
August 8, 2009, 7:00 p.m. $20
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Berkeley, California

Aldrine Guerrero, the star of the Ukulele Underground website will be visiting from Hawaii. Ukulele Underground (www.ukuleleunderground.com) is a happening place with tons of cool video and lessons and tips and techniques and blogs and forums to keep you very busy. Please join us for what is sure to be a very fun show with some very tasty playing and singing.

Bob Brozman Ukulele Workshops – Registration Now Open!

Here's the scoop on the latest craze sweeping the country! I was lucky enough, last year, to attend one of two ukulele workshops put on by Bob Brozman. The in-depth workshop at Bob's very nice facility in Ben Lomond, California near Santa Cruz, was one of the most comprehensive, helpful, challenging and fun workshops I have ever attended. Bob's mastery of music and his engaging teaching style guarantees you will come away with new-found ukulele knowledge and plenty of material to keep you busy for many months. Bob has also improved the workshop by adding more time, updating the curriculum and making the class size smaller. Sign up now - space is limited. Excuse the long writeup, but to save you a visit to the website, here is a full description of the offerings:

Four sessions to choose from:
• Saturday, July 25, 2009
• Sunday, July 26, 2009
• Saturday, August 1, 2009
• Sunday, August 2, 2009

2:00-5:30 PM, plus optional 1-hour advanced session 6:00-7:00 PM

For more info please visit Bob Brozman's website - http://www.bobbrozman.com

Ukuleles

My goal, when I set out to build ukuleles about five years ago, was to try and offer the best sounding, most playable ukuleles I could build at an affordable price. I've since built over 200 instruments in an amazing variety of woods, in all sizes, with a wide range of features and decorations, and for all sorts of ukulele players. The sound of these instruments - the volume, sustain, overtone content and musical balance of the instrument, and the playability - proper action, deadly-accurate intonation, player friendly neck shapes and body surfaces were paramount in their design and construction. Most of these instruments were custom collaborations with the buyer and therefore unique, and while I offered standard models, none were built in true assembly line fashion.

With this experience of five years and 200 instruments, (I still feel like a novice though, in this most humbling of professions), I have begun to take the next step in my ukulele building and will begin to offer some fixed models and designs. Instruments built to these designs will be available as stock inventory. These designs can be used as a base for custom instruments, but a fixed amount of my build time will be dedicated to stock instruments. And while, the building batches will be setup in assembly line fashion, I will still be the only person to select the wood, construct and setup each instrument. I do hope to gain the efficiency of building batches of instruments to a fixed design but it will still require my focused attention and handicraft to insure no loss in quality of sound and playability.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I am ready to announce the first two DaSilva Ukulele Co. designs that are now available as stock items. I have taken into account my gained efficiencies and offer these instruments at a hopefully very affordable price. Even in these trying economic times, I do hope that people will recognize the value offered.

James Hill Tenor Model (JHTenor)

James Hill and I collaborated on the design of this instrument over a year ago. He received the prototype in October of 2008 and instrument #171 has since been a very welcome addition to his stable of ukuleles. Some of our design goals included maximizing volume and projection and achieving a sharp and distinct tonal attack to compliment James' fingerpicking style. The selection of a spruce top and koa back and sides and a relatively deep body is intended to generate complex overtones to brighten the highs yet reinforce the mid and low frequencies.

#171 has an Adirondack (red) spruce top but this model will also be available with a Sitka spruce or a yellow cedar top. Decorative appointments include a distinct abalone rosette with subtle faux-tortoise shell binding in order to not detract from the curly koa (AAA minimum) back and sides. The standard playability features include a hand-carved Honduras mahogany neck, 19 fret ebony fingerboard, top and side fret markers and Peghed 4:1 geared tuners. And its most distinct feature, the beveled upper bout is to aid not only access to the higher frets but was, in particular, designed to facilitate James' specific right-hand technique without resorting to a potentially sound-robbing cut-away design.

As this instrument is designed for the serious enthusiast or professional, a Mi-Si Acoustic Trio pre-amp and under-saddle transducer is included. The Mi-Si pre-amp are battery-less, requiring only a 60-second charge for up to 8 hours of playing time. This very lightweight design is perfect for the James Hill Tenor, eliminating unwanted battery boxes and sound-absorbing mass.

This design is considered tested given James' use in some of his current projects and two more instruments have been executed to the same design (#204 and #205). The consistency of sound between all three instruments (James has test-driven them all) gives me confidence that this will be a successful standard model for DaSilva Ukulele Co. Needless to say, I am quite honored to have James Hill own and play my ukuleles.

The "James Hill" tenor is currently priced at $2400, including all the features described above and a deluxe hard-shell case. All the instruments below have been delivered to customers but I currently plan to build at least one of these a month. Just call for availability.

