wingsdad
February 13th, 2009, 11:20 AM
...with other fretted instros, Oscar Schmidt ('by Washburn') makes affordable and very decent instros. Besides OS-branded versions of some lower end Washburn acoustic guitars and Mandolins (like the OM10E in Krashpad's thread on the 'Washburn' Mando he's ogling on Craigslist) OS has its own stable of niche instros --Autoharps and Ukuleles.
Oscar Schmidt (http://www.oscarschmidt.com/)
When I decided to dabble with the Uke & Mando 5 years ago, OS made that excursion affordable. Their Uke line is a long one, with a range of sizes from Concert to Tenor to Baritone. One of last year's American Idol finalists, Jason Castro, donned an OU-5 to perform 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. I started on the Uke with this Schmidt, an OU-3; for $75, new, it's dressed up nicely with laminated Koa b/s and oodles of abalone trim:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/OU-3sm.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/OU-3Back.jpg
Last year, I traded that little guy to try a longer -scale Tenor-sized Uke, the OU-6. This one flashed a lam-Koa top besides the b/s:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/TheFretNet%20Pix/FretNet%20Misc%20Instros/OU-65532c.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/TheFretNet%20Pix/FretNet%20Misc%20Instros/OU-6back-stand5534c.jpg
The longer scale of the Tenor didn't do much for me, and when my Local GAS Station got a special deal on the new solid-wood models OS released for NAMM '08, I decided to trade the OU-6 for this, the OU-250-BELL, a Concert sized uke resurrecting a Uke body style from early 20th Century:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/OU-250BELL_0681.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/IMG_0682C.jpg
It's solid Trembesi top/b/s. Say what? :confused: WTH is Trembesi? Some type of Pacific Rim wood that's used for furniture, but I've read somewhere that Trembesi may be 'the new Koa' as master grade Koa has become increasingly scarce.
Mularkey? Perhaps, but so what? :whatever: It's gorgeous and sounds great.
It's got a much more resonant sound than my previous lam-wood models (still, neat Ukes), and the body shape gives it more bottom and volume.
Complete with its requisite custom-shaped hardshell case...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/IMG_0646.jpg
...this little beauty was just a shade under $200...or, $40 plus my OU-6, which had cost me $40 plus my OU-3. (bear in mind that I got every one of these at 'MAMM Show Special prices that were 50% or more off their current MSRP, as my dealer buys a heap of OS display models at the show every year).
Oscar Schmidt (http://www.oscarschmidt.com/)
When I decided to dabble with the Uke & Mando 5 years ago, OS made that excursion affordable. Their Uke line is a long one, with a range of sizes from Concert to Tenor to Baritone. One of last year's American Idol finalists, Jason Castro, donned an OU-5 to perform 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. I started on the Uke with this Schmidt, an OU-3; for $75, new, it's dressed up nicely with laminated Koa b/s and oodles of abalone trim:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/OU-3sm.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/OU-3Back.jpg
Last year, I traded that little guy to try a longer -scale Tenor-sized Uke, the OU-6. This one flashed a lam-Koa top besides the b/s:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/TheFretNet%20Pix/FretNet%20Misc%20Instros/OU-65532c.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/TheFretNet%20Pix/FretNet%20Misc%20Instros/OU-6back-stand5534c.jpg
The longer scale of the Tenor didn't do much for me, and when my Local GAS Station got a special deal on the new solid-wood models OS released for NAMM '08, I decided to trade the OU-6 for this, the OU-250-BELL, a Concert sized uke resurrecting a Uke body style from early 20th Century:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/OU-250BELL_0681.jpghttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/IMG_0682C.jpg
It's solid Trembesi top/b/s. Say what? :confused: WTH is Trembesi? Some type of Pacific Rim wood that's used for furniture, but I've read somewhere that Trembesi may be 'the new Koa' as master grade Koa has become increasingly scarce.
Mularkey? Perhaps, but so what? :whatever: It's gorgeous and sounds great.
It's got a much more resonant sound than my previous lam-wood models (still, neat Ukes), and the body shape gives it more bottom and volume.
Complete with its requisite custom-shaped hardshell case...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/wingsdad/Oscar%20Schmidt%20OU-250%20Bell/IMG_0646.jpg
...this little beauty was just a shade under $200...or, $40 plus my OU-6, which had cost me $40 plus my OU-3. (bear in mind that I got every one of these at 'MAMM Show Special prices that were 50% or more off their current MSRP, as my dealer buys a heap of OS display models at the show every year).