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Dear Friends
Dear Friends
For those who don't know me, my name is Ernest (Ernie) and I am a passionate ukulele enthusiast in as much that not only do I play ukuleles, but I also build them as well. I leave it to you to decide how well I do these!
For those who don't know me, my name is Ernest (Ernie) and I am a passionate ukulele enthusiast in as much that not only do I play ukuleles, but I also build them as well. I leave it to you to decide how well I do these!
I am based in Bath and play for the Strumble Bees (Bath Ukulele Band) who frequently play for local charities, community groups and other good causes. I am also a member of the Mangotsfield Ukulele Jam in Bristol.
I am based in Bath and play for the Strumble Bees (Bath Ukulele Band) who frequently play for local charities, community groups and other good causes. I am also a member of the Mangotsfield Ukulele Jam in Bristol.
Three years ago, I attended a week's course at the Pete Howlett International School of Ukulele Building at Talysarn, Gwynedd. Little did I know that when I signed up for the course that Pete was one of the top ukulele builders in the world. At the end of the week, with his guidance and tuition, I had built a fantastic and much prized Makore tenor ukulele, which retails at the Southern Ukulele Store for £1275.
Three years ago, I attended a week's course at the Pete Howlett International School of Ukulele Building at Talysarn, Gwynedd. Little did I know that when I signed up for the course that Pete was one of the top ukulele builders in the world. At the end of the week, with his guidance and tuition, I had built a fantastic and much prized Makore tenor ukulele, which retails at the Southern Ukulele Store for £1275.
Since that time, I have built and sold around thirty ukuleles with the profits being donated to local charities and other good causes. Some time ago, I saw a guy playing a 10 string Charango (South American cousin of the ukulele) at Bristol Harbourside and was really impressed with the instrument, even though I'd never seen one or come across it before. Typical tuning of the Charango is very similar to the ukulele i.e. gCEA, apart from middle pair of E strings which are tuned an octave apart. Also, the chord shapes are the same as ukulele apart from last, 5th pair of E strings.
Since that time, I have built and sold around thirty ukuleles with the profits being donated to local charities and other good causes. Some time ago, I saw a guy playing a 10 string Charango (South American cousin of the ukulele) at Bristol Harbourside and was really impressed with the instrument, even though I'd never seen one or come across it before. Typical tuning of the Charango is very similar to the ukulele i.e. gCEA, apart from middle pair of E strings which are tuned an octave apart. Also, the chord shapes are the same as ukulele apart from last, 5th pair of E strings.
My first thought was to convert a donor, 4 string ukulele to a 10 string Charango. However, it very soon became obvious that I couldn't fit 10 tuners on the headstock and the fretboard wasn't wide enough. This, in turn, led me to taking a keen interest in the 8 string taropatch concert ukulele, which is also an early cousin of the modern ukulele, first produced in the late 1800s. It was an instrument with 8 strings , set in four courses of two strings, each pair tuned in unison e.g. ggCCEEAA i.e similar to a mandolin.
My first thought was to convert a donor, 4 string ukulele to a 10 string Charango. However, it very soon became obvious that I couldn't fit 10 tuners on the headstock and the fretboard wasn't wide enough. This, in turn, led me to taking a keen interest in the 8 string taropatch concert ukulele, which is also an early cousin of the modern ukulele, first produced in the late 1800s. It was an instrument with 8 strings , set in four courses of two strings, each pair tuned in unison e.g. ggCCEEAA i.e similar to a mandolin.
The taropatch allegedly got its name from being played in the taro fields by the native Hawaiians. It was probably a derogatory slur coined by the white islanders who viewed the native Hawaiians as lazy and indolent (early racism?). The early taropatches were mainly soprano and concert size and understandably seemed to fall from favour mainly due to tuning difficulties resulting from the shortcomings of early string/tuner technology and the lack of electronic tuners.
The taropatch allegedly got its name from being played in the taro fields by the native Hawaiians. It was probably a derogatory slur coined by the white islanders who viewed the native Hawaiians as lazy and indolent (early racism?). The early taropatches were mainly soprano and concert size and understandably seemed to fall from favour mainly due to tuning difficulties resulting from the shortcomings of early string/tuner technology and the lack of electronic tuners.
Worldwide, there are extremely few modern examples of the 8 string concert taropatches (apart from tenors) being manufactured and these are hard to come by and really expensive (price range £250 - £850). In the circumstances, I decided to look for a suitable donor concert 4 string concert instrument and convert it to an 8 string concert taropatch.
Worldwide, there are extremely few modern examples of the 8 string concert taropatches (apart from tenors) being manufactured and these are hard to come by and really expensive (price range £250 - £850). In the circumstances, I decided to look for a suitable donor concert 4 string concert instrument and convert it to an 8 string concert taropatch.
My basic design brief for the donor instrument was to buy the highest specification concert ukulele for the minimum cost, in case the additional string tension caused the body/neck to buckle or the bridge to detach under load. I also chose a solid spruce sound board, as this is an extremely lightweight and strong wood widely used in old aircraft designs e.g. the highly acclaimed Mosquito fighter/bomber of WW2.