#171 - "James Hill" Tenor

Click for Fullsize (1024x768) or Huge (2048x1536) image

#204 - "James Hill" Tenor

Click for Fullsize (1024x768) or Huge (2048x1536) image

#205 - "James Hill" Tenor

Click for Fullsize (1024x768) or Huge (2048x1536) image

Hana Hou "Club" Uke

I am a great fan of Martin ukuleles as I would be hard pressed to say that I did not like the sound of any of the many that I have played. So, it is no surprise that many of the instruments that I have built were inspired by Martin designs and construction techniques. However, what has impressed me most about vintage Martin ukuleles, is how they got it so right, so consistently, on the 100's of thousands of ukuleles they have produced over the years. In particular, the Martin Style 'O", plain and unadorned, very affordably priced in its day, is a treasure in anybody's ukulele collection today, and very often the "player" of choice.

With this in mind, I wanted to design and offer a ukulele that is intended to be the enthusiasts' "player" of choice but very affordable. I settled on a straightforward design executed in koa. In recognition of this hopefully, second success in my building, I am calling these instruments my "Hana Hou" models. The first model to be introduced is being offered in a concert size as this is the most requested size for today's players.

The prototype #185 was completed early this year and has been enjoying lots of testing as the instrument that hangs around the shop and is used by myself and is often the loaner uke for visiting players. It has a koa body with no rosette or binding and is lightly built to maximize volume. The koa gives it a distinctive Hawaiian tone, but the very resonant body encourages its use in any music style. All the usual playability features are included - hand carved Honduras mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, 17 frets, top and side fret markers and Peghed 4:1 geared tuners.

In the course of the last few months, this model has also received an additional designation as a "Club" uke. This moniker is due to the special pricing I am offering to ukulele clubs for minimum orders of 5 or more ukuleles. The current pricing for this model is $725 for individual sales and $650 each for group sales of 5 or more. Pricing includes a hard-shell case. I am very excited to be able to offer a fully hand-built instrument with these sound and playability features to the ukulele community at this price. I hope many of you can take advantage of this offer.

Production building of this model is well underway and the first two customer deliveries have just occured. The current plan is to produce at least 5 a month. Please call for current availability. Development of similar soprano and tenor models is also underway.

#185 - Hana Hou Concert (Prototype)

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#196 - Hana Hou concert

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#197 - Hana Hou concert

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I did not plan to celebrate 5 years of ukulele building with this kind of ukulele weekend, but who's complaining. Hope you can join us to be part of the fun.

Derick Sebastian - Ukulele Workshop and Concert
Saturday - April 25, 2009,
DaSilva Ukulele Co.,
Ukulele Workshop 6:00-7:00pm $10
Concert 8:00-9:30pm. $15

16th Annual Northern California Ukulele Festival
Sunday - April 26, 2009,
Hayward Adult School,
22100 Princeton Street, Hayward, CA, 94541
10:30am - 5:00pm

An Evening with Bill Tapia
Monday - April 27, 2009,
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Ukulele Workshop, Concert and more 8:00-9:30pm $25

When I began building ukuleles almost 5 years ago, I had no idea that it would also lead me to a close friendship with one of my longtime musical heroes and the building of a complete music recording studio and my learning the skills needed to record and engineer a CD album.

Before I had any interest in ukuleles, as far back as the late 70's, I was a big fan of The Cheap Suit Serenaders, a string band of some renown. I remember going to the original Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, which could maybe hold 20 people in the audience and just simply having the best time enjoying the musical antics of Allan Dodge, Robert Armstrong, Bob Brozman, Terry Zwigoff and Tony Marcus. I went to see them as much as I could and pretty much wore out the two LPs of theirs I owned. At the time, I personally knew only Tony Marcus because I had taken a couple of clawhammer banjo lessons with him. Their music stayed an overwhelming favorite of mine over the next couple of decades but I never got to meet any of the other band members and other priorities and interests diverted my efforts to keep going to their shows.

Now, fast forward to 2005. I end up meeting Al Dodge at a 78's record swap where our mutual uke interests prompts a subsequent visit to my shop. Before I know it, Al is visiting the shop regularly, sharing his vast music and instrument knowledge, introducing me to his friends and quickly becoming an important sounding board for my fledgling ukulele business. Except for helping him with some ukes he was building, I am not sure what he got out of it. But Al and his other band, Dodge's Sundodgers, would occasionally rehearse in the shop. I had a couple of decent mics and some stereo recording gear, so we ended up recording several tracks. These were mainly done as possible demos and never meant for an album. If you've ever been to the shop, you know how good the room sounds. It is perfect for recording acoustic string music. I was in heaven, getting to hear great music with a live band on a regular basis, learning bits and pieces of sound recording and just having fun being surrounded by the music I liked, being played and sung by some of the best musicians I know. And all without having to step outside the door of my shop where I was spending almost all my time.

