I've built my first Cigar Box Ukulele...sweet!

[shreddidawg]

Gorgeous all the way. Beautiful singing and cool ukulele. Tyvm

[thehappyinfidel2011]

You could sing me to sleep every night

[cropperp1]

Utterly charming!

[gulfsurfco]

bravo! Beautiful voice and cool ukulele.

[TimothyVonFink]

Shelley, you are so utterly charming in this video. And I love your performance like I like ice cream. I have listened to this dozens of times over the past year or so. I still enjoy it every time.

[jamminsensu]

Amazing ! Beautiful uke, and beautiful voice.

[angelofmusic477]

Very creative. Have you tried building the ukulele with the sound hole off center like the riptide boulder creek or the applause ovation ukulele. According to those people who tried, it improve the projected sound(louder) and a better tonal quality to the ukulele.Go to the internet to check out. i have the riptide tenor ukulele and it sounds pretty loud and of good tonal quality

[curandero2012]

A sustainable way to give a Cuban cigarbox a total new function.lol

[Eltercero]

Goodness. I like the ukulele, I like your voice, and I like you.

[philjit1]

your gorgeous

[Ukesouljah]

Kick ass! I want 1. ; )

[jeffz63]

Absolutely wonderful. I think I love you ; ) You have all the qualities I admire, You are very creative, musically talented and of course beautiful!

Seriously though nice CB uke and singing!

[TEXMEXY]

Brilliant,lovely little instrument you so clever,and great voice and playing

[nicodanger13]

You have a fantastic voice so harmonic.. its a sin i don't speak english for explain!

[dokuhaku2323]

some a that... some a that

[UkeStudent]

Careful, quantity tends to suppress price in the art world.

[shelleyrickey]

@UkeStudent Well, when i say 'lots' that is relative. But I am building up for a good exhibit.

[Stratosphoria]

Fantastic! I enjoyed the whole video, expecially your creativity in designing the uke and the performance at the end.

[gogovideo10]

this is amazing! i'm planning on making an electric cigar box ukulele, wish me luck! :P

[harpsi8]

Dear shelleyrickey,

I enjoyed your video very much, You built a great uke I also play uke. I think your video

very charming and sweetly girlish. Your voice is beautiful and throaty I think it will be better and better as you sing more. Keep on building instruments A lady got me started building dulcemores Thanks for the video, All the best to you.

Rich

[redrocker72]

long live the uke box, hahaha

cheers

[DrPlum]

Amazing voice and playing xx

[uberfoot]

You have an amazing voice actually and I dig your design of the uke.....

[joelarranaga]

Great job on the uke,nice tune you do it well,you are also very pretty. Thank You:)

[EasyOpeasy]

thanks for sharing, u have a very beautiful voice

[TheDudesdad2000]

Shelley, You have the voice of an angel. The uke is fantastic. I build cigar box guitars. We're hosting on our organic farm (wife and I) a new Handmade Music Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada. It's June 25, 2011. Would love to see you there, play some sweet stuff for our audience????

[mightyluv]

Absolutely lovely, beautiful. You should be proud of your handiwork, my friend.

[zofoblues]

Very nice sound and I like to listen to your voice, ty

[TimothyBIinks]

Wow, super impressed. To my ears, it sounds like it's more in tune / better intonated than a lot of the ukes they sell in stores. The contrast between the richness of your voice and the charming tinny twang of the uke – they both sound great – is lovely.

[yodan00b]

wow you have a great singing voice! =) and a cool uke too =)

I see this upload is almost a year old, have you built any more ukuleles since? =)

[shelleyrickey]

@yodan00b Thank you! Yes, i'm building one right now. Hope to have it finished in a couple of weeks!

[UkeStudent]

Why not search the internet for art galleries that have an interest in "folk art"?. I would suggest that you inquire with regard to whether they will provide free estimates of the auction value of "folk art" objects, then refer them to this video as the reference for the quote. What you have done here far surpasses the usual "cigar box ukulele" instrument, and the range of objects from which it is made lend it a certain, quirky provenance. At worst they might ask you to visit and perform...

