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Instrument Manufactures & Luthiers
Banjo Ukulele or Banjolele
The banjolele (brand name; sometimes banjo ukulele or banjo uke) is a four-stringed musical instrument with a small banjo-type body and a fretted ukulele neck. "Banjolele," sometimes also spelled “banjelele’ or “banjulele’ is a generic nickname given to the instrument, which was derived from the ‘banjulele-banjo,’ introduced by Alvin D. Keech in 1917. **So, If you want to be the loudest ukulele player at the jam, this is the instrument for you - I just hope you can control it.**
photo by Louis Martin
UPDATED:
22 Sept 2021
JPN
Aria
Aria Guitars

"Aria" now has the D'Aquisto name and is making a series of guitars based on the same original D'Aquisto models.

USA IL
MyaMoeUkuleles
Mya-Moe Ukuleles

2018 Update: Cary Kelly, is the new owner & builder of Mya-Moe Ukuleles.

USA ID
TinPanUkuleles
Tin Pan Ukuleles

Having spent the greater part of my adult life exercising the left side of my brain–I received a PhD in American Studies at the University of Iowa and have taught at various colleges for the past 20 years–I decided several years ago it was time to strike a balance. I began to pursue a long-time interest in woodworking and have since been laboring toward a total career shift. With any luck, I’ll have achieved that shift before I reach retirement age.

USA IL
OscarSchmidt
Oscar Schmidt by Washburn

The "Oscar Schmidt Company" was founded in 1871 and incorporated in 1911. By the early 1900s, the company had five factories in Europe and a factory on Ferry Street in Jersey City. They made all kinds of stringed instruments, guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, zithers, and Autoharps.

USA MA
MagicFlukeCompany
Magic Fluke Company

The "Magic Fluke Co." was started by Dale and Phyllis Webb in 1999 in the basement of our home in New Hartford Connecticut. Dale was inspired and encouraged by Phyllis’s brother Jim Beloff, an accomplished musician and guitarist who discovered the uke a few years earlier.

USA CA
Kala
Kala Brand Music Company

Mike Upton is the founder of Kala Brand Music Co. in northern California. Established in 2005, Kala builds 140-plus models of ukulele, including travel and bass variations.Kala and Makala brand of ukuleles.

USA OR
BeanSprout
Beansprout Musical Instruments

Aaron will be Beansprout Musical Instruments in early 2018.

If you are looking for a ukulele or banjo ukulele built by Aaron Keim, go to www.myamoe.com

USA FL
GoldToneUKE
Gold Tone Instrument Company

"Gold Tone Instrument Company", located in Titusville, Florida was founded by Wayne and Robyn Rogers in 1993. Active folk musicians in the 70’s and 80’s, they opened Strings N’ Things Music Center in 1978. In 1993 Wayne designed the original TB-100 Travel Banjo and began manufacturing and distributing the “Traveler” mail order. After a wonderful review by Banjo Newsletter, the TB-100 became very much in demand. As the company grew, new innovations were combined with proven vintage designs. Dealers and customers continued to request quality banjos in a reasonable price range and soon Gold Tone’s collection included 5 strings, 6 strings, Banjitars, Mando Banjos, 4 strings, Weissenborns, metal bodies, resonator guitars and mandolins.

USA TX
SpankyBanjoUkes
Spanky Banjo Ukes

Spanky Banjo Ukes are built by luthiers Dan Fobert and Phil Morris. Combining Phil’s longtime love affair with the ukulele and Dan’s creativity and innovative construction techniques, with input from other uke players they have developed an idea for an instrument built in the traditional way but utilizing up to date features. Spanky Banjo Ukes use a longer, wider concert scale length neck for easier play and a synthetic head to eliminate the problems natural skin heads have with changes in humidity. The advanced Renaissance and Fiberskyn head materials produce a mellow natural tone while maintaining plenty of banjo volume and punch.

USA WI
UkerofOZ
Todd Korup, the Uker of OZ

Well let's see. First and foremost I am a husband and father of 3 awesome kids. I love music, art, classic designs and building things. I love things made of fine wood and metal including classic cars, old buildings, old tools and machines, longboard skateboards and of coarse.instruments. The art of luthier has brought all those things together in a very rewarding way.

USA OH
WaverlyStreet
WaverlyStreet Ukuleles

WaverlyStreet Software has been producing practical, easy-to-use programs for home and office since 1996. We use the Shareware distribution concept, which means that you can download fully-operational packages and try them out for a period of time while deciding whether or not to purchase.

USA GA
GourdBanjos
Gourd Banjos

To construct all my banjos, I try to find the finest materials available . Your banjo will truely be one of a kind because these instruments are made from gourds grown in the fields of Casa Grade, Arizona. Some of the gourds that I use measure up to 3/4” thick, making them ideal for a carved surface. Also, thickness does have a factor in the tone of the instrument.

USA TN
GeorgeBanjos
George Banjos

George Banjos is located in historic, scenic Somerville, Tennessee, just a few blocks away from the court square and town center. It is located just shy of midway between Memphis and Jackson.

USA WA
SmallWonderBanjos
Small Wonder Banjos

Greg and Jere Canote are identical twins whose music is all about having a good time. They do, you will. It’s steeped in vintage Americana — forgotten fiddle tunes, swing classics, and quirky novelty songs — but with their own twists (and a few of their brilliant original takes on the world around us).

USA IN
EddyFinnUkuleles
Eddy Finn Ukuleles

From the distinctive soundhole resonance to the exotic woods used to hand craft each one to tonal perfection, every one has a song waiting to be played. Pick up an Eddy Finn and it's like a blast of warm sea air hitting your senses. Hand set ocean abalone, fishbone, herringbone's all here. But the truth? It has to sound great first or it's just a decoration hanging on a wall. Nobody wants that. At the core it has to be musical. It has to breathe.

USA Marlyand
EnochInstruments
Enoch Instruments

Kevin Enoch, founder of Enoch instruments, has been making and playing banjos and other stringed instruments since 1984. Enoch Instruments was formally established in 1990.

USA CA
DeeringBanjoCompany
Deering Banjo Company

Founded in 1975 by Janet and Greg Deering, we are proud to have grown to become the largest manufacturer of banjos in America. Whether you are a novice or a professional, there is a Deering banjo for you! Find the perfect banjo or banjo accessory.

NZL
BanjoUkeKiwi
Banjo Uke Kiwi

We are located in township of Russell, a picturesque township in the Bay of Islands along the Northland coast of New Zealand. Russell is renowned both as a fishing centre and as a holiday town with many historical interest.

BanjoUke started in 2012 with a radical thought – that we two, Curt & Ed, could develop and make a great banjolele that people could afford.

One that sounded as good as it looked, at a price far less than anyone else. It was a big ask, but we were totally confident we could do it.

We worked for a year – made 10 different models until we were satisfied. Voila – Our first hand made BanjoUkes!

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