At some point, the band decided to produce a CD. And they asked me to record it! Somehow, we jointly financed the equipment and software and started recording. That was close to three years ago. It was over a year of meeting once a week and recording track after track, and take after take. I learned the details of sound recording as I went. Then another long year of mostly never finding enough time to mix and edit all those takes. And finally, over the last few months, I was able to do the final mixing of the 14 tracks.

So, I can now proudly announce the release of Dodge's Sundodger's first CD - "Under The Sun".

Al Dodge's superb National steel-guitar playing is on most of the songs. While his lead solos will tastefully remind you of Sol Hoopii and Hawaiian steel-guitar from long ago, also listen to the embellishments and backup phrases behind the enchanting vocals of Kathy Sparling to see why he is still my musical hero. Al also provides some mighty tasty licks and accompaniment on ukulele, banjo, mandolin and jug.

If you don't fall in love with Kathy's voice, you just might be the first. Even with the multiple takes and the many hours of listening I put in, I never tired of her sweet singing. I do hope to hear much more from her soon. Then there is Zac Salem who grabs you with his strong, smooth vocals, especially on the Spanish tunes. And Zac will astound you on the mandolin, guitar, tenor guitar, and tenor banjo, trading licks with Al, and even though the piano is only on a couple of tracks, you'll see why the piano is Zac's main instrument.

And the solid rhythm provided by Fred Dortort on guitar and Glen Jordan on bass guitar and bass banjo (which he built) fills in the rest of the sound very nicely. Needless to say, the musicality, virtuosity and professionalism of everyone in the band made my job much easier and absolutely lots of fun.

So, please visit their website - http://www.dodgessundodgers.com to sample some tunes. You can purchase the CD from CD Baby, or go to Digstation to download, or better yet, come by the shop to get one.

Beginning this month, DaSilva Ukulele Co. will be offering drop-in ukulele instruction for beginners on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

New! Group Ukulele Lessons
1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
7:00 pm - 8:30pm
$10

Late breaking update! After a great workshop with Lil' Rev this Sunday, many of the attendees, Lil' Rev and yours truly, headed on down to the Freight and Salvage coffehouse to catch the annual Cheap Suit Serenaders performance. Opening for them were the Sweet Hollywaiians from Osaka, Japan. After a wonderful show by all, I spoke with the Sweet Hollywaiians leader and found out they will be playing at numerous venues in the Bay Area and that they have some open nights before heading to the Denver Ukulele Festival on February 7. So, I quickly got them to agree to come play a show at DaSilva Ukulele Co. again. So...

Sweet Hollywaiians
Thursday - February 5, 2009, 8:00pm, Concert
$20 at the door. Cash or checks only.
Doors open at 7:15 pm. For this special event we will be taking seating reservations by phone or email. Reserved seats will be held till 7:45pm.

If you saw them back in September, you know you'll have to see them again. If you didn't, now's your chance!

Sunday, January 25, 2009
2:00 - 3:30 pm Workshop "Rock N Blues Ukulele Styles"
Licks, tricks, strums, patterns, repertoire and more.    $20
4:00 - 5:00 pm Mini-concert                    $10, $25 for both
Open to all levels, must know basic chords, and be willing to learn both visually and with tablature.

Boulder Acoustic Society
Sunday - October 26, 2008, 3-5pm, Workshop, 8 pm Concert $25 workshop, $20 concert, $40 for both. Payment at the door. Cash or checks only.

Bring your ukes to learn from the best! Multi-talented Aaron Keim and Kailin Yong along with Scott McCormick and Scott Aller will be here to share their ukulele and musical tips and techniques. Besides leading the band with his bass and uke playing, Aaron finds time to deliver his well-regarded clawhammer style uke lessons on YouTube as well as build high-quality Bean Sprout banjo ukuleles. Of course, you would be hard-pressed to find a more sensitive and accomplished violin and uke player than Kailin. And I am sure the two Scotts will be providing appropriate color commentary and rhythmic assistance.

A perennial favorite, Boulder Acoustic Society has new members and a new CD - "Caged Bird"

Old school but never old, Boulder Acoustic Society is a new take on American Roots music. Its what happens when four songwriters get together to mash up blues, folk, gospel, indie and world music to soothe their musical curiosity. Whether its a festival stage, performing arts center, dive bar or a late night campground set, B.A.S. delivers musical diversity throughout their as if its normal. With an exciting musical surprise around every corner, their live shows fuel the buzz and their records defy labels.

I finally found some time to finish a Martin Concert 3K reproduction and two beautiful tenor ukuleles for inventory. That's an Alaskan yellow cedar and maple model pictured here. Take a look at all of them in the Instruments For Sale section. There are also lots of other completed instruments in the Instrument Gallery.

