Images(3)

Kook-a-la-lele

Alternate name(s)

Baritone ukulele

Maker Michael Arantani

Maker Music Guy Mic

Date2010 ca.

Place MadeKanaohe, Hawaii, United States, Oceania

ModelDr. Seuss "Cat in the Hat" style

SignednoneMarkingsNumerous stickers bearing Dr. Suess quotesDescriptionSee 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

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″)

Credit LineGeoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2015

Object number14963

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