3 Luthiers & Builders - New Jersey
Lubos Naprstek
24 Briar Ct. Hamburg, NJ, 07419 USA Phone/Fax: 973 827 5681 Cell: 917 204 4189
Listing Info
from the Lubos Naprstek web site
Kladno. This part of the Czech Republic is reknown for its tradition of musical instrument building–and a devoted coterie of serious musicians with an intense interest in Euro and American Jazz, Bluegrass and Classical music. As a young boy I was always fascinated with wood, and at 11 years old, my main hobby was building model airplanes and boats. The acquired skills for designing with accuracy, symmetry; as well as reading blueprints was gained at this early stage and proved extremely useful later in my life in building, designing and in the repairing and restoration of stringed musical instruments.
<div class="topPost"> <div class="topContent"> As a musician myself, I understand that mysterious essence all players are looking for; that special tone, timbre, voice and resonance…and it is this same quest that drives and inspires me, in the designing and building of my instruments. There are no compromises with a calling… As a custom builder, I attempt to understand your needs as a player to create that ’one of a kind’ custom instrument you will simply enjoy playing for many years, on and off the job. </div> </div>
More information available on the Lubos Naprstek's web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Listing Info
from the Rat Ukes web site
Rat Ukes are constructed to make the best use of old, distinctive, sometimes broken, ukuleles. Wooden cigar boxes are employed to become uke bodies as they are generally well constructed of fine solid woods.
All Rat Ukes are one of a kind. They are assembled when the salvagable uke parts (neck, bridge, etc.) are found that match a particular cigar box in color and size.
Established instrument building methods are used along with techniques that are developed as the need arises. Parts are obtained from various sources; catalogs, on-line suppliers and best of all, the local hardware store.
The result is a unique and playable ukulele.
The Builder: Roy Cox a.k.a. Blues Boy Roy
Armed with one semester of wood shop class in high school, a short stint as a bowling alley mechanic in the 70's and a love for acoustic stringed instruments, the builder has arrived.
There are dozens of repairs and restorations completed in guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, banjos, etc. Many successful and failed projects have given the builder a knowledge of how stringed instruments come together and make sounds.
The modest workshop (in the corner of the family room) contains most tools required for Rat Uke assembly, a collection of parts (new and used) and associated literature. The completed Rat Uke is a player. G C E A tuning is used unless the size goes up to baritone.
Rat Ukes have been played in our local ukulele circle, by a friend during a camping trip and recently CBU-001 was played "backstage" by Del Ray at Jamey's House of Music in Philadelphia, PA.
More information available on the Rat Ukes's web site.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
Ukululu Custom Ukuleles
Unknown - It amazaes me that a business will be on the web and their only contact is email.
Listing Info
from the Ukululu Custom Ukuleles web site
We are makers of custom ukuleles. They are completely hand made to your specifications, depending on what you like. Take a look at some of the pictures here, and you’ll get a feel for what we can do for you. We don’t have a factory; everything is hand made to order by a skilled luthier. We build only custom ukuleles - no “standard” models and no popouts. We do this for about half what other ukulele makers charge for their production models of similar quality: as little as $585 depending on options for a tenor.
Even more information, discussion and comments on this listing below.