We will be blessed with two wonderful shows in the month of September and there are a couple of new vintage ukes for sale in the Instruments For Sale section, a Gibson Style 3 soprano and a Martin baritone.

Brittni Paiva
Sunday - September 14, 2008, 8:00pm, Concert
$20 at the door. Cash or checks only.
Doors open at 7:15 pm. For this special event we will be taking seating reservations by phone or email. Reserved seats will be held till 7:45pm.

It's been almost three years since Brittni had her debut mainland performance playing to a packed house at DaSilva Ukulele Co. It will be a pleasure and treat to have her back. Let's pack the house again and welcome her back to Berkeley!

For those not so familiar with this youthful ukulele star, here is a brief introduction. For Brittni Paiva and her ukulele, it was love at first touch. Affectionately called the ukulele darling and slack key supergirl for her remarkable instrumental proficiency, Brittni walked away with the 2005 Na Hoku Hanohano “Most Promising Artist Award” at the age of 16 for her debut recording, Brittni X 3 in which she played all three parts—ukulele, guitar and bass.

At age 17 she released her second CD entitled HEAR…, which was awarded the 2006 Hawaii Music Awards “Ukulele Album of the Year” and which also received two nominations for the 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano categories for “Best Instrumental Album of the Year” and “Favorite Entertainer of the Year.“

At 18-years-old, the do-it-all girl did again with the release of her third CD Brittni. In barely a year, this young musician produced another CD that would equal or better her last CD, “Hear…” For more info about Brittni Paiva, please visit her website at www.brittnipaiva.com

Sweet Hollywaiians
w/ special guests: Robert Armstrong & Tony Marcus
Sunday - September 28, 2008, 8:00pm, Concert
$20 at the door. Cash or checks only.
Doors open at 7:15 pm. For this special event we will be taking seating reservations by phone or email. Reserved seats will be held till 7:45pm.

About a year ago, I was treated to an impromptu concert and recording session in the shop by four visiting musicians from Osaka, Japan. The Sweet Hollywaiians blew me away with their multi-instrumental talents and virtuoso playing of the Hawaiian steel guitar, guitar, ukulele, mandolin and bass.

And now here's your chance to experience their musicianship. The "Sweet Hollywaiians" are an amazing hot string band from Japan and they are masters of '20s,'30s hawaiian, swing, ragtime, blues, italian and calypso music.... Hollywood style!! They'll be joined by Cheap Suit Serenaders members Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus. It will indeed be a very special night!

Kingnik
Wednesday - August 6, 2008, 7:30pm, Concert
$15 at the door. Cash or checks only.

Kingnik is Nikki "Ukulele Jones" and Curtis "King" Chamberlain from Portland, Oregon. They'll be stopping by to present a concert as part of their first California tour. Often referred to as the “Sonny and Cher of the ukulele set”, is Nikki “Ukulele Jones”, on ukulele and washboard, and “Curtis King” Chamberlain on ukulele, musical saw and kazoo. KingniK formed 4 years ago as an offshoot to the short lived ukulele trio Red Poppy (you can see their hit song “Hey, Red Poppy” at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=csawking recorded at the National Kazoo Day event in 2005.) KingniK brings fun to show and leaves everyone smiling and singing an old familiar tune or two. Check them out at myspace.com.

Hiram Bell
Saturday - August 9, 2008, 5-7pm, Workshop and Concert
$25 at the door. Cash or checks only.

This will be Hiram's debut at DaSilva Ukulele Co., but Hiram is definitely no stranger to the ukulele community. Born and raised in Hawaii, Hiram grew up in an environment rich in music and art. He studied independently at the famous and historic Kawaihao Church on Oahu. He is a well known and respected ukulele teacher and performer in the Hawaiian community. Please join us for a workshop and mini-concert.

The Portland Ukulele Festival was once more the best event! Thanks to Marianne Brogan and her crew. And how about this for a chance meeting at the festival - UKEMKR meets UKEPLYR. Volvos that is. That's mine on the left.

Just a couple of very special newly completed custom ukes. One is a 5-string concert with Blue River Agate and Obsidian stone rosette and purfling. I have discovered the possibilities of incorporating different colors into the decorative aspects. I look forward to doing more. And the other is a cedar-topped tenor with my first slotted peghead using pricey but gorgeous Waverly tuners and a smooth playing radiused fretboard.

Thanks to all who attended this weekends great show with Nicole and Aaron Keim and Bosko and Honey. And as promised, here is Honey's new ukulele. Yes, she likes it!

Looking for a great way to end this weekend before you head back to the grind on Monday?

Aaron and Nicole Keim with Bosko and Honey
Sunday - May 25, 2008, 8pm Concert
$20 at the door. Cash or checks only.