My basic design brief for the donor instrument was to buy the highest specification concert ukulele for the minimum cost, in case the additional string tension caused the body/neck to buckle or the bridge to detach under load. I also chose a solid spruce sound board, as this is an extremely lightweight and strong wood widely used in old aircraft designs e.g. the highly acclaimed Mosquito fighter/bomber of WW2.
Specification of Kmise UK-24B donor instrument: solid spruce soundboard, sapele back and sides, okoume neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, cupro-nickel frets, dot inlay, chrome enclosed tuners, black abs binding, Aquila supernylgut strings, electric pre-amp/tuner - bass, middle and treble, shoulder and end pins.
Specification of Kmise UK-24B donor instrument: solid spruce soundboard, sapele back and sides, okoume neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, cupro-nickel frets, dot inlay, chrome enclosed tuners, black abs binding, Aquila supernylgut strings, electric pre-amp/tuner - bass, middle and treble, shoulder and end pins.
The actual conversion consisted of adding four extra, matching tuners, cutting additional string slots in the nut and bridge. I also fitted a further course of 4 fluoro-carbon strings (my own brand) and experimented with three different string tuning combinations i.e. ggCCEEAA (unison), gGCCEEAA (low G) and gGcCEEAA (top two courses tuned an octave apart and my preferred option). After much thought, tempting though it was, I decided not to give detailed instructions on how to do this conversion, as I would really hate it if you ruined your prized donor ukulele - it is easily done, believe me!
The actual conversion consisted of adding four extra, matching tuners, cutting additional string slots in the nut and bridge. I also fitted a further course of 4 fluoro-carbon strings (my own brand) and experimented with three different string tuning combinations i.e. ggCCEEAA (unison), gGCCEEAA (low G) and gGcCEEAA (top two courses tuned an octave apart and my preferred option). After much thought, tempting though it was, I decided not to give detailed instructions on how to do this conversion, as I would really hate it if you ruined your prized donor ukulele - it is easily done, believe me!
Having perfected the technique, converting a standard four string ukulele to five, six string or eight string instruments is really straightforward using tunings of your choice e.g. gGCEA (5 string), gcCEaA (6 string) or gGcCEEAA (8string). I have also successfully converted a 4 string concert banjolele to an 8 string concert banjolele (technically not a taropatch).
Having perfected the technique, converting a standard four string ukulele to five, six string or eight string instruments is really straightforward using tunings of your choice e.g. gGCEA (5 string), gcCEaA (6 string) or gGcCEEAA (8string). I have also successfully converted a 4 string concert banjolele to an 8 string concert banjolele (technically not a taropatch).
What does the taropatch sound like? Vibrant, great volume and sound projection, tone and frequency range similar to a Charango or Mandolin i.e a ukulele on steroids.
What does the taropatch sound like? Vibrant, great volume and sound projection, tone and frequency range similar to a Charango or Mandolin i.e a ukulele on steroids.
It should be noted that the chord shapes for the taropatch are exactly the same as a standard 4 string soprano, concert or tenor ukulele with re-entrant tuning i.e. gCEA
It should be noted that the chord shapes for the taropatch are exactly the same as a standard 4 string soprano, concert or tenor ukulele with re-entrant tuning i.e. gCEA
Are you interested in test driving or owning a unique, bespoke 4 to 8 string taropatch concert ukulele conversion (Kmise UK 24-B) or just want further details? If so, please contact me expressing your interest and I will give you full details including price and delivery time. Please note that this is my hobby not a business and I am only interested in making enough profit to sustain my hobby. You may be very pleasantly surprised at my prices. I prefer collection of ukulele from my home and payment by cash or bank transfer (PayPal not used), but if this is not possible because of distance etc, I am happy to quote prices for mail order and payment by bank transfer only. Please note, that I do not quote prices on this web-site as all my components are imported and I pay in US dollars (prices and exchange rates are continuously variable).
Are you interested in test driving or owning a unique, bespoke 4 to 8 string taropatch concert ukulele conversion (Kmise UK 24-B) or just want further details? If so, please contact me expressing your interest and I will give you full details including price and delivery time. Please note that this is my hobby not a business and I am only interested in making enough profit to sustain my hobby. You may be very pleasantly surprised at my prices. I prefer collection of ukulele from my home and payment by cash or bank transfer (PayPal not used), but if this is not possible because of distance etc, I am happy to quote prices for mail order and payment by bank transfer only. Please note, that I do not quote prices on this web-site as all my components are imported and I pay in US dollars (prices and exchange rates are continuously variable).
Contact Ernest: Web-site: www.sites.google.com/view/taropatch
Contact Ernest: Web-site: www.sites.google.com/view/taropatch
E-mail: sandsernest@gmail.com
E-mail: sandsernest@gmail.com
Mobile: 07954 814907
Mobile: 07954 814907
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