‘Ukulele Luthiers Today |
Accompanying the current growth of interest in the ‘ukulele has been a flowering of ‘ukulele lutherie, the practice of adapting modern woodworking techniques and tools to the traditions of ‘ukulele making. The ‘ukulele makers whose works are exhibited in the exhibition “Evolution of the ‘Ukulele” show creativity and skill in creating both new forms as well as building instruments in the tradition of the original Hawaiian makers. Humor is also at play in the making of the “jumping flea,” with some makers choosing levity over tone. The following describes each maker, with links to their web sites. |
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Michael DaSilva, DaSilva ‘Ukulele Company, Berkeley, California Although relatively new to the art of building instruments, DaSilva has become a leading ‘ukulele luthier. His study of rare examples of instruments made by the original three ‘ukulele makers—Santo, Dias and Nunes—has led him to produce some of the finest ‘ukuleles made today. Inspired by traditional style, DaSilva employs a variety of woods and uses modern tools and techniques in constructing his instruments. He has recently begun collaborating with artists to produce unique, one-of-a-kind painted instruments, such as the “Salmon” ‘ukulele pictured here. |
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Shinji Takahashi, T’s Guitars, Tokyo, Japan Takahashi’s beautifully crafted instruments recently won “Best in Show” at the annual ‘ukulele builders competition held in Honolulu by the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawaii. He is a builder of custom ‘ukuleles as well as electric and acoustic guitars, and often uses special Japanese woods in his instruments. |
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Joel Eckhaus, Earnest Instruments, Portland, Maine Joel Eckhaus, who founded Earnest Instruments in 1976, builds and mandolins, ukuleles, tenor guitars, and lap steel guitars. Joel attended the Shelburne Craft School and Rochester Institute of Technology and has worked in wooden boat repair, home renovation, nickelodeon construction, whirligig design and production, and fine furniture and cabinetmaking. Eckhaus teaches woodworking and instrument making at Maine College of Art. He plays the mandolin, tenor guitar and banjo, ukulele, and musical saw. A student of famed vaudeville star Roy Smeck, and former Texas Playboy, Tiny Moore, he performs today with the “uke-abilly” duo, Dos Eckies, with Ham & Legs—a ukulele/tap dance duo—and with his own group, Ukulele Eck and the Fabulous Lacklusters. |
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Peter Hurney, Pohaku ‘Ukulele, Berkeley, California Master craftsman Hurney began building ‘ukuleles in Hawaii in the early1990s. Hurney, who also is a master mechanic of high-performance European automobiles, has a one-person shop in Berkeley. He has created both whimsical instruments as well as finely crafted ‘ukuleles from exotic woods such as 30,000-year-old New Zealand “swamp kauri” harvested from long-buried logs, the remains of ancient forests. Hurney is also a favorite of local ‘ukulele stars, and has built custom instruments for many performers, including Uni and Her ‘Ukulele and Tippy Canoe. |
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Duane Heilman, Black Bear ‘Ukulele, Yakima, Washington A guitar and ‘ukulele maker, Heilman has been constructing and repairing guitars and stringed instruments since 1991; he became an ‘ukulele builder in 1998. His designs range from whimsical cigar box pieces to finely crafted custom ‘ukuleles, including koa resonator styles and reproductions of classic instruments from the 1920s. |
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Allan Dodge, Oakland, California A founding member of Robert Crumb’s Cheap Suit Serenaders, Dodge is a highly accomplished musician, collector of vintage instruments and sound recordings, and a walking encyclopedia of American traditional and popular music. He plays banjo, lap steel guitar, ‘ukulele, and mandolin, and performs regularly with his band Al Dodge and the Sundodgers. According to their website, the band plays “Ballads and Standards You Really Don't Hear Anymore, Rags, Traditional Mexican and Popular Pan American Songs, Polkas & Waltzes You Can Dance To, and Non-threatening Hawaiian Music.” Dodge creates exquisite reproductions of early Hawaiian-style instruments and ‘ukuleles of his own design in the early Hawaiian tradition. |
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Robert Armstrong, Dixon, California Armstrong, a well-known underground comic book author and cartoonist, sang and performed on accordion, acoustic steel guitar, musical saw, and banjo-guitar as a founding member of R. Crumb’s Cheap Suit Serenaders. He has had his works shown in over 30 gallery exhibitions, and is the author of The Official Couch Potato Handbook, one of four Couch Potatovolumes. He is the creator of the character “Mickey the Rat,” who has appeared in four eponymously titled comic books, and on the occasional ‘ukulele. Armstrong has been painting guitars and ‘ukuleles in collaboration with a number of luthiers. |