I met Aaron a few years back when he played a concert here as a member of the Boulder Acoustic Society. That began a wonderful relationship that has included building ukes for all the band members, hanging out at lots of uke festivals and even helping them busk on the streets of Berkeley.

Well, with lots of fun and great music since, Aaron again astounded me by teaming up with his wife Nicole and released the CD "Born In the Country Raised In Town". If you are a fan of traditional music, as I am, be sure to check it out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/keim. So if you want to enjoy some wonderful old tunes, touching vocals and immaculate and stirring instrumentals, please join us.

DaSilva Ukulele Co. will also be hosting Bosko and Honey on a stop of their world tour - Ukulele Safari 2008. They're quite the YouTube phenomenon and till recently only seen in their home of Australia, but with their visit to the 2007 New York Ukulele Festival where I met them and this world tour they've set out to share their fun, sweet and mesmerizing brand of ukulele music. And you will surely be captivated by their stage chemistry. Just go to http://www.youtube.com/boskohoney and you'll be able to enjoy many examples of their unique 100% ukulele style.

Also, since Bosko picked up a DaSilva ukulele as his primary instrument at the 2007 New York Ukulele Festival, I've been working on a very special tenor ukulele for Honey. Spruce topped, with tulipwood back and sides and some special inlays, you'll have to come to the show to see it. It will be very fun to deliver the instrument to her as part of their visit. Hope you can come help us celebrate.

So, two great shows in one evening, probably some rocking, joint numbers, completion and delivery of another ukulele, and a musical evening with friends. What more could you want?

April 23, 2008

A DaSilva Ukulele Co. exclusive! New ukulele cases for your favorite ukes. These are very high-quality cases, constructed with molded fiberglass, ballistic nylon covering, YKK zippers, and high-density foam padding. Each case even has a built-in combination lock and shoulder strap. Available in soprano, concert and tenor sizes, these cases are lighter and much less bulky than other contemporary cases. Pricing from $110-120. Click on the photos for a larger image. Exact dimensions are listed in the Instruments For Sale section.

DaSilva Ukulele Co. Open House, April 26, 2008, Noon to 6 pm. Free!
Please join us to celebrate my 4th year building ukuleles and my 3rd year in the Berkeley shop. We'll have door prizes, open mic, a vintage uke display, lots of ukes to try out, special deals and refreshments.

Since starting the Berkeley Ukulele Club almost a year ago, we have introduced the ukulele to many new players. To continue that trend we will be giving away 2 Flea Ukuleles

during the Open House. One for adults and one for kids 15 and under. Just stop by the shop, fill out a door-prize form and we'll pick the winners that day at 4pm. We'll also be hosting an open mic, so expect your local favorites including the Tin Pan Haoles (3pm to 4pm) to entertain you or sign up yourself. And we will be displaying several quite rare vintage ukuleles from the collections of Jack Ford and Al Dodge.

Michelle's been a tremendous supporter of DaSilva Ukulele Co. since she kicked off the opening of the shop three years ago. It will be great to hear her singing and playing once more. Please join us for what is sure to be a fun time. Michelle's website is http://www.ukalady.com.

And to open the show will be a group from Victoria, British Columbia, the Island Ukuleles A-1 Ensemble. The Island Ukuleles A-1 group this year is comprised of 26 students from 14 Greater Victoria middle and high schools. “Island Ukuleles” is a treasure of a music program boasting a 32 year history in Victoria’s diverse music community.

Three new ukuleles - a new recently reissued Martin 5K for sale, another excellent student built instrument, and a recently completed Martin Concert 3K reproduction.

The US dollars continued slide against the Euro has unfortunately prompted new pricing on all RISA instruments.

Bosko and Honey's Ukulele Safari 2008 was officially launched on March 2 at Mr. Odajima's Bar Hikoroku in Koenji, Tokyo. Ukulele Safari 2008 is a world tour for Bosko and Honey which will take them from their home in Australia to Japan, the U.S.A, the UK and Europe. They will record interviews and songs with performers and enthusiasts and will be publishing their ukulele travelogue on YouTube and in Rolling Coconuts Magazine. They will be visiting DaSilva Ukulele Co. for a special concert with Aaron and Nicole Keim in May, but in the meantime, keeps tabs on their journey at their website - http://www.ukulele.spots.com.au

Concerts with Steven Strauss, Rose Turtle Ertler, Michelle Kiba, the Island Ukuleles A-1 Ensemble, our 4th year anniversary Open House, the 15th Annual Northern California Ukulele Festival, as well as a Berkeley Ukulele Club open mic and potluck is sure to keeps us busy. Please join us. Details in the Calendar section.

