The Brookesaphone or the Lapolin

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 22 Apr 2008 4:17 am

Don Discher · Post by **Don Discher** » 22 Apr 2008 9:46 am

Loved it,very relaxing music.

Therman Jones · Post by **Therman Jones** » 22 Apr 2008 10:05 am

BRAVO!!
Absolutely brilliant performance of a classic melody.

Having seen several of your videos, I realize this is just a 'par for the course' outing for you, Basil. But I continue to be impressed with your seemingly effortless technique and 'touch'.

Alan has created a marvelous instrument in the Brookesaphone. His creativity and workmanship are inspiring to those of us that enjoy fashioning our own instruments.

Now, in the hands of a Master, it has transcended wood and steel to touch our hearts with your passion for music. And we are deeply blessed.

Therman 'Ukuleleo' Jones

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 22 Apr 2008 1:30 pm

Great sound, Basil!
In case y'all didn't catch this one.
Basil's beautiful rendition of another classic: Hawaii Tattoo.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UecQXH9dB ... re=related

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 25 Apr 2008 9:58 am

Great job, Baz. Loved that sound.

BTW...you have your watch on the wrong arm. LOL!

Harry

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 25 Apr 2008 11:44 am

BTW...you have your watch on the wrong arm. LOL!

Yes and no, Yes, as to protocol demands unless your sexuality is suspect that you wear a watch on your left wrist, but no, regarding practicality.

I've had so many really good watches go dead on me, (presumably it's because of the vibrato)the right wrist is the right wrist for me..

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 25 Apr 2008 8:27 pm

Oh...and here I thought it was because you were left- handed.

Harry

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Apr 2008 1:25 am

Thanks for asking Harry. I'm actually ambidextrous as a result of the physiotherapy after polio. Pedidextrous too !!

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 26 Apr 2008 3:13 am

Well all kidding aside...I really enjoyed that song.

Good job.

Harry

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 26 Apr 2008 7:31 pm

Beautiful song and beautiful playing, but someone has to ask...Does that steel really have 16 strings???

~~W.C.~~

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Apr 2008 11:10 pm

Wayne Cox wrote:Beautiful song and beautiful playing, but someone has to ask...Does that steel really have 16 strings???
~~W.C.~~

Absolutely ! It's the octave courses that give the instrument its unique sound.

It was well worth the 10,000 mile round trip to deliver the instrument to Basil personally.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Apr 2008 11:25 pm

Therman Jones wrote:...Alan has created a marvelous instrument in the Brookesaphone. His creativity and workmanship are inspiring to those of us that enjoy fashioning our own instruments.

Now, in the hands of a Master, it has transcended wood and steel to touch our hearts with your passion for music. And we are deeply blessed....

Thanks Therman. Working on this instrument has been a labour of love, and I feel honoured to have one of my creations in the hands of someone who has the talent to put it to good use.
Basil's is a very unique talent. He's one of the unsung heroes of our time.

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 27 Apr 2008 8:39 am

Alan

I noticed that you put an "F",(your middle inital), on your guitar. I remember that you changed your avatar to remove it because you just wanted it to show Alan Brooks. Maybe you should get Baz to send the guitar back to you so you can scratch off the F.

LOL!

Harry

Seriously... you did a he** of a good job on it...it sounds and looks great.

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 27 Apr 2008 6:08 pm

ALAN, I love that kind of creative thinking! Having built a few steels myself, I can sure appreciate the work you put into this instrument. Keep up the good work! It is NOT just a plank with a pickup;it is a beautiful,unique,creation.
~~W.C.~~

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Apr 2008 10:31 pm

Thanks Harry and Wayne. As a luthier I've always used my initial F to distinguish myself from several other Alan Brookeses I've encountered. On the Forum I stopped using the middle initial because other members were suggesting that it was somehow elitist, which I would never wont to be.

Gary C. Dygert · Post by **Gary C. Dygert** » 30 Apr 2008 11:04 am

Alan, I had a similar situation, and my name looks somewhat pretentious with the middle initial. I got used to using it to distinguish myself from another Gary Dygert (a very distant cousin) in this area. He was killed in a motorcycle accident a couple years ago.

BTW, your creations are magnificent! I am in awe of anybody who can build such beautiful instruments.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 30 Apr 2008 6:02 pm

Thanks Gary. For the sake of posterity, here's the instrument at an early stage of building, when I had just laminated the various woods together, cut out the shape and fitted the neck to the body.

Actually the body is only there for appearance: the neck would play as an instrument on its own. If there were enough interest I could put together the story of its building as a subject on its own. I plan to do so for Basil's magazine, Aloha Dream.

For those of you unaware of it, Basil has published that magazine for several years now. It looks at every aspect of Hawaiian music, its current happenings and its history. It's a very entertaining publication, and I would recommend anyone interested in Hawaiian music to subscribe.
You can do so on Basil's website....
http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/