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Owen Jones Keoholaumakani Holt, Jr., Road Toad Music, San Jose, California Holt began building instruments in 1998, and has created a unique form of ‘ukulele-sized electric bass. A member of the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawaii, he has taught numerous seminars on his construction techniques. Holt chose his brand when he happened upon a toad in the road in Kauai some ten years ago. As Holt comments, “A cane toad—Bufo marinus—ventured out to cross the road at Poi'pu. Alas, it didn't make it, but its effort did not go unnoticed. It is now the logo of Road Toad Music and each instrument made bears its likeness.” |
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David Keone Tachera, O’iwi ‘Ukulele, South San Francisco, California A new luthier to the ‘ukulele scene, Tachera recently won honors at the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawaii’s annual exhibition. A ‘ukulele enthusiast, Tachera performs with Ka'ala Carmack’s JTown Hui. |
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‘Ukulele Ray, Box-A-Lele Co., San Francisco and Palm Desert, California Musician, comedian, and self-described “troubadour, gypsy and nutcase,” ‘Ukulele Ray began creating instruments out of lunchboxes he purchased through eBay, using ‘ukulele necks and fingerboards from “do it yourself” ‘ukulele kits. He created Box-A-Lele Co. in early 2006, and soon was featured at the San Francisco International Gift Fair, where he won a "best in show" honor, appeared on the shopping channel HGTV "I Want That!” program, and had a one-man show at the Sacramento gallery Artworks 21. The ‘ukulele has been his passion since age four, when his Hawaiian-born grandfather taught him to play. His personal collection includes over 400 ‘ukuleles, plus myriad knick-knacks, recordings, and Hawaiian souvenirs. Ray's enthusiasm translates into a desire to see a ‘ukulele in every child’s hands: "I'm on a mission to rid elementary schools of recorders and replace them with ‘ukuleles," Ray says. "When recorders are in children's mouths, they can't sing." |
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Tony Graziano, Tony Graziano ‘Ukuleles, Santa Cruz, California Graziano has created fine musical instruments since 1969. He built his first ‘ukulele in 1978, his focus almost exclusively since 1995. “I like to think of the ‘ukulele as an instrument of the millennium. It is compact, easy to travel with, and brings joy to all who hear and play it.” Graziano has built custom instruments for a number of well known Hawaiian and ‘ukulele musicians, including Grammy-Award nominated slack-key and leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) voice master Led Kaapana, and Los Angeles ‘ukulele diva Janet Klein. |
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Rick Turner, Turner Renaissance, Santa Cruz, California With over 35 years of experience, Turner is one of the nation’s leading custom guitar makers. He also manufactures a brand of ‘ukulele, the Compass Rose. Turner’s instruments are noted for their warm, punchy, and clear tone. Inspired by the shape of a late-19th century parlor mandolin produced by the Elias Howe Instrument Co. of Boston, and designed by James Orme, a Canadian luthier, Compass Rose instruments are used by top ‘ukulele players, especially for use in the recording studio. |
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Dale and Phyllis Webb, The Magic Fluke Company, New Hartford, Connecticut Introduced in January of 1999, the Fluke ‘ukulele has rapidly gained fans due to its modest price and excellent tone. The company is a collaboration of designer Dale Webb and his wife Phyllis, and his brother-in-law “Jumpin’ Jim” Beloff and Beloff’s wife Liz. Beloff has been called the Johnny Appleseed of the contemporary uke movement, spreading his motto “Ukes Can Change the World” through dozens of instruction and song books, how-to DVDs, and concert and teaching appearances world-wide. With the Fluke, the Flea, and a fun and easily accessible product line, the Beloffs and the Webbs have been leaders in the revival of interest in the “Jumping Flea.” |
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Chris Kamaka
Fred Kamaka and Sam Kamaka, Jr. |
Kamaka ‘Ukulele Only one continuously operating ‘ukulele maker in Hawaii can trace its roots directly to Manuel Nunes, one of the original three ‘ukulele makers: the Kamaka company. Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka, an apprentice to Manuel Nunes, began his one-man shop in 1916, fashioning ‘ukulele out of koa at his “Kamaka ‘Ukulele and Guitar Works” on South Street in Honolulu. Over 90 years later, the Kamaka family continues to produce some of the best ‘ukulele ever made, and the factory is still located on South Street. |
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C.F. Martin & Co. With the ‘ukulele craze reaching new heights in the 1910s and 1920s, numerous imitators of the Hawaiian-made ‘ukulele appeared on the mainland, but only The Martin Company of Nazareth, Pennsylvania reached levels of craftsmanship and excellence that rivaled the original sound and tone of the island-made koa instruments. The current “third wave” of ‘ukulele popularity reminded the Martin Company of their important role and place in the history of the jumping flea. In 2006, the “5K” was placed back in production. The Martin Company is in the ‘ukulele business again. |
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