I have also expanded the selection of ukuleles for sale beyond DaSilva Ukulele Co. models. As the workshop has grown to become a central ukulele gathering spot in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have an opportunity to procure and provide high-quality vintage and new ukuleles for sale. So, you will not only find available hand-crafted instruments from me, but also some very special vintage finds, artful instruments and new and somewhat rare ukuleles from other builders and factories.

This is also the official announcement of availability of carbon-fiber topped ukuleles from DaSilva Ukulele Co.

While experimentation with the material continues, successful completion of the prototypes and subsequent sound and structural testing has given me the confidence to offer the new instruments. These instruments display a measureable increase in volume, a very sharp attack and are extremely responsive. If you are looking to cut through when playing with others or you like to push an instrument hard without the sound falling apart, these may be worth a try. I have decided to only use carbon-fiber on the instrument top to retain as much warmth from a wood uke as possible as well as to simplify construction in order to keep the prices reasonable.

Sunday, February 24, 2008
3:00 - 4:30 pm Workshop "Melodic Ukulele & Other Right Hand Techniques $20

Open to all levels, must know basic chords, and be willing to learn both visually and with tablature. Concepts taught will include: The banjo Stroke, Fiddle Tunes, Blues, Novelty Songs, playing up the neck, moveable chords, three triplets, and much more!

Lil' Rev is a perennial favorite. His new band - Frogwater will be opening and joining him for what is sure to be lots of fun. Check out his website at www.lilrev.com.

A late but quick update on happenings at the shop in January. Please also check the calendar on the website to see more events we have planned for the coming months. And the Berkeley Ukulele Club. is doing very well with great attendance each meeting with lots of strumming, smiling folks. Hope you can join us.

I'll be hosting this bi-monthly meeting with a tour of the shop and a demo of my new ultra-violet (UV) light polyester finish curing system.

I met Shigeto last year at the New York Ukulele Festival. He had come all the way from Japan to share his uke playing and perform at the open mic. We hit it off quite well and I was quite impressed by his playing. If you have not seen the YouTube videos I captured, check this out -

Shigeto will be spending a few days taking in the California sights on this vacation and I hope you can help welcome him by attending his show. I've been working on a new soprano for him to take back to Japan and I'm sure he will give it a good work out at the show.

January 16-22, 2008
I'll be helping out my friend and koa supplier, Jorma Winkler of Winkler Woods at this years NAMM show. The NAMM show is one of the largest music products trade shows in the world. The ukulele is becoming more prominent each year and it will be good to catch up with other ukulele builders, see the latest ukes and accessories as well as catch some great performances by the likes of Jake, James Hill, Brittni Paiva and many other top uke artists. I know it's tough work, but somebody has to do it.

January 25, 2008
4:30 - 6:00pm Workshop - "Chord Melody a la Smeck" $20
8:00 pm Concert $20

Joel Eckhaus (aka Ukulele Eck) is a “native” New Yawker (well…White Plains), and now lives in far-off-and-exotic South Portland, Maine. He studied uke and tenor banjo with the great Roy Smeck, Vaudeville’s Wizard of the Strings. Joel also owns and operates Earnest Uncommon Musical Instruments and builds acoustic and electric ukuleles, mandolins and tenor guitars.

I actually learned how to play "Bye-Bye-Blues" from Joel at the 2002 Ukulele Expo in New Jersey. That was a great workshop! And since then, I've enjoyed many of Joel's astounding performances at the many uke festivals we attend. Check out his CD - "Tarnished Reputation" by Ukulele Eck and the Fabulous Lacklusters and you'll see that he is master of song parody as well as quite the accomplished instrumentalist. Don't miss this rare visit to the Bay Area.

Of course be on the lookout for more ukuleles built by yours truly. We have several new models planned including the rollout of the carbon-fiber topped ukuleles. We will also be selling refurbished and vintage instruments on the website as we often have some great old instruments come by the shop. We'll let you know when these items are posted.

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support you have given me over the years. I am looking forward to another great year in 2008.

For the month of December, I participate in the Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios - http://www.berkeleyartisans.com which means the shop is open each weekend for visitors and shoppers. My shop is in a building with about 20 other arts so we get several hundred folks visiting each day. Which makes a very good reason to have live music in the shop!

This past weekend we got to enjoy Steven Strauss, a local ukulele mainstay who just issued a new CD entitled "Ukebox" and several members and friends of Al Dodge's band, "Dodge's Sundodgers." We were able to capture several video moments for you to enjoy. Of course we'll have more music for the following weekends, so if you are in the Bay Area, try to stop by. If not, check my YouTube channel - UKEMAKER for the latest upload.

Also, with the extra room in the shop, I am able to have other artists show their work. For the past couple of years I have been proud to show the work of Kathy Greenstein. (www.kgstudiosoakland.com) Kathy not only makes the most delightful mosaics, barbed wire sculptures and other silly items but also plays uke. That's her work in some of the videos.