[shelleyrickey]

@UkeStudent Hi UkeStudent, Thanks for all the great advice. I love the 'sharpie' tip for the frets...very good. Oh, and the folk art gallerie evaluation is a good idea too. I'm making lots of instruments now that i want to sell. Pricing is incredibly difficult. Not only evaluating the piece but i'm up against the dollar/euro exchange problem. Anyway, thanks so much for the great advice! Greetings, Shelley.

[UkeStudent]

On another note, visit the Aquila string maker's web site and follow the link to the string tension calculator. Because your instrument has strings that extend behind the bridge, rather than terminating nearly at the bridge at a saddle, you need to allow for the extra tension caused by the extra string length, or the strings will sound "tin-ney" and harsh. My designs with a tailpiece typically sound best with strings sized for a scale from the nut to the tie-on location in the back.

[comradevodka]

Thumbs up on the craft.

Couldn't help myself- I was joining you on back up vocals during your little number there. Surprisingly my bad timing didn't throw you off... I was doing the Bernadette Peters ala "The Jerk"echoey part:

"I-I-I-I KNOW...(i-know)."

[shelleyrickey]

@comradevodka Thanks for the back up!

[myrnaukelele]

Very nice! You have inspired me - I got a cigar box at a garage sale last week. I think I'll turn it into a ukulele!

[blacklable1960]

You have mad sweet talent and I wish I was a young man so I could marry you and make beautiful children who would also be mad talented...Very nice indeed....

[fakespotter]

hey is your father by any chance Angus Mcgyver?

[shelleyrickey]

@fakespotter hahaha. no, but my grandpa was Edgar McCarter, and i think he may have been related to the McGyvers!

[UkeStudent]

To deal with buzzing frets, use a commercial piece of flat, unbowed wood.  Use a Sharpie to mark the top of each fret with a line. Wrap an extremely fine piece of sandpaper around the piece of commercial wood (300 grit or more) and gently, slowly, sand the black marks off the tops of all frets to insure that they are all equally high. Stop as soon as the last bit of black marker wears off the top of the last fret. (Apply suitable judgement relative to when and where to sand to avoid harm.)

[CreichCastle]

Great voice and awesome instrument

[Sabejalock]

Did you make the Uke or did you have it made? Beautiful instrument and a beautiful voice as well...

[shelleyrickey]

@Sabejalock I made it myself.

[forestfairness]

hey shelly, sounds great, and looks great too.....nice to see crafty musicians out there, i am doing similar....happy tunes, mahalo and aloha, forest

[itaigoldman]

good job

your cute

[bulldog01209]

nice singing.

[wastedpapiers]

Lovely instrument and delightful song!

[AncientItalianSecret]

Crafty and entertaining. You'd be very handy to bunk with in prison.

PS A bamboo shank would make a great xmas gift.....just putting that out there.

[shelleyrickey]

@AncientItalianSecret hahaha. Yep, i'm very well adjusted should i ever receive a prison sentence.

[Confederado1]

Shelley, I'm impressed with the ukelele, nice soft sound, cool "Little Rascals" kind of look, but it was a little hard to concentrate on. Your voice is beautiful, and whoever sang "Tonight you belong to me," first was just pushed into the memory hole. Thank you.

[larzonya]

you should be proud!

Looks like you've done a great job!

Way to go!

[larzonya]

Great job on the construction of the uke.

I loved the song too!

Thanks for the tune!

[Shewolfen]

thats so cool! you should be pround ! of the instrument and your voice!

[carlosnicomedes]

Gostei mais de voce que da sua gigar box ukulele. Sensual girl.

[shelleyrickey]

@carlosnicomedes Grazie!

[pval143]

Shelly , I'm making one too ,but you have a beautiful voice and I fell in love with you today...

[profwaldo]

Sweet ! Very Beautiful singing.

The Uke Sounds Great too!

And it's by your hand, outa' "stuff", all the better..

Nice ! Thanks. :-) -wally

[maotzetung78]

 very good ......hello by Italy =)

[StUkulele]

Your Uke is beautiful! I  built one too--totally feel your sense of pride. Feels SO good to play an instrument you made yourself!! Great singing...cheers.

[thevonbots]

Really fantastic. The ukulele is beautiful, and so is your voice!

[itaigoldman]

i like it,

wow

[betacrash]

you and your uke are adorable.

