Curt's Gear

Here is all the gear and music products that I use on a dad-to-day basis for practice, teaching and performance.

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Curt's Gear

My Main Gigging Gear

This is my, Curt Sheller's main and preferred gigging gear that I use or have used in the past.

Koolau

Current Musical Gear - 2018-2019

The following are my main instruments and related gear:

Main Ukuleles

I have two Ko'olau CS (Contemporary Series) Model Tenor Ukuleles, amazing instruments with a cedar top and rosewood sides and backs. One delivered November 2009 and one from February 2017. These are my main performance ukuleles for everything. Both with a low G. Basically a number one and a backup being groomed and in-training and live broken string scenarios.

For a details and nitty gritty regarding the strings I use checkout this Ask Curt page response: What Ukulele Strings Do You Use?

  • Ko'olau CS Model Tenor Ukulele ( strings: Savarez Alliance Red Card classical guitar strings and/or Ko'olau Alohi'. • ( low-G, C Tuning ), I have two of theses. Main one throughly broken in for performance and one in-training.

The Rest of the `Ukulele Gang

  • Lanakia All Koa Tenor - This is made in the USA ( Hawai`i ) ukulele. • ( high-G, C Tuning ) SOLD
  • Pono Pro Classic Thinline solid-body tenor and baritone ukulele. Pretty much any Pono and Pono Pro Classic instrument is better then most mass produced ukuleles. • ( low-G, C Tuning )
  • Magic Fluke Koa Tenor . • ( high-G, C Tuning )

A Few Past Favorites and some that are currently for sale.

  • Martin IZ Mahogany Tenor. • ( high-G, C Tuning ) - SOLD

    This was and is an amazing instrument. Probably have to get another one at some time - shouldn't have let it go. Or the 2K tenor that I also had and let go.

    Keep trying to get Martin to let us, Funky Frets be a ukulele only dealer.

  • Mya-Moe Classic Tenor. • ( low-G, C Tuning ) - SOLD ( $2700 )

Guitars

Strings

Here are the strings that I typically use on my guitars and ukulele.

Ukuleles

Both the Ko'olau, Pono and MyaMoe ukuleles have a radius fingerboard which does make a big difference in ease of playing. The Ko'olau, Pono and MyaMoe are all strung with a low G. For high G, C tuning I grab an American made all Koa Lanakia. Other than Pono I've only found the Godin Multiuke to have a radius fingerboard in a mass produced ukulele.

And with our own music store, ( Funky Frets, Boyertown, PA USA ) – that is naturally, heavy into ukuleles and over 100 ukuleles in stock at all times. I'm in a position to play pretty much what I want — but it's the Ko'olau CS Tenor that gets the most action. That and a Pono solid-body are the only performance ukuleles I perform with in concert.

Amplifiers

For amplifiers I use an AER Compact 60 as my main amp for any acoustic instruments (guitar and ukulele) and it works great with the Tele and bass. Backups or if I need a PA include Fishman SA220 PA or one of the Fishman Loudbox series of amplifiers. Typically no effects and for a DI I only use Fire-Eye , L.R. Baggs , Radial Engineering or Fishman .

I really like to keep the gear simple. No endorsements or artist models for me. I like to make my own choices and not be locked in to or be put in a position to recommend a specific brand of gear. The same gear as I have will never make you sound like me and I'll never sound like me by using your gear.

Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee

Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the best — Glen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys

Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. — Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg

I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent. — fatveg — Portland

Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!

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Original Animation by Curt Sheller - 1987 for my first web site 37 years ago.