And the next meeting of the Berkeley Ukulele Club, on Wednesday December 12 will be a potluck, open mic, and holiday party. Fun starts at 6pm. If you're in town, please come by.

November 1, 2007
The Beatles? In Berkeley? Well, sort of.
It's Brook Adams!
Brook Adams - Abbey Road on Ukulele, Workshop and Evening Concert, Sunday November 11, 2007
Afternoon Workshop 3pm to 5pm $25,
Evening Concert 7:30pm $20
The entire Beatles' Abbey Road Album - all seventeen songs - from start to finish on ukulele.

Beatles for the Masses
In this workshop Brook will take you through a collection of Beatles songs and show you tricks to make them sound 'just like the record' or at least as close as you can get on the ukulele. And he'll be showing you some nifty new chord inversions and sneaky little tricks for intros, endings and some melody/solo-ish kinda stuff.

Need more info? Want to hear some of Brook's music? Need some uke lessons? Check out Brook's great site - http://www.brookadams.com.

Also just posted photos for two ukuleles for sale. Details in Instruments For Sale

First is an experimental model with a carbon fiber soundboard. This material may be promising as a ukulele building material. It is certainly stiffer, stronger and more damage resistant than any known wood and if the sound of this instrument is any indication, carbon fiber will have its place in ukedom. Then there is a tenor with spruce top and master-grade quilted sapele back and sides. Unbelievable figure! This instrument is also important because it is one of the first ukuleles finished with my new ultraviolet light (UV) cured finishing system. The finish is tough, thin, clear and very glossy. The best part is that with UV curing, the finish is dry within minutes. It should greatly speed up my building schedule.

October 8, 2007
Just got back from a whirlwind weekend to attend the Southern California Ukulele Festival (SCUF)and a quick visit to The Ukulele and You! exhibit at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. 300+ vintage and new ukuleles in one place - don't miss it if you are in the San Diego area. The show runs till January 31, 2008 and includes special concert events during its run. The evening concert at the SCUF was astounding with Ralph Shaw, Bill Tapia, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Bryan Tolentino and Asa Young. I had a great time giving a seminar, chatting with everyone that stopped by the table, debuting a couple of new ukulele models, and providing the top raffle prize to benefit the Uke For Kids program. Check out the Instrument Gallery for more details on the new concert model with a Carbon Fibre top and the new cutaway baritone model pictured below.

But, the fall season is just getting started. Make sure to visit the Calendar page to see what we have lined up for the next few months.

August 23, 2007
As they say, good things always come in threes. In just a couple of weeks, the Bay Area will be treated to 3 consecutive days of special ukulele events.

Beginning Friday, September 7, the first ever San Francisco Ukulele Festival will kickoff with Jake Shimabukuro in a solo concert at Herbst Theater. As part of the ongoing events surrounding the "Evolution of the 'Ukulele" exhibition at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art (www.mofca.org), Jake will perform a benefit concert. Tickets are going fast, but Stephen Becker, curator of the exhibition just let me know there are still seats left. Tickets are $28 and $22 at City Box Office (415) 392-4400 and online at www.cityboxoffice.com. Herbst Theater is at 401 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco.

The following day, Saturday, September 8 will bring a full day of outdoor ukulele pleasure with the San Francisco Ukulele Festival featuring uke-centric music by some of the Bay Area's best performers. Invited performers include: The UFOs, Al Dodge and the Tin Pan Haoles, The Paper Dolls, Tippy Canoe and the Paddlemen, Faith Ako, slack-key guitarist Carey Camacho, The Victor Ohana Band, Kimo Hussey and Ho'omalie, Ukulele Ray, The Frisky Frolics and Ka Ehu Kai. This will be in the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens at Mission between 3rd and 4th Street in San Francisco from 11am to 4 pm. Bring lawn chairs and picnics, but no dogs or alcohol please. And this is a FREE event! Oh, and visit the Museum of Craft and Folk Art just across the street while you are there.

Then on Sunday, September 9, Kimo Hussey (www.kimohussey.com) will take a quick hop to the East Bay to deliver an afternoon workshop and evening concert at DaSilva Ukulele Co. If you play Hawaiian music, you are sure to know the "He Mele Aloha" songbook (dark blue cover)

co-authored by Kimo Hussey. As a founder of the Pacific Music Foundation (www.pmfhawaii.com), Kimo is well versed in providing a rich educational experience with the ukulele. Don't miss the opportunity to spend the afternoon with one of the top Hawaiian music educators. Then after a short dinner break, Kimo will provide us with some "soothing" Hawaiian tunes in a concert to closeout what is sure to be a memorable ukulele weekend.

