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Ukulele Luthiers and Manufactures 100+
Ukulele builders, luthiers and manufactures from around the globe
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Ukulele Luthiers and Manufactures 100+ (ukuleleInstruments.shtml) | Updated: 29-Nov-2008 - 22:02
Ukulele Luthiers, Builders & Manufactures
100+ Ukulele Builders and Luthiers from Around the World
Finding a Great Ukulele
QUICKPIC - Here are a few luthiers to check
out first:
Duane Heilman - Black Bear Ukuleles,
Mike DaSilva - DaSilva Ukulele Co.,
Joel Eckhaus - Earnest Musicial Instruments,
Dave Means - Glyph Custom Ukuleles and
The Kitakis Family of Ko'olau Guitar & 'Ukulele Company
I personally want to get a Ko'olau 300 or 400 Tenor with rosewood back and side, a cedar top, cutaway, amplified, a radius fingerboard.
Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by Curt Sheller Publications or Curt Sheller. For a quality ukulele by a reputable builder start with the luthiers mentioned above.
(Update 01-JUN-2008) - I personally have had three Pono tenor ukuleles from the Ko'olau Guitar & 'Ukulele Company, and now have two PTRC-CS, Rosewood/Cedar tenor ukes with cutaway. I also have a G-String James Hill Tenor that is for sale.
A
- Applause Ukuleles
- Akulele Ukuleles
- Anahola Stringed Instruments
- Aria Ukuleles
- Asturias Ukuleles
- Ayers Ukuleles
B
- Bandy Studios
- The Bean Sprout Banjo Ukulele Company
- Bear Creek Guitar
- Beltona
- Black Bear Ukuleles
- Boat Paddle Ukulele Company
- The Box-A-LeLe Company
- Benoit de Bretagne
- Brüko Ukuleles
- Martin Brunkalla
- Bucks Music Company
- BugsGear
- Jason Burns
- Bushman Ukuleles
C
- Candelas Guitars
- Cascade Instrument Co.
- Ceniza by T&K
- Chantus Music
- Jean Paul Charles
- Coog Instruments and Folk Art
- Kerry Char Lutheries
D
- DaSilva Ukulele Co.
- Davidson Instruments
- DeCava Guitars
- DeVine Guitars & Ukuleles
- Digging Stick Ukuleles
- Donmo Resonator Guitars
- Atelier Maurice Dupont
E
F
G
- Gibson
- GKU Ukuleles
- Glyph Custom Ukuleles
- Golden Gate Rhythm Machines
- Gold Tone Instrument Company
- G-String Ukulele Co.
- Tony Graziano Ukuleles
- Grimes Guitars
H
I
J
K
- Kala Brand Music Company
- Kamaka Ukuleles
- Kamoa Ukulele NEW
- Kanile'a 'Ukulele
- Kapono Ukulele Company
- Ukuleles By Kawika, Inc.
- Kay
- Ukulele's of Kealia Enterprises
- Keilani by Kelii
- Keoki's Custom Ukulele's
- Kepasa Ukulele
- Michael J King
- Kiwaya Ukuleles
- Ko Aloha Ukulele
- Koll Guitar Company
- Ko’olau Guitar and Ukulele Company
- KP Ukuleles
- Paul Kraus's North Pacific Designs
L
- Lahaina Ukuleles
- Lanikai Ukuleles
- Larrivee
- Lehua Ukuleles
- Little River Ukuleles
- Stuart Longridge
- Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars
- Lymana Ukuleles
M
- Mario Maccaferri
- S.B. MacDonald Custom Instruments
- The Magic Fluke Company
- Mahalo
- Martin Guitar
- Maui Music
- John Mayes Guitars
- Mele Ukulele
- Moore Bettah Ukuleles
- Russ Morin Woodworking
- MP Ukuleles
- MS Ukuleles
- Musikalia
- Mya-Moe Ukuleles NEW
N
O
P
- Palm Tree Ukuleles
- Pegasus Guitars & Ukuleles
- Andreas Pendennis Köpke
- R. E. Phillips Metal Guitars
- Pohaku Ukuleles
- Po Mahina Ukuleles and Guitars
- Pono ‘Ukuleles
- Andy Powers Musical Instrument Co.
- Pulelehua Ukulele
Q
R
S
- Samick - Greg Bennett Design
- R.L. Saul Ukulele
- Scheurenbrand Guitars
- Shimo Guitars
- Marc Silber Music
- Stefan Sonntag
- Spanky Banjo Ukes New
- Specimen Products
- Spruce House Ukuleles
- Don Stawski
- BugsGear - Stringnet Co., Ltd.
- Sugar Land Ukulele Manufacturing Company
T
- Talsma String Instruments
- Tangi Ukuleles
- 3rd Wave Ukuleles
- Tiki King UPDATED
- Timberline Ukuleles
- T.T. Ukuleles
U
V
Y
View By...
