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Kook-a-la-lele
Alternate name:Baritone ukulele
Maker: Michael Arantani
Maker: Music Guy Mic
Date: 2010 ca.
Place Made:Kanaohe, Hawaii, United States, Oceania
Model: Dr. Seuss "Cat in the Hat" style
Signednone
MarkingsNumerous stickers bearing Dr. Suess quotes
DescriptionSee NMM 14459 Polk-a-lay-lee, the instrument type from which NMM 14963 was adapted.
The “Kook-A-La-Lee” was made to play primarily at the beach so it could be stuck in the sand, when not in use, according to https://www.fleamarketmusic.com/calendar/default.asp?Past=True, citing "History of the Ukulele" exhibit at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum.
Ukulele of modified form with pentagonal body and long hook-shaped head
Stringing: four nylon strings
Soundboard: three-ply pine plywood; strings recessed into top
Back: three-ply pine plywood
Ribs: three-ply pine plywood
Head and neck: pine
Heel cap: none; edge of back slightly rounded at upper edge
Binding: none
Fingerboard: black plastic; 13 integral frets, including a 0-fret; recessed dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th frets, not including 0-fret
Nut: black plastic; integral with fingerboard; two red plastic string guides to direct strings to pegbox, which is far up the curved head
Bridge: black plastic with integral saddle, glued to top; black-painted wood golf tees used as pins in string holes drilled through top behind bridge
Tuners: four black plastic pegs, with large, pentagonal heads, one head with large white, red, and black-painted wood hat-shaped head
Endpin: none
Rosette: none; heart-shaped soundhole
Finish: light pink paint; numerous Dr. Seuss stickers on instrument
Linings: none
Neck block: pine; integral with neck
End block: none
Top braces: none
Back braces: none
The “Kook-A-La-Lee” was made to play primarily at the beach so it could be stuck in the sand, when not in use, according to https://www.fleamarketmusic.com/calendar/default.asp?Past=True, citing "History of the Ukulele" exhibit at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum.
Ukulele of modified form with pentagonal body and long hook-shaped head
Stringing: four nylon strings
Soundboard: three-ply pine plywood; strings recessed into top
Back: three-ply pine plywood
Ribs: three-ply pine plywood
Head and neck: pine
Heel cap: none; edge of back slightly rounded at upper edge
Binding: none
Fingerboard: black plastic; 13 integral frets, including a 0-fret; recessed dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th frets, not including 0-fret
Nut: black plastic; integral with fingerboard; two red plastic string guides to direct strings to pegbox, which is far up the curved head
Bridge: black plastic with integral saddle, glued to top; black-painted wood golf tees used as pins in string holes drilled through top behind bridge
Tuners: four black plastic pegs, with large, pentagonal heads, one head with large white, red, and black-painted wood hat-shaped head
Endpin: none
Rosette: none; heart-shaped soundhole
Finish: light pink paint; numerous Dr. Seuss stickers on instrument
Linings: none
Neck block: pine; integral with neck
End block: none
Top braces: none
Back braces: none
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 1111 mm (43-3/4″)
Back length: 359 mm (14-1/8″)
Upper bout width: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Lower bout width: 194 mm (7-5/8″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Head length: 548 mm (21-9/16″)
Head width, top: 20 mm (25/32″)
Head width, bottom: 37 mm (1-15/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 197 mm (7-3/4″)
Neck width, nut: 38 mm (1-1/2″)
Neck width, heel: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Soundhole diameter: maximum width: 48 mm (1-7/8″); maximum height: 56 mm (2-3/16″)
Vibrating string length (0-fret to bridge edge): 459 mm (18-1/16″)
Back length: 359 mm (14-1/8″)
Upper bout width: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Lower bout width: 194 mm (7-5/8″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Head length: 548 mm (21-9/16″)
Head width, top: 20 mm (25/32″)
Head width, bottom: 37 mm (1-15/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 197 mm (7-3/4″)
Neck width, nut: 38 mm (1-1/2″)
Neck width, heel: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Soundhole diameter: maximum width: 48 mm (1-7/8″); maximum height: 56 mm (2-3/16″)
Vibrating string length (0-fret to bridge edge): 459 mm (18-1/16″)
Terms
Credit Line: Geoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2015
Not on view
Object number: 14963