New Weird Instrument Day

[dilver]

Got this Romero Creations Tiny Tenor 6 string for my birthday. I wanted something that would tune to A so it didn’t just sound like a small guitar. Something about the high tuning gives it a different character that’s obviously more like a uke but not absurdly happy sounding all the time. I have lots of nice guitars, so this is a fun change of pace.

From first impressions, it’s really well built - light years better than the Gretsch guitalele I have. Plays great all up the neck well, it IS really short) and importantly, stays in tune and sounds great in every position. Solid Koa back and sides, solid mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and bridge. A little under a grand, so I’d expect it to be well built.

I bought the Gretsch guitalele as a travel instrument and had so much fun with it last vacation I took. But it definitely has its limitations and it’s hard to play certain things as it’s so small. When I got back, I thought a real instrument would be worth it if it played well and sounded good. So I started hunting around. Surprisingly, there are very few higher end guitaleles. Most are cheap crap. I know a couple forum members have Romero Creations instruments and highly recommended them. The Tiny Tenor 6 string does not disappoint.

[Wade Hampton]

I’m glad to hear that you got a good instrument there. I’m a huge fan of offbeat instruments, myself.


Wade Hampton Miller

[dilver]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I’m glad to hear that you got a good instrument there. I’m a huge fan of offbeat instruments, myself.


Wade Hampton Miller

Keeps it interesting, doesn’t it? I find myself playing differently, especially rhythmically.

[LFL Steve]

Most of my day-to-day acquaintances are not musicians. So I’m used to being a little bit different. And I definitely appreciate different, offbeat instruments. Hopefully folks will check in on this thread from time to time, and over the years it could become the AGF repository of uniqueness.

[burnspbesq]

There are days when I’m a little bit tempted to try and learn to play the oud. I’ve always loved listening to Anouar Brahem, and the second guitarist in Stephane Wrembel’s band doubles on oud. There’s a YT video of Wrembel doing “Ecce Homo” at Mountain Stage that features a wicked oud solo.

Anyone else ever taken a crack at it?

[catt]

Yes, I've studied oud on/off the past 10 years. I'm surprised more guitar players don't get into oud - given the close association with guitar.

I've listened to much Arabic-influenced music - there was a regular radio show in Boulder called "Mostly Guitar" where I heard oud regularly during college. Flamenco was my entrée - oud and the musical traditions of al-Andalus is deep dive.

Recommend: Maqam World https://www.maqamworld.com/en/index.php

And, Mike's Oud Forum

*And congratulations on your Romero instrument, dilver!

[mjh42]

Nice buy, enjoy the music you play with it....

Romero Creations makes nice instruments. Well thought of in ukulele circles..

[jricc]

Nice! Congrats on a cool 6 string. I had a Romero Creations Tiny Terror uke that was a very nice uke! Enjoy it.

[dilver]

My Romero Creations Guitalele came with the three treble strings made of fluorocarbon - same material as fishing line. As I was playing with different tunings, the high A string snapped. I replaced it with a Nylgut string, but it didn’t have the same tone. Bought spool of 30lb Seaguar fishing line and it’s just like the original fluorocarbon A string. Now I’ve got a spool of it that will last me forever!