A patent (#1,579,780) for the ukelin was filed in 1923 and awarded to Paul F. Richter in 1926. He assigned the patent to the Phonoharp Company which later merged with Oscar Schmidt International, Inc., of New Jersey. Ukelins were sold by various subsidiaries of Oscar Schmidt, including the International Music Corporation and the Manufacturers' Advertising Company of New Jersey. Ukelins were mass-produced by the Oscar Schmidt Co. until production was finally stopped in 1964. See similar questions...

There are two main ways of sizing ukuleles. The first is to simply measure how long your uke is from top to bottom. The second and more accurate way, is to measure the string scale-length. This is done by finding the distance from where the strings leave the nut, to the center of the 12th fret, and doubling that measurement. See similar questions...

From the late 1920's to mid 1930's, the ukulele reached it's zenith as the height of fashion. In that era, the little uke seemed to be ubiquitous and was seen in the hands of everyone from college students to movie stars. This wave of popularity lasted into the mid 1930's. The second wave of popularity started in the late 1940's after WW2 ended, and lasted into the 1950's. Some soldiers were even supplied with ukes by the military during the war and wanted to continue playing as civilians. See similar questions...

Rosin dust should be removed immediately after each playing or practicing session from the violin and the strings. Use a soft, lint free cloth after each practice session. This is necessary because rosin dust collects on the body of the instrument under the strings and on the strings, and if it builds up it will be difficult to get off. If you do this consistently, it shouldn't be necessary to use a violin cleaner/polish. See similar questions...

Tori is the person executing a technique such as a throw, while uke is the person receiving the technique. See similar questions...

It's an excerpt from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, and it's being played by Steven Bochco's father Rudolph. See similar questions...

It might be a good idea to rent a violin to start with. Try Foote's - this is a shop in London that has an excellent rental scheme, quite cheap and they are prepared to send instruments all over the country. If you want to buy, any music shop can get hold of the type of instrument beginners use in schools - the best-known make is Stentor - expect to pay somewhere in the region of £100. See similar questions...

To find a teacher, try Musicians Friend. Failing that, contact the local Education Authority Music Service. They won't help you directly as they exist to serve schools only, but they must employ a lot of violin teachers many of whom will be interested in giving private lessons in their spare time. See similar questions...

They are essentially the same instrument. A modern Fiddle is often refered to a Violin in a Folk setting. A traditional Fiddle is a medieval instrument that is related to and somewhat resembles the modern Violin. See similar questions...

Not really. There are many differences, but the biggest is probably the way it's tuned. The ukulele uses a type of tuning called "reentrant" tuning. In reentrant tuning, instead of the strings being tuned across the neck from high to low, one of the strings jumps up in pitch while its neighbors drop progressively. Reentrant tuning is found on other stringed instruments including the lute, Venezuelan cuatro and 5-string banjo. See similar questions...

In general, older instruments have increased in value, especially in the last few years as more uke enthusiasts come into the fold. We've seen values go up tenfold for certain ukuleles. Instruments in excellent, original condition with no cracks or damage have the most value to collectors. Some of the most sought after instruments include the older Hawaiian ukes. The top mainland brands are equally in demand. See similar questions...

Start with the most popular sizes, soprano or concert. This way you will have a point of reference if later you decide to try something else. See similar questions...

By measuring. Using Martin ukes as the standard, soprano ukes are approximately 21 inches long, concert ukes are 23" long, tenor ukes are 26" long and baritone ukes ukes are 30-31" long. See similar questions...

You will be able to do many of the activities that you were able to do before the implant. You should always talk with your doctor before resuming any of these activities. Some activities like contact sports that could damage your device or cable may be prohibited. Others like swimming may be discouraged, or allowed with certain restrictions. See similar questions...

The type of strings vary depending on the type of sound you are trying to acheive. However, generally speaking Eva Pirazzi or Vision strings are recommended. For more information, see our violin strings page. See similar questions...

That is a great question. Most of the time the prices are determined by dealers and appraisers based on what similar instruments are selling for. Most violin makers are also dealers. If you have a violin that you are not sure about, you should take it to several dealers as they will probably tell you different things. I have seen dealers say an instrument is worth very little and then offer to buy it and others say it is worth alot and offer to sell it for me. See similar questions...

You may get different opinions on this, but I think changing your violin strings depends on how much you use them and wear them out. So if you practice for about 3-4 hourse a day, you should probably change them every 6-12 months. If you practice less than an hour or so per day, you could change them every 12-24 months. Hope this helps! - Shaundra See similar questions...

One of the best ways to hold a violin is to not use a shoulder rest. For more information, check out our page on holding the violin. See similar questions...

If a bow or string etc is broken on arrival, Studio19 will organise repair or replacement. However any consumable broken or used during the course of your contract is not covered eg rosin, cork grease, bows, strings etc. You will need to purchase replacements from your local music store. See similar questions...

I'm afraid we aren't a shop and don't sell instruments, we just give free advice. Almost any music shop should be able to sell you a NEW violin for about £100 - you don't need very good quality for a 4-year-old - frankly she won't know the difference! Ask for a make called "Stentor" - they are basic but cheap and tough. See similar questions...