Tiki Kings Big Ukulele List a page of over 300 brands of Ukuleles past and present
Featured Luthier - Ko'olau Guitar & 'Ukulele Company
The Ko'olau Guitar & 'Ukulele Company is owned and operated by the Kitakis Family: John and Susan Kitakis, and Sons Noa (Bonk) and Andrew. Ko'olau makes some of the finest ukulele available. With the addition of their new Pono line the the quality bar has been raised for an affordable ukulele. I've personally owned several of the Ponos and getting a couple more this summer.
More Information
Ko’olau Gold 'Ukulele Strings
are professional quality strings, preferred by performers and recording artists.
(Ed.) These are the strings that I use on all my ukuleles. If you haven't tried the Ko’olau strings in a while, these are really nice strings. As guitar player I searched for years for great string from my guitars and when I found them I haven't needed to explore or switch in many years. I can now say the same for ukulele strings.
(from Ko’olau site) - The new Ko’olau Gold strings “feel” different. They have a smoother texture than the previous nylon strings. The rough textured string was due to the extrusion cutting process performed in order to retain uniform gauged diameters throughout the length of the string, which affects volume, tone and true notation up the fretboard. The new nylons are made of a special polyamid nylon, then milled by an innovative laser cutting process, insuring perfect gauged diameters, and eliminating the need for “rectifying” cutting knives which result in a rough, textured surface. Throughout the years Ko’olau has received requests for a smoother feel to our strings, and prior to this new laser cut, a uniform string was not possible. The new polyamid laser cut string also has a “pre-stretched” feel and tension, resulting in a very short “break-in” period.
A -
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Akulele Ukuleles
Joseph Todaro
Todaro's Music
28 N. Lansdowne Ave.
LansdownePA 18901
PHN: 610-623-35556
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: Applause UAE148 Ukulele
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Applause
Info
Applause UAE148 Tenor Ukulele Applause Tenor Ukulele manufactured
by the world famous Ovation company. The roundback design puts a new
spin on a traditional shape. The styling is similar to the Ovation
Elite guitars. Features include: spruce top, walnut bridge, nato neck
with rosewood enforcement strip, epaulette sound-hole design, rosewood
fingerboard and chrome machines with pearloid buttons. CP100 pick-up
and OP14 pre-amp. Sounds great.♣
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Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Aria
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
Aria now has the D'Aquisto name and is making a series of guitar based on the same original D'Aquisto models. Here is the D'Aquisto DQ-JZ model after Jim Halls Jimmy D'Aquisto built guitar. [ link: www.ariausa.com/daquisto/index.html ]
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♣
Ayers Guitar
Ayers Music Co. Ltd.
13F-1, No.139, Kien Kwo N.Rd., Sec. 2
Taipei, Taiwan 104
Tel: 886-2-2505-8856
Fax:886-2-2501-3934
Links
Info
(from their site) Cheng Fa Huang is the founder of Ayers Guitar. In the early 1970s, Taiwan was invaded by the US pop culture. Country, Rock n Roll, & Folk music became the most popular music in Taiwan. Cheng Fa, as a teenager, was interested and attracted to the sound of guitar. With a very determined and focused mind, Cheng Fa decided to enter the guitar industry.
♣
B -
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Links
Info
(from the Bean Sprout web site ) Finally a Banjo Ukulele that is ready for the 21st century! Bean Sprout banjo ukuleles are loud and bright but with a woody depth. Just what you need to cut through the band and get the volume you need, while producing the pleasing sound that you want!
♣
Bear Creek Guitars
Luthier Bill Hardin
Kula, Maui, Hawaii
(HST) 808-878-8082
Fax 808-878-3325
Toll Free 1-877-622-8216
Beltona
Old Parua Bay Road, R.D.5
Whangarei, New Zealand
Northern Hemisphere contact: www.northpacificproductions.com
Links
- www.blackbearukuleles.net
Seems to be a parked domain
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Black_Bear
Ukuleles are sold on eBay by the luthier Duane Heilman of Black Bear Ukuleles.
♣
Brüko Ukuleles
Friederike and Hubert Pfeiffer
Flugplatzstraße 27
97318 Kitzingen
Germany
Phone 0049-9321-36181
Fax 0049-9321-32545
Links
Info
(from their site) - There are more than 100 years of experience in every Brüko ukulele.
The tradition of our family business began in 1890, when master luthier Alois Kollitz started producing violins and working up tone woods in Rothau (Sudetenland).
♣
Links
- www.Brunkalla.com
- YouTube link to "D.Becrelis" Signature Models
Info
(from their site) - Martin resides in the Chicago area and with the exception of one year has been a lifelong resident of Illinois. At a young age, he inherited his father's fascination with how things worked, how they were made, and why they were made the way they were. This fascination led to a wide variety of interests including cycling, geology, metalworking, woodworking, astronomy, aviation, the space program, all things mechanical, and music of all types.
♣
C -
Candelas Guitars
Luthier: Tomas Delgado
724 East Cesar Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90033
Phone: (323) 261-2011
(323) 261-1086
Links
Info
( from listing's site ) - The story of Candelas Guitars is rich and engaging. It’s a true American success story, or, more aptly, a true Mexican-American success story. There were no benefactors and no overnight pots of gold to be unearthed in building such a successful and world-renowned guitar business. In fact, circumstance would have dissuaded most strong willed people from choosing this life. No, this story is one of true determination, grit, faith, and love that unfolded over more than half a century. And let’s not forget family either, for it is family, the ingredient missing from their lives early on that became their greatest achievements.
