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THE UKULELE AND HAWAIIAN STEEL
GUITAR EXHIBIT
We have been in the business for close to 20 years and we've made a lot of acquaintances
throughout the years. One such acquaintance and frequent Hawaii visitor is world renowned collector
Mac Yasuda. So when Mac came to us with the idea of exhibiting
some of his instruments in our store, we said "YEAH!". The
concept of a rotating exhibit of musical instruments, based on a theme, was very
attractive to us. The fact that the first theme was going to be ukuleles
and Hawaiian acoustic steel guitars was even better! Mac thought there
would be great interest locally in such a display, both from Hawaii residents
and out of state visitors.
So far we have over one hundred instruments
displayed on our walls at this moment. I've only managed to post a small
handful of ukuleles on our web site. The word got out and soon people were
making a pilgrimage to our store to see the collection. Some were visitors
to the Islands interested in Hawaiian instruments. Some were ukulele
collectors checking out certain instruments for reference purposes...kind of
like going to the library to find out more about your instrument. But the
majority were just in awe to see so many instruments assembled in one
place. Mr. Yasuda is planning to send us more instruments in the very near
future...I believe we were talking about electric lap steels this time and I
hope I can talk him into sending us a Martin 5K uke!
So here is, Hawaii! Take advantage of this
great opportunity to see a small portion of one of the greatest musical
instrument collections around. The Honolulu Advertiser recently did a
story on us and the exhibit. You can click on the link or read the
condensed version of the article below.
Reprinted
from: The Honolulu Advertiser, Island Life Section, Monday, January 28, 2002
Vintage
collection shows how 'ukulele has evolved
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff
Writer
You couldn't fit the history of the 'ukulele into
a single book. Island Guitars is betting that three
walls and an aisle will be more accommodating.
The Ward Warehouse shop
is playing host to a comprehensive collection of vintage
'ukulele owned by noted Japanese collector Mac Yasuda.
The collection includes more than 150 'ukulele and other
stringed instruments dating back to the 1920s, including
old pineapple models from Kamaka and several Weissenborn
lap steel guitars.
"We've had a lot of people come in, and they
don't know what some of these 'ukuleles are," said Jim
Danz, one of the store's owners. "I've been in the
business for 20 years, and I haven't seen some of this
stuff."
From Mossman to Martin, Gretsch to Gibson,
resonators to mutant banjos, the Yasuda collection
offers a unique look at the evolution of the pint-sized,
four-stringed instrument.
Some of the instruments on display are or will be
available for sale, but Danz said Yasuda's main interest
is in fostering a knowledge and understanding of the
'ukulele's history.
Yasuda, who lives in California, is a frequent
visitor to Hawai'i and an old friend of Danz. According
to Danz, Yasuda was turned off by some local merchants
who sell vintage 'ukulele to tourists at highly inflated
prices.
"
'Ukulele are really big in Japan right now, and Mac
didn't want Hawai'i to get a bad name from overcharging
tourists," Danz said. "He just wanted to display the
'ukulele in the right setting with no pressure to
buy."
The exhibit occupies a small room in the shop
that used to display vintage guitars. Other pieces from
Yasuda's collection will be sent to Island Guitars
periodically to replace those that are sold.
Aficionado Jim Danz, one of the owners of
Island Guitars,
is impressed by Mac Yasuda's vintage
'ukulele and lap steels.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
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