Chicago, IL, April 2008.  Many people knew at the start of Fox TV’s hit series American Idol on April 9th, that Jason Castro could play guitar & drums. Imagine their surprise when Jason appeared playing a ukulele on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”! That ukulele was an Oscar Schmidt OU5, one of our top selling models.

The OU5 features a Hawaiian Koa top, back & sides, Abalone top inlay, a Rosewood fingerboard and bridge and Grover tuners and retails for $209.90.

Oscar Schmidt Introduces Six New Ukulele Models

Chicago IL, July 2007. Oscar Schmidt by Washburn, a U.S.Music Corp company, introduces six new ukuleles. Oscar Schmidt has been a leader in the ukulele industry for over 125 years and continues its tradition of innovation through the introduction of these models.

The OU250BELL is a reissue of a vintage Washburn "bell" shape ukulele popular in the 1920's. It features a solid Trembesi top, back and sides with ivory body binding, abalone logo, rosette and fret dot inlays. The ukulele has deluxe Grover GH305 tuners with ebony buttons, bone nut and saddle and GHS strings. Deluxe hard shell case included. Retail $389.90.

The five additional models that are being released by Oscar Schmidt include the OU280SWK (retail $899.90), the OU220SWK concert ukulele (retail $399.90), the OU240SWK tenor ukulele (retail $429.90), the OU6 tenor ukulele (retail $329.90) and the OU5LCE concert acoustic-electric cutaway ukulele (retail $359.90). The OU280SWK features a solid top, back and sides of beautiful Hawaiian Koa harvested on the Big Island of Hawaii. The OU280SWK and OU220SWK are both constructed with an exquisite solid mahogany top, back and sides in a satin finish. The OU6 and OU5LCE are both built with a select Koa top, back and sides.

Willie K

Uncle Willie K, as he would like to be called, is one Hawaii’s first class entertainers, with many music awards credited to his name. He is considered the very best there is. That is why he enjoys playing the very best in musical instruments, like his Koa Ukulele made by Oscar Schmidt, a Washburn brand. “All I can say is the instrument carries the big three in my musical genre - pure sound, pure tone and pure Hawaiian!”

When given the chance to perform with his Oscar Shmidt Ukulele, you can see him playing along with best friend Avi Ronen from Lahaina Custom Guitars located in the heart of Maui. So if you happen to be there stop by and say Aloha! And just maybe you’ll find yourself involved with a kaleidoscope of music between the two musicians jamming to their lifestyle of living in Lahaina! Town.

RECENTLY MR. K WAS SEEN AT THE DIAMOND HEAD CRATER FESTIVAL, PLAYING WITH MICK FLEETWOOD AND HIS ISLAND RUMOURS BAND, PERFORMING UKULELE BOOGIE SIDE BY SIDE WITH RICK VITO