Hula Blues - Video - Gerald Ross

[Gerald Ross]

I performed at and taught ukulele and beginning lap steel guitar at the Portland, Oregon Uke Fest last week. It was an entire week of ukes! Every type of music imaginable was performed and taught (well at least seven or eight types).

Portland Uke Fest

I did a demo/lecture on the lap steel on the Saturday of the fest.

Here I am with my pals Marv and Kathy Reitz performing Hula Blues. It's a bit shakey at the start but ends up nicely. I'm playing my 1954 Fender Champion Lap Steel (Jason Lollar replacement pickup) through my Roland Cube Street amp.

Hula Blues - Gerald Ross

[Brad Bechtel]

Sounds great, Gerald! Thanks for sharing.

[Wally Pfeifer]

Really nice, Gerald. You'll have to play this one at Winchester.
Is that a chunk of gold around your neck or just your ID?

[Gerald Ross]

You know me Wally, I'm Mr. Bling.

Actually that was my name tag for the entire week at the Portland Uke Fest. The name tag serves two purposes:

1. Only lets paying customers and staff into the classes and events.

2. Cuts down on embarrassment when you run into a person whose name you should know but have forgotten.

[Ray Montee]

Gerald!
You were in towne over my birthday and you didn't even give me a call? What a guy!! YOU are the same guy (OFF CAMERA) that I had the distinct pleasure of making music with down in that great state of Texas, are you not?
Everyone can see, I don't FORGET a nabor/friend.

[Gerald Ross]

Sorry Ray,

My contract for the uke fest clearly stated that I was not allowed to leave the Reed College campus (except for emergencies) for the duration of the festival. It really stated that in black and white.

I can totally understand this clause and I've seen it on other contracts for week long venues like Portland. This keeps the entertainers/teachers on site so they can mingle and jam with the attendees. It prevents the hired help from playing their shows and then disappearing into the surrounding countryside.

Ray... I told you I was going to be in Portland during June. You could have visited me.

[John Burton]

Wow!
Sounded great.

[Bill Creller]

That guitar is sounding nice GB. The little amp sounds great too.

[Alan Brookes]

I confess I was also in Eugene for my daughter's graduation and spent a few hours in Portland on my way back, but I didn't have time to visit anyone...

[Alex Burns]

nice one gerald,what is the guitar that marv is playing?
alex burns

[Gerald Ross]

Marv is playing the best archtop guitar on the market today in the under $600 range.

The Godin Fifth Avenue. The Godin has a cherry top I think and maple sides. I've played 4-5 of these and they all sound great, play like butter and look nice.

They are a bit brighter than a typical archtop. This helps appeal to the flat top guitar crowd.

[Stephan Miller]

Fine performance plus a real good sound on "Hula Blues", Gerald. Seems to be one of those classic tunes that works at practically any tempo.

The Godin 5th Avenue archtop has cherry back & sides as well as the top. I tried one and thought the looks and playability were great, but to me the sound was "enhh". Could be the one I tried was a Monday or Friday guitar... so maybe I just need to find a mid-week model.

[Andy Sandoval]

Great playin there Gerald and that little Champion sounds wonderful with the new pickup. Aren't they great for totin around? Nice and light with the tone and volume in a convenient location.

[Gerald Ross]

The Champion has become my primary gigging and recording lap steel. Jason Lollar did a fantastic job on the pickup (and Bill Creller did a CLEAN solid job installing it).