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With a design based on James' custom GString tenor `ukulele (below), this beautiful instrument has a spruce top; curly maple back and sides; a fast, hand-shaped neck; koa wood pickguards and rosette; a radiused ebony fretboard; a slotted head with top-of-the-line geared tuners; and a pickup system with onboard preamp and EQ. Simply put, it's a stunning piece of work that sounds as good as it looks! Click here for more photos, specs and and ordering info. |
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| Custom G String Tenor by Derek Shimizu This well-travelled uke is a spectacular one-of-a-kind custom built by Derek Shimizu of GString Ukuleles. Played by James at every one of his performances since late 2002, this tenor beauty has a cutaway body made entirely from (very) curly Oahu Koa and a hand-shaped mahogany neck; the fretboard, headstock and pickguards are made of ebony. The abalone "flame" inlay in the fretboard is a beautiful touch. This uke is equally at home both on stage and in the studio - it conceals a versatile Fishman Prefix ProBlend mic/pickup system. The superb intonation, buttery tone and warm resonance speak volumes about the kind of care and artistry go into Derek's `ukuleles. GString Ukuleles has a reputation for producing some of the very finest `ukuleles in the world and the proof is most certainly in the playing. Top ▲ |
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In the fall of 2005 James approached New Zealand-based Steve Evans of Beltona Resonator Instruments about building a customized, one-of-a-kind slide `ukulele. Evans' interest was piqued and the two communicated by email as the design took shape. The uke was built using Evans' existing resonator body moulds but has a custom-built square neck, raised action, and a fretless fingerboard (the lines are inlaid wood strips).
The experiment worked beautifully and James spent the next year learning to play the new uke, trying different tunings and techniques, and arranging repertoire for the instrument. The sustained, lyrical sound of the Beltona is a wonderful complement to the conventional `ukulele sound. Top ▲ |
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1991 Doane III Where it all started. This Canadian made concert scale `ukulele was designed by pioneer `ukulele educator Chalmers Doane. James' Doane III (serial no. 49025) was bought for him by his parents when he was accepted into the Langley Ukulele Ensemble in 1991. It continued to be his principal instrument for recording and performance for 12 seminal years and is now deservedly retired. This is, for the most part, the instrument heard on James' debut CD Playing it like it isn't.... The hand-painted flame job shown here is James' second attempt. The original flames can be seen on the cover of his debut album. Top ▲ |
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Martin T-1 Tenor This is James' Martin Tenor `ukulele. Martin ukes often have a story behind them and this one is no exception. This near-mint condition instrument (likely a post-1975 custom) was discovered by James' dad Barry at a pawn shop near Langley, B.C. while James was away on tour. Barry knew he had found something good but wasn't sure if it was a wise investment. After much deliberation he decided to buy the uke. When James returned, his Dad showed him the Martin hesitantly and promised that he could return it if it turned out to be a bad buy. Needless to say, it wasn't. This gorgeous instrument has become a staple in James' `ukulele palette. It's beautiful neck and rich tone make it an ideal choice for pieces like 'Ave Maria' and 'Lullaby on a G String'. Top ▲ |
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RISA Semi-Hollow Body Electric Tenor James' electric semi-hollow body from RISA Musical Instruments in Germany is a new direction in `ukulele design. With steel strings and magnetic pickups, the adventurous player is allowed access to sounds previously unavailable on the `ukulele. Solid construction and quality manufacturing make this tenor scale `ukulele a reliable and exciting instrument. James' RISA semi-hollow body is featured on his new solo album A Flying Leap in a two-uke arrangement of Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing'. Top ▲
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Uke-Stick by RISA The Uke-Stick by RISA Musical Instruments is quite simply a radical `ukulele design. This electric concert-scale stick has no resonating body (and therefore no onstage feedback) whatsoever. With it's pure solid-body design and unique tuning peg positioning, it's quite possibly the world's smallest uke in production. Measuring only 18.3" x 4.3" x 1.4" (46.5 cm x 11 cm x 3.5 cm) - less than 30% of the volume of a regular soprano `ukulele - the uke-stick is an ideal companion on the road. It sports an aluminium bridge and a passive piezo pick-up. Top ▲
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K-Wave 'Rock Uke' A gift from his friends at Kiwaya Ukulele School in Tokyo, James' K-Wave 'Rock Uke' is a fun and versatile electric/acoustic. Inspired by the classic Fender Telecaster guitar, this concert size uke has a mohaogany body, a maple neck, 18 frets and a piezo pickup to boot! Click here to visit the Kiwaya website (Japanese only). Top ▲
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