James Hill recently visited DaSilva Ukulele Co. and provided a very successful ukulele workshop and astounded us in a very special, intimate evening concert. I would like to publicly thank James Hill for pouring his heart into his music, for making the effort to develop the techniques and musicianship necessary to deliver those amazing performances, and for his warmth and generosity in letting us share in his creativity.

I also want to thank the attendees of the workshop and concert for their support of James Hill and DaSilva Ukulele Co. in our quest to further this wonderful resurgence of ukulele music.

As such, I spoke with James and suggested that we provide everyone with a little musical thank you. As I followed James onto his next venue in Santa Cruz on his West Coast tour, I captured some very energetic moments on video. In particular, James' performance of his "Ode To A Frozen Boot" (currently unavailable on a recording) was something to always remember. So, as a thank you to everyone, James has made available via his website and YouTube a video of the performance. For those who were there - this will make it a little easier to remember, for those who were not, make sure you catch James next time.

Thanks to all who participated in the first meeting of the Berkeley Ukulele Club. Over 50 very enthusiastic people came out to join in the fun! I am looking forward to many more fun meetings. If you missed it, just come to the shop on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm. As mentioned at the meeting, the club website is now up and running. Click Berkeley Ukulele Club to access. You will need the ID and password from the meeting to access the club features. Contact me if you are interested.

If you had not already heard, we'll be forming a new ukulele club in Berkeley with the first meeting on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 7:00pm. For more info check the Calendar section.

Sunday July 15, 2007

Ukulele Workshop - 3-5pm
(All levels welcome)
$25 Please call for reservations or more info

Just posted the latest instrument to leave the shop in the Instrument Gallery. Check out ukulele #121.

Thanks to all those that attended the last two events - Kenneth Makuakane's concert and Vince Cortese's workshop and show. Maybe very different musically but both absolute treasures. I'll make sure we can get them back to the shop soon. Stay tuned for some video and audio samples from both shows.

Derek Cheever, a new ukulele performer from New York was kind enough to stop by the shop while out doing some recording in San Francisco. He liked the couple of ukuleles I happened to have on hand, and we quickly recorded some clips for the website. Check them out in the Instruments For Sale section.

A local newspaper spent some time with me in the shop recently and produced the following article and accompanying audio/slideshow. I have had quite an adventure since I started building ukuleles which seemed to come through in the piece, but I want to let everyone know that I could not have done it without the support and encouragement from the many, many friends I have made along the way. Thank you all!

I posted some photos from the New York Ukulele Festival in the Uke Event Gallery. Take a look.

Just got back from New York Ukulele Festival. Lot's of fun, met a bunch of great folks, got very little sleep. It is great to see the ukulele craze is alive and well on both coasts. I have started to post some videos onYouTube. Search for "DaSilva Ukulele" and you should be able to find them.

Highlights for me were meeting Bosko and Honey of YouTube fame. They had traveled all the way from Australia to play the festival. And Bosko purchased a DaSilva cedar-topped concert that is perfect for him. And just so Honey is not left out, she'll be getting a tenor from me soon. That's the fabulous Heftones with Bosko and Honey in the photo.

I also met this amazing player from Japan, Shigeto Takahashi. He also came halfway around the world - and just to play at the open mic session. Please check out his videos on YouTube. His execution of Roy Smeck styled classics and other standards is flawless. I was so impressed, I'll be sponsoring him with a DaSilva soprano as soon as I can get it built.

I hope to find a way to bring Bosko and Honey and Shigeto to California for some live performances. Stay tuned.

And wouldn't you know it - I travel all the way to New York just to run into Andy and Gino of the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club. That's how I knew I was in the right place.

Now I have to get back to work. Some special ukes are almost completed. Check back soon!

DaSilva Ukulele Co. is now a dealer of RISA Musical Instruments. We will concentrate on the Solid and Electric lines as they are a nice compliment to the DaSilva Ukulele Co. acoustic ukes. We have all the models to try out at the shop and offer FREE shipping in the continental U.S.A. for online buyers. And if you decide to purchase a RISA instrument at the shop, we will pay the California State Sales Tax! So, please check them out.

April is shaping up to be a busy month for uke events.
Herb Ohta Jr. will be in town the week before the Northern California Ukulele Festival and will be offering workshops and private lessons at DaSilva Ukulele Co. My good friend Randall Wright (handstands on ukes - remember?) will headline a house concert on April 13 with his new band. And I will be heading to the New York Ukulele Festival at the end of the month. Dates, times and details in the Calendar section.

Also lots of new DaSilva ukes. Signature models, instruments for sale and new photos of completed custom instruments.

We have renamed the Workbench section of the website and renamed it The Shop. Updated photos and videos of the shop, house concert performances, and my building process will be posted soon. Enjoy.