Non-USA Ukulele Brands
Non-USA Ukulele Brands
Unnecessary Background
Well I've begun shopping for a reasonably-priced concert ukulele in anticipation of completing Bernadette Teaches Music's #30dayUKEchallenge. I'm already finding my little soprano (that I bought without research) to be a bit uncomfortably small. After watching a size comparison, I suppose I should have started with a concert instead. But, it will be a good excuse to reward myself for finally sticking with an instrument for an entire program after years of on and off interest. (Recently I've been finding (micro)rewarding progress is helpful with ADHD)
I suppose I should have expected most of the major brands to be USA based since Hawaii was colonized afterall.
Here's a list of Non-USA owned brands that I found in a preliminary search.
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Ibanez
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- Country of Manufacture: I spy Made in China on all 3 uke models
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- Country of Ownership: Japan
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Aria
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- Country of Manufacture: China and Indonesia, Japan for platinum line (no ukes)
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- Country of Ownership: Japan
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Cordoba
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- Country of Manufacture: China
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- Country of Ownership:
SpainJapan, owned by Yamaha now
- Country of Ownership:
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Your Local Luthier
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- Country of Manufacture: Canada
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- Country of Ownership: Canada
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- Edit: Added this in for those who can afford it/are skilled enough to justify a handmade one!
Disclaimer: Always check the CoM for a specific model you are interested in if you want to make sure.
Would love suggestions for other quality brands too if you know of any others!
While we’re on the subject of ukuleles, anybody remember the triangl-shaped ukuleles they used to use in elementary schools years ago that were unique to Canadian music classrooms?
https://www.vintageukemusic.com/ukuleles/northern.htm
I remember still having these around in the 1980s and 90s at our schools in Nova Scotia.
A few years ago a younger kid was telling me they had a “Russian ukulele”, not knowing that it was actually part of Canadian history. They had thought it was Russian because it resembled a balalaika, but it was definitely one of these “Northern ukuleles.”
Never tried their Uke, but seagull makes great acoustic instruments, made in Québec's eastern townships.
https://seagullguitars.com/product/uke-nylon-sg-burst-eq/
I have their mandolin (love it!) and an "M4" for when kids come over and want to play on something. Somehow, they always prefer to try the crappy neon green Mahalo uke...
I’ve only tried their uke in stores but have like it every time I’ve tried one. I have their mandolin as well, as well as the Godin A8 mando and several of their guitars, both acoustic and electric. I also have two of those M4s, or Merlins as they were originally called, one of which I actually had customized by a luthier to insert the “missing” frets to make it a chromatic instrument.
I can’t say that I’ve played any truly bad Godin products.
Now you got me thinking about getting another uke…
Wow that's a gorgeous uke! A bit out of my price range as a beginner, but fair for an acoustic-electric made in Canada!
Oh yes! It seems there are more good manufacturers in Canada than I initially thought!
My wife plays a Honolua uke at our gigs pretty often. They are a Canadian company, though I just asked her and she said not everything in their catalog was homegrown back when she bought it, so you might want to check with them before ordering?
Wow they sound like a nice family run Canadian business! I may end up buying from them I think. They even plant 5 trees and 5 kelp in Canadian forests per uke!
10% off and free shipping right now too
Yeah and she really loves her uke she bought from them. I think it's her favourite instrument these days! It has a great tone.
I am two years ahead of you, so i got a high quality Hawaiian branded uke 18 months ago. I can calm my UAS with three good enough instruments to keep busy. You can check Twisted Wood (they presents themselves as Canadian with made in China ukulele maybe made by Enya) i almost bought the Switchback model before i went with Pono (US based)