[Willfreewill]

Five star man. You got it going on Shelley! I could watch you all day long. Beautiful! And the uke is realy cool too.

[Marbeau]

Nice - you and your ukulele.

[bulldozerke]

it's really cute to see how much fun you have from it yourself. Nice ukulele! and beautiful voice

[richbonovox]

you are the cutest thing!!! Great job and thanks for sharing!

[eddana2]

Amazing instument... and beautiful song... and the vioce.. so pleasantly suprised!!!!

[rumblerider]

I think I'm in love...

[snufflehog]

Absolutely splendid!  And you have a gorgeous voice too.

[forumrider67]

its a cool uke but you probally shoulda spent some money on like mahogony or koa wood for the box, its sounds to metalically with just plane wood

[shelleyrickey]

@forumrider67 The whole idea behind a cigarbox ukulele is to make it out of things that are recycled or free.

[EastVanNoise]

omg, so in love with you!

[MGJensen1984]

I'm in love with you.

[babaluboo123]

Yes....a very beautiful neck.....and on the very cute uke, too ;-)

I love smart and creative people.

[shelleyrickey]

Hi Y'all,

Thanks so much for all the swell compliments. Very encouraging!

[pdog283]

Your voice has no shortcomings, believe me! Awesome project, awesome voice! If you don't get a bunch of marriage proposals from this video... well then, there's no justice in this world.

[letsgo420]

im impressed.i like to make things myself.ive never tried to make a musical instrument.yours looks great....randy n miami

[gblan]

Please come to Florida and sing to me on the beach.

[Zvoncica86]

gorgeous voice!!!!!! :D

[unnownpharaoh]

amazing craftsmanship

[warchild1976]

you are just to cute great instrument

[warchild1976]

stick a piazo pick up in there an amp it

[rockettedog]

What a sweet instrument. AND you made it yourself?! Cool! You should be proud.

[tomekgrden]

Full respect, Lady! Full respect...

And Tonight You Belong To Me! :)

[musicdevil0815]

wow, a nice guitar...and a very nice woman...beautiful...i love you

[shelleyrickey]

Thanks, but it's not a guitar...it's a ukulele!

[123Nikarana]

awsome!that's cool how did you make it?

[shelleyrickey]

Hi,

Thanks

Too complicated to tell how i made it but you can find cigarbox ukulele plans online.

[ambysick]

That is wonderful!

[greg6491]

Your tooo good for American Idol thats for sure!! Hope to hear more from you!!

[mrmb84]

I think I'm in love! Marry me!

[EastVanNoise]

what a pleasure! thank you so much for how wonderful that video was :)

[smyrna5]

Wow. I have to second the comments on the magic starting when the singing starts. It seemed a pretty regular "I built a CBU," until you started singing. What a fabulous voice you have.

[metamurph]

when the singing starts, that is when the magic happens. nice work on this.

[13northexotics]

Awesome job on the Uke and your voice is very very nice..... thanks for sharing it

[Gardoggle]

great stuff, lovely voice

[whiteoakart]

I think I might have already commented, but I'll comment again, just in case:

Awesome!

Do you have a diagram for the fretboard, or know where I can find one? I am planning on building one, but I do not want to buy a kit. I find I learn the most from making an instrument from scratch.

[airste172]

Wow! Bravo!! Wahoo!!! Awesome!!!!

I was definitely not expecting this, but what a delight it is to browse around and discover some genuine talent. :)

[hikingstevo]

That's an amazing piece of folk art you made. I love cigar box ukes.

[hanzelaar]

love you baby.

hans.

[evanesced8]

Your voice has no shortcomings that I could hear. It's beautiful!

[luftschutz]

It doesnt get much better than that.Sound and visually!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shelleyrickey]

Thanks to everyone. So encouraging to receive such fantastic comments. I'm working on a new cigarbox ukes and hopefully there will eventually be a CD. Stay Tuned Y'all!

[SpiteJay]

You've quite the resume; genius ukulele improvisationalist, angelic vocalist and not too hard on the eyes. I'm sold, when does the album come out?

[WhenDogsSing]

You sound real nice with your own hand-made ukulele...!!!

[shas1814]

Very creative.

