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Topic: Tremeloa |
Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 11:33 am |
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I'm surprised not to hear mention of this strange slide instrument here on the forum. Apparently it was sold door to door during the Hawaiian guitar craze. It was touted as being easy to play - quite the contrary.
An acquaintance gave it to me.
There are four groups of fixed tuning strings that play chords. I haven't delved into it yet but it looks like the chords are a 1 2 4 5 in the key of C. Then there's a single string over which you slide a bar that's attached to an articulated arm. I think this is the part that's supposed to make it easy. (not - I suppose you'll never loose the bar anyway). One plucks the single string note then chooses and plays a chord as accompaniment. Meanwhile you can change the pitch of the single string with the bar.
If I get it tuned up I'll post a demo. It's currently missing the single string. It requires one of those piano tuning wrenches that I need to obtain.
If anything it's great wall art for my music room.
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 12:04 pm
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Pretty cool, i have a similar kind of oddball thing called a Ukelin that was also sold door to door. I can just picture the sales pitch  https://youtu.be/zhEyu04vs-Q |
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 12:09 pm
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There were apparently lawsuits against the company that made the Tremoloa and the Ukelin (Over the Ukelin as I remember). Apparently, the salesmen got pretty good at playing them and showing how anyone can do it. Wrong.
Same thing happened with the RCA Theremin.
Guess the same thing would happen if someone sold pedal steels door to door...
Dave |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 12:11 pm
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I've goofed around with a ukelin before. Weird thing for sure.
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 12:23 pm
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You can us an Autoharp wrench to tune it. Also a zither tuner will work.
I have a Ukelin. Never tried to play it. Not in as good shape as your Tremola. |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 1:20 pm
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Whoah, there are some ...painful demonstration videos out there of the Tremoloa.
This one is the best I've seen so far (damning with faint praise): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri36wOSuqG4
Honestly, I kind of want one, as I think with enough concerted practice and effort, one could possibly become the greatest living player of the instrument! Pick an obscure enough instrument and your pool of competition goes way down... 
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 3:47 pm
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Great Nic! I was wondering how to position one's self while playing. That position hadn't occurred to me but makes perfect sense.
I like the notion that one could become the best Tremoloa player in the world.
Wow....sounds Asian...
Tx for the link. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 3:49 pm
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| Glenn that ukelin sounds quite musical. |
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2020 8:15 pm
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| Jim Pitman wrote: |
| Glenn that ukelin sounds quite musical. |
Not when i play it 
Its pretty hard, coming from a guitar. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2020 7:33 am
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From what I heard, it would make the dog howl! 
Erv |
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gary pierce
From:
Rossville TN
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Posted 8 Jul 2020 11:55 am
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| They are a great jam buster.lol |
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2020 4:53 pm
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| gary pierce wrote: |
| They are a great jam buster.lol |
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