UKULELES

About MS Ukuleles

My journey in ukulele building started with classes from a local Kona luthier, the late, much respected, Andy Berard. The original class was to build only a single ukulele for myself, but I found I enjoyed building them so much I kept going and soon needed to start selling them or buy a bigger house. Over the years I have evolved my own techniques but the emphasis on quality and willingness to experiment is directly descended from Andy’s philosophy of building.

Basically I build every part of the instrument myself except the strings, tuners, fret wire and pegs if I use them. None of my ukuleles are the same, for instance I hand shape the necks with draw knives and spoke shaves until it feels right, if I can free hand it, that's how I'll do it. I prefer feel to copying.

My philosophy is to build the ukulele in the tradition of its big brother the guitar, using the woods and techniques that are time proven.

The wood I use is dry and quarter sawn, with spruce for bracing and Honduran mahogany for kerfing, head and heel blocks. Necks are Honduran mahogany or wood matched to the top or back if appropriate. Finish is hand rubbed nitrocellulose lacquer.

Usually I'll do a half dozen instrument at one time and if I get an order I'll work on that uke until it catches up with the building stage the others are in. It takes about six months on average from start to finish on a ukulele.

At my home I have a cache of curly koa, mango and other woods ready for building, if you would like to order an instrument you can pick out the wood for body, top, fretboard & bridge yourself.