Robert Armstrong
The musical instrument art of Robert Armstrong
You may know my friend Robert Armstrong as the creator of Mickey Rat, the inventor of the Couch Potato (he really is) or, perhaps, as a founding member of the Cheap Suit Serenaders.
He's also a designer and painter of some very cool instruments:
Let's see some close-ups.
If you're into Gypsy jazz, this one will need no introduction.
All around the rim are scenes from Django Reinhardt's life:
Lurking at the far left is a great sendup of the famous Kamaka pineapple uke!
The Tiny Tim commemorative:
Pretty cool, eh? Tiny on the half shell, surrounded by cherubic representations of his musical influences: Cliff Edwards, Rudy Vallee, Al Jolson and Nick Lucas (clockwise from upper left.)
Well, even though I'm known as something of a curmudgeon when it comes to electric guitars, I have to say this one really touched me:
It's the result of Bob's collaboration with fanned fret guru and guitar maker, Ralph Novak.
AND, it comes with a stylin' matched amplifier, of course:
Here are two more ukes:
