12 - Ukulele Builders, Luthiers and Manufactures: H

Handcrafted Archtops, Ukes, Parlor guitars and repairs North Mankato, MN

For over 14 years now Hogbac Acoustics has been building and repairing acoustic instruments of every type and quality. All custom instruments are made out of the finest exotic and domestic woods available, with inlays and finishes that are unique and personalized to truly make each instrument one of a kind. Hogbac Acoustics current specialization is in archtop instruments, ukes, and parlor guitars, with a future expansion into Mandolins planned.

Custom ukuleles built by Luthier Jerry Hoffmann. From 2005-2015 Hoffmann Lutherie operated under the name of Boat Paddle Ukulele Co. Boat Paddle instruments have evolved into new designs over the years, and will continue to evolve in a similar way under the new name. You will see older proven designs like the ML series, and new ones that build on past experience. Please look around the website to learn more, and to see what is currently available for sale.

Thomas Heller, inspired by his love of blues artists like Robert Johnson, and guided by his background in building classical guitars, has constructed a truly unique line of acoustic steel string guitars that produce his trademark rich sound.

We are a school for the teaching of Ukulele making to those who have both the interest and desire to build handmade ‘ukuleles.

ukulele - build it and play it. "Uncle" Dave of Hilo Hawaii builds custom ukulele and guitars, plays the ukulele [as well as guitar, banjo, string bass, steel guitar, fiddle, and maybe anything with strings once he fiddles with it]. He gives classes on playing the ukulele, writes books, composes music, and shares the aloha of Hawaii.

Kenny Hill is one of the most accomplished, experienced and versatile classical guitar makers in the world today. He is recognized as a fine maker, player, teacher and innovator. He has worked as an individual luthier, in small workshops as well as in large factory settings, to bring fine guitars to thousands of players of all levels around the world.

Handcrafted by Jake Maclay, Hive Ukuleles exhibit the philosophy of his craft: exquisite tone and superb playability manifest in each instrument’s artful beauty. A sound born of superior craftsmanship, shaping a deep resonance from flawless intonation.

The late David Hodson has made his name and reputation building highly authentic Selmer/Maccaferri guitars, mostly the six string models. However, he also took a strong interest in the Selmer/Maccaferri four-string models, including the Eddie Freeman Special and the tenor models, which now seem to be undergoing a significant revival amongst jazz musicians.

Hofner makes guitars, basses, violins, violas, cellos and double basses. We have done for a long time - 125 years! The company is situated in Bavaria, southern Germany.

We are most famous for the legendary Violin Beatle Bass. That’s the one played for over 50 years by ex-Beatle, Paul McCartney. But we make a lot of other great guitars and basses including the Clubs and the Verythins. Then there is the famous President 500/5 bass too, played by Stuart Sutcliffe, also once of Beatle fame.

The history of the HOYER guitar brand began in 1874, when Franz Hoyer, son of an old German luthier family, opened his own workshop in Schönbach/Egerland (today Czech Republic). Schönbach was an important part of the European musical instrument production at that time.

After making lutes and zithers in the beginning, HOYER changed more and more to classic and folk guitars. Later, the prospering company was continued by his son Joseph Hoyer.

The process of crafting many Hinkle Ukulele begins with a fallen tree. I harvest logs from trees that have come down and might otherwise become firewood. I mill planks from the logs and air-dry them for years before re-sawing the wood for ukulele parts. The parts are made and assembled in my little woodshop/music studio. Each individually crafted ukulele is then finished and set up with quality strings and tuners. The last part of the process involves a little breaking-in jam with each instrument to make sure it plays well and sounds good.