axeman - 16 September 2011 10:31 AMI play an instrument I call a “cuatro americano” with Biscuit Jam, a local acoustic trio that plays a mix of Americana and “unplugged” classic rock. It is a tenor uke instrument but with a different tuning and strings to make it more like a treble guitar. The sound is sort of a mix of requinto (high tuned) guitar, mandolin, and uke. I play with a pick or with finger picking, but never the standard uke finger strum. It has a percussive sound on rhythm that is great if you don’t have a drummer (great for “chops”) and is not lost in the mix…but it does have to be amplified. I find this a much more practical ensemble instrument for American folk oriented music than a conventional uke, but I suppose it all depends on the player. Unfortuately, I don’t have any studio quality recordings of it, but here is a rather crude live recording: http://www.myspace.com/biscuitjam#!/biscuitjam/music/songs/knockin-on-heaven-39-s-door-live-81631993