Lots of nice and unexpected touches.

And you're right, it works REALLY well with your voice.

Nice camera presence, too-

I hope you make lots more videos.

Youtube ukers;

friendliest people on the internet :=)

[gocatdave]

Love it!!!  And you're great too!!!

[Saoff]

great cigar box uke and voice!!

[monnie110]

That was cute :)

[efren7788]

i love you "Muy Bonita señorita"

[sitfrogsit]

Awesome! (I'd like to see more of these 'conversational' vlogs.) After seeing this one, and a few others made or linked by you, I got uke-fever!! I went out and bought my first uke--I love it. And i love your videos. Thanks so much!

[corytoneill]

i love it

[Tikitiki200]

Love the uke, very nice and an awesome voice to go with it!

[Andystonemusic]

Nice cigar box uke! I like the oval sound hole, very classy! I've just started building one myself.

[bluebulk]

oh! and your hot!!!

[bluebulk]

WOW!!! your voice is amazing, and very nice ukulele

[Doctroid]

I love the lace spool tuners... great job building and great singing too!

[merdypops]

Gorgeous voice and wicked instrument.

[skeptictrash]

Exceptional beauty, talent, and creativity! Great song Shelley!

[Arizona3637]

Héhé, très très bien cette vidéo! Bravo!

[shelleyrickey]

Thanks Jozef!

[JoZeF3D]

Wow...your voice is lovely! I did not expect that...the moment you sang the hairs on my neck stood up! Great job on the uke!

[deehouse55]

Very nice, and you have a very nice voice, keep up the good work!!!

[shelleyrickey]

Hi Kevin,

This is one of my favorite comments of all time.

A Cigar Box House?...sweeeeet!

[phlattgetit]

Hey Shelley, I'm headed to the nearest tobacconist to work out the mortgage!

[phlattgetit]

I belong to you every time I watch this video. Will you marry me? We can live in a cigar box house.

[mmnn69]

Hey Shelley!

The kids now have to hear the Shelley Rickey song at nap time and bed time.

The fan club wants to get your CD. Is one available?

Thanks from Washington state chapter of the Shelley Rickey fan club! lol.

Love, happiness and thanks again!

Keep banging em out!

[shelleyrickey]

Wow! You give those kids a big big hug from me and tell them we will be working on a CD this winter and hope to have it out at the beginning of the year!

Much love and happiness back at ya'!

X, S,

[supergokou]

I searched for "cigar box ukulele" and landed here. Cool build! Then you started singing and I thought, "Where did that voice come from." You've got a very lovely voice. Glad I found the video!

[ekena]

Hi Shelley, I love your video and your new cigar box 'ukulele! :-) Great job. I hope you'll perform more pieces with it on YouTube. Aloha! :-D

[shelleyrickey]

Hi Vetteboy, Jammingbitch & Mmn69,

Thanks guys...really appreciate it! I'm starting to build a new one....stay tuned!

[mmnn69]

all alone tonight, tears in my eyes. you did wonderful! Thank you!

Give up youtube and go to american idol.

[Jammingbitch]

I remember walkign in and seeing your project on the table! it worked out nice! :)

[vetteboy1982]

Wow ! Your obnoxiously talented...and BEAUTIFUL !

[cheechnchonggetalong]

did you make the neck too?

i want to make one but where do i get a neck

[shelleyrickey]

I made the neck...you should too! You can buy blanks online, but that takes all the fun out of it. Good luck...and send a message when you get yours finished, i'd love to see it!

[UkeliDokeli]

Ik ben helemaal verliefd ;) Je Uke is echt leuk geworden!

Ik ben er zelf ook eentje aan het maken dus die spoelen komen me goed van pas.

Waar heb je ze gekocht als ik vragen mag?

[DontPanic6X7]

Fantastic

[thespaceman48]

PLEASE MAKE ME ONE!

[MachTwang]

Very nice work!! You should be obnoxiously proud!

I too am currently building my first cigar box uke, I am excited to get it finished!

[bamboosa]

Shortcomings? You freakin' rock, girl and isn't that the song from "the Jerk " with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters? Their harmonies in that bit, in case you haven't seen it, are breathtaking...

