Not a Ukulele!

[biosplonk]

Perhaps I'm the only one that has this problem as you are all upstanding mandolin focused citizens, but as I play my mandolin in a folk/punk band and in environments where seeing one would be uncommon but I get asked ALL THE TIME how I came to play the Ukulele.

I have nothing against Ukulele players personally, but its just not my thing. I end up explaining that its a mandolin, and what the differences are, etc. I'm all for a little mandolin ambassadorship, but having heard me talk about this a bunch of times, my wife made me a tee-shirt to get the conversation started on the right foot.

Anyone else out there get mis-identified often? Kind-of curious about it now.

[CelticDude]

At least they didn't think it was a banjo...

I don't get mid-identified, just funny looks, furtive conversations, and the occasional person actually brave enough to ask.

[F-2 Dave]

No, but then I'm not good enough to play for people who actually know what it is.

[Bill Snyder]

biosplunk, this has to be in the 10 most thread themes there is. I just say that to let you know it is apparently a common occurrence.

[Terry Sebastian]

Yes. Its always "I like your ukulele" or "Where did you get the baby guitar"...
I don't mind it so much. Love the shirt though.

[JeffD]

Hey, we need some music at the party, can you bring your banjolukee?

[OldSausage]

Actually, this is the one thing that hasn't happened to me yet.

[Carl Robin]

Great t-shirt ! Waiting for a connecting flight at a Texas airport, a gentleman spied my case, came over, and asked if it was a ukulele. For him, it was wishful thinking. Apparently they come in various sizes and shapes, and he was a collector. Earlier on that same trip, in Michigan, a friend had asked me if I could identify an odd instrument he had found, and purchased inexpensively in an estate sale. After measuring the string length, and doing a web-search, it turned out to be an old 1920's banjolele ! The collector was enthusiastic. We had a nice conversation about it.

[JeffD]

No, but then I'm not good enough to play for people who actually know what it is.

Both of them.

[OldSausage]

"Marjorie, I wanted to introduce you to this young gentleman. You will doubtless be stimulated to learn that he is a collector of ukuleles."

[Tavy]

Mine was once once called a "ukelelium" whatever that may be.

More recently, after a gig I got talking to an attractive person of opposing gender who'd been watching us play all night.... I swear she was interested.... I think I was interested.... and then it happended - she called my "small instrument" a ukelele. Assuming she was talking about my mandolin I patiently explained the difference. We talked some more... and then it happened again... and I left alone...

Some of that was even true

[Marvino]

Very cool shirt. That needs to be a case sticker.
I wonder if ukulele players get asked....." hey is that a mandolin"?

[SincereCorgi]

That's a great shirt, your wife has a good eye. And you could probably sell, like, twenty of them here on the Cafe.

[ilovemyF9]

I also have had that question on a few occasions & I simply tell them, "Oh no, it's a glockenspiel." They walk away real quick with that one.

[biosplonk]

Oh no, it's a glockenspiel.

Ha! That's amazing. I don't necessarily want them to go away in most cases, but the humor value would be worth it :-)

[biosplonk]

That's a great shirt, your wife has a good eye. And you could probably sell, like, twenty of them here on the Cafe.

Thanks! I'll pass along the compliments. Not really set up for mass production but could probably make more. Have to do an F-style design also to broaden the audience :-)

[KEB]

Very cool shirt. That needs to be a case sticker.
I wonder if ukulele players get asked....." hey is that a mandolin"?

Probably not, but then again, they get all kinds of questions about Tiny Tim, so I guess it evens out.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

Where does your wife sell these?
I'll take an xlg.

[mandroid]

It gets worse if the body is more Guitar~ish shaped. {from their past inventory :
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/90U-4364.htm

[Londy]

I was traveling though Nashville and at the airport while in line I can feel all the eyes on me. I was just waiting to see who would ask. After about 20 minutes it happens. Excuse me, is that a banjo? I had to hold back then with a confused look on my face I asked, what's a banjo?

[biosplonk]

Where does your wife sell these?
I'll take an xlg.

I'm new here and trying to respect the rules. It was a one off thing but there seems to be a bit of genuine interest, so I'll chat with her and see if she wants to put an ad in the classifieds this evening.

[Pick&Grin]

Great shirt, and yes... this just happened to me (again) this past Friday night, after a gig.
Doesn't bother me at all: just glad I can set them straight!

[Dobes2TBK]

I've heard the same question about a full-size mountain dulcimer. <mundanes>

[Jeff Hildreth]

I make and play (as does my grandson) cavaquinhos.

We need the "T" Shirt.

[Timbofood]

Strong work on rule respect! Even stronger if you can persuade your wife do "re issue" the shirt!
I used to get the ukulele thing, especially as my name is Tim! I try to pre empt the whole thing when I can.