♣
Cascade String Instruments
CSA Music Company
ESI Distribution, LTD
428 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Toll Free: 877-604-TONE (8663)
Links
Info
(from their site)
Cascade 1UC-C1 Ukulele
The Cascade 1UC-C1 Ukulele is crafted with a mahogany body, geared tuners, and a bound mahogany neck for brilliant sound at an affordable price. Each Cascade Ukulele is inspected by a skilled technician to assure smooth fret ends, precision low action, and resonant sound quality. All ukuleles include a durable Cascade gig bag.
♣
Links
Info
(from their site) - All Kerry Char guitars feature solid wood construction from some of the finest woods the world has to offer: rosewoods from Brazil and India, Koa from the Hawaiian Islands, mahogany from Africa and Honduras, various spruces: European, Sitka, Engelman, and Western Red Cedar. This is only a partial list of the tone woods available. Given the new wave of alternative tone woods, (curly walnut [Claro], myrtlewood and African black wood, to name a few,) players have an even greater choice in tone woods than ever before.
♣
Jean Paul Charles
Ladeira do Boqueirão 3
Centro Histórico - Sto. Antônio
Santo Antônio - Salvador-Bahia / Brasil
CEP: 40301.360
Fone: (71) 326.2773
Links
Makes an acoustic Cavaquinho (D,G,B,D tuned) follows the traditional Brazilian design, with only a few differences: a flat peghead (not slotted) for a better stiffness and crossed braces under soundboard. Can also be tuned and played as a genuine Ukulele
♣
D -
DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Luthier Mike DaSilva
2547 8th Street, Suite 28
Berkeley, CA 94710
510 649-1548
510 291-2943 fax
Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: DaSilva
Made by Hand: Mike DaSilva Ukuleles
Here is a great video by Michael Levin and Witt Monts titled
Made by Hand of luthier Mike DaSilva in his
show.
The uke man maketh
By Jennifer Modenessi
Contra Costa Times
YOU PROBABLY wouldn't guess it from the stacks of wood piled almost to the roof of his Berkeley workshop, but Michael DaSilva never set out to become a ukulele maker.
"I didn't grow up with enough music," says the soft-spoken 50-year-old Oakland resident and lone proprietor of the DaSilva Ukulele Co. "I think I was a little bit starved."
Looking around his studio, you'd never know it.
more at: Contra Costa Times
Info
(from their site) - DaSilva Ukulele Co. in Berkeley, California is the workshop of Michael DaSilva where he makes high-quality , handcrafted ukuleles. You will also find the full-line of RISA Solid and Electric instruments and inexpensive beginner ukes. The shop is also host to house concerts, ukulele lessons and workshops, the occasional jam session and meetings of the Berkeley Ukulele Club. Check the Calendar for events.
♣
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E -
Earnest Musicial Instruments
Joel Eckhaus, Luthier
12 Fairlawn Ave.
S. Portland, ME 04106
207 799-9788
Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Earnest
Info
Makes an archtop Tenor guitar as well as other Tenor models.
♣
Epiphone
Owned by Gibson
Links
A division of Gibson
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Masterbuilt Ukulele Collection
The Joe Pass Emperor II is a great guitar for someone
just getting into jazz guitar. Inexpensive ($699 - $729) and also available in
a left handed model($729). Features include a laminated maple neck and
body; solid rosewood bridge; gold tuners and tailpiece; multiple
bound body, neck
Scale: 24 3/4" scale
F -
G -
Links
- www.Gibson.com
- WidipediA: Gibson
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Gibson
Ukulele production was discontinued in the early 1960's
Here is a link to an artice by John Croft "The Ukulele Man", (England) on Gibson ukuleles.
♣
Glyph Custom 'Ukuleles
Luthier: Dave Means
2237 Mulberry Hill Road
Annapolis, MD 21409
Phone: (410)349-2713
Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Glyph
Info
A lifelong player and woodworker, Dave Means started building stringed instruments as an avocation in 1995. He has been doing set-up and repairs for over 30 years! Since retirement from his "day job" in February, lutherie is now his full-time retirement vocation. Being a research engineer by formal training and well-grounded in acoustical theory and practice gives Dave the know-how to make your ukulele sound right.
♣
Gold Tone Instrument Company
3700 Washington Ave. S.
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: (321) 264-1970
Fax: (321) 269-4910
Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Graziano
Info
His is a page of information on the woods, with descriptions, used by Tony Graziano to build his fine ukuleles.
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♣
Thanks to Tony Graziano for allowing me to use his great ukuleles on the cover of my books, Curt Sheller
A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords Volume I
Commonly referred to as “jazz” chords. A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
Beyond learning open and barre chords, most ukulele players struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called “jazz” chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music.
Hard Copy Book & PDF: $19.95 - Buy Now • PDF only: $11.97 - Buy Now
Exploring "Jazz" Chords on Ukulele
Exploring “Jazz” Chords takes the core chords f