[kt2shoes]

You're just great! Gorgeous voice, and I've always loved that song. We happen to be luthiers and build ukuleles (among other things) and yours is a super first job! Well done, and we look forward to seeing your NEXT one!!!

[clovergirl22]

Oh my gosh!! I just bought myself a little ukulele a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to put it down. Now, I see the possibilities of making one.

I think you just officially turned me into a ukulele addict! Thank you, I really appreciate people like you. You have a very special gift.

Plus, your voice reminds me of Rita Hayworth. :)

[shelleyrickey]

Ukuleles are so great. I'm sure you're really going to enjoy yours. And building your own is definately possible.

Rita Hayworth?! Wow, cool. Now if i only had her body!

Thanks Babe.

Shelley.

[clovergirl22]

Well, I think we all secretly wish we had her body.

I just finished looking at your blogspot site, and the instruments you make. Oddly enough, I had my nephews make some maracas out of paper maché. They turned out really well.

All you need is a balloon. And you layer the paper maché around the balloon leaving a small hole. Once it`s dry you pop the balloon and fill it up with dried beans, pasta or rice. Then cover the hole with more paper maché. Then you can paint it once it`s dry.

[shelleyrickey]

Too cute...i love paper maché.

[clovergirl22]

Yes, but it is very messy. The clean up was horrifying. My sister almost killed me when she saw the mess in her kitchen.

They really work well though. I kept one for myself.

[BaronK69]

Beautiful uke/song/voice/lady.

[reactolite]

Your voice is beautiful & your uke is cute.  You are one very talented individual!

[shelleyrickey]

Hi to reactolite!

& to everyone that has left such kind remarks here. Y'all really know how to make a lady feel swell!

Cheers everyone,

Shelley.

[Silkeauverthe]

Wonderfull; youre uke is really nicely built! Wonderfull too.. Keep ukeing!

[akimbogeo1]

You're ukulele and your appearence were both arrestingly attractive- but when you sang - Wow! you're fabulous!

[mailomail]

It`s just amazing, I love it!!!

[PaoaMovies]

it's like a banjo

[TarPaprShack]

Love it.

[H0LL0WBELLY]

man that was gr8. :)

[guitardude818]

nice voice and uki lol

[quickerlicker100]

Wonderful, Beautiful, Joyful. Check out

Folk Uke-Cathy Guthrie Amy Nelson you might enjoy them.  Thanks for making me smile.

[madsbang69]

You are full of shit, and that makes me mad.

keep those things to your self. if people wants to thing that, okay. but dont use every opatuneaty(?) to tell us about things like that.

[LLJJEEYY]

you are wayy to cute.great job!

[tinroofblowdown]

Really spot on! More please!

[xandercrews063]

you are stunning come to ky to a bluegrass festival and jam with my band

[unholymethod]

amazing......how old are you?

[jbearden]

marry me.

[lukealpha]

Hi, that was really beautiful, nice song.

[shelleyrickey]

Thanks everyone for your lovely compliments! I've collected new materials for a new cigar box ukulele but just haven't had time to put it together. Stay tuned!

[juoj8]

Beautiful. And the cigarbox ukelele is nice too.

[rudyiking]

Very nice!

[guymelanson]

Just plain beautiful. There no shortcomings at all!

[bradleybrunsman]

i was born and raised a poor black child

[crabtrap]

im not sure which is sexier, you ,your singing ,or your ukulele.

[Thnickaman1]

Hubba Hubba!

[geirwilhelmsen]

Awesome, I love it!

Ukulele love from Norway! : )

[soundslikemeagain]

No need to be shy, great work for your first made. You've got a grate singing voice. With a few lessons you would really wow ;)

[oranjeliniaal]

wow.. great voie and very nice instrument. you make my dutch mouth drop on the floor hahaha.

greatzz and 5 stars loved it

[gerdenshed]

I wondered what on Earth I was watching until you started to sing...Then Wow! What a great voice and style you have my friend 5*s from me :-)

Mark...

[LordoftheRingsFan12]

Genius! Great video.

[schuermurrman]

Freakin Delightful!!!! Me wants!!

[ifxman]

soooooo awesome and the uke's pretty cool too! I really enjoyed watching and listening...fantastic! =]