Baritone Ukulele Brands and Builders Directory
When I started playing baritone uke in 2017, I discovered that many ukulele brands didn’t make baritones. So I began researching all the baritone ukulele luthiers, brands, and builders I had to choose from. This directory is the result. Since 2017, many more options are available in the marketplace when shopping for baritone ukes. If you’ve discovered a brand or luthier I’ve missed, please leave me a comment here or drop by the BaritoneUkes subreddit.
I’ve included links to the manifacturer websites and pictures of the headstocks. I update the directory whenever I hear of a new listing.
No company has paid to have their instruments listed here.
Custom built, hand made, and/or
premium brands of baritone ukuleles
Mid-range brands of baritone ukuleles and brands with a range of prices
Entry-level baritone ukulele brands
Entry-level baritone ukes.
Amahi
Maker of Amahi, Snail, Raine, Panda. A division of Amati’s Fine Instruments.
Amahi Classic Series includes baritones, as does the Panda spruce and mahogany line and the electric acoustic series.
one entry-level baritone model
Beaver Creek Guitars
Canada
Entry-level ukes.
Blue Star
vintage only
Allen McFarlen
Barron River Guitars
Mt. Sheridan, Queensland
AUSTRALIA
Fine handcrafted ukuleles and guitars. Here is a gallery of his beautiful baritone builds: http://www.brguitars.com/baritone/
Shelly and Pete Mai
Bonanza Ukuleles
Big Falls, Minnesota
USA
A full line of ukuleles handmade in made in the USA by Pete and Shelly Mai, from a variety of solid woods or decorative Wilsonart HiDef laminate. Known for their excellent quality and very reasonable pricing.
Here’s a YouTube review by GotaUkulele of the Bonanza Homestead, overall score 9.4 out of 10.
Brüko
Germany
A German company that started with violins in 1890.
Entry-level baritone ukuleles.
Cocobolo Ukuleles
Masaya, Nicaragua
Central America
One-of-a-kind handmade ukuleles, no customization. Starting at US$499. Sold through their unique lottery system.
A well-known brand offering several baritone ukulele models between US$200 – $300. Owned by Cõrdoba Music Group, which also owns Aquila strings and other music brands.
Bullinger brothers, Terry and Perry
Covered Bridge Ukuleles
Oregon, USA
Handmade ukuleles including baritones. It looks lke they maintain a facebook page but no website.
YouTube channel.
Daryl vanderGroef
deHoutwinkel
Missoula, Montana, USA
Lutheir Daryl vanderGroef was featured recently in Ukulele Magazine. He creates beautifully handcrafted custom stringed instruments in his one-man workshop.
Eric DeVine
DeVine Guitars
Maui, Hawaii, USA
Fine handmade custom stringed instruments, baritone ukuleles starting around US$3500.
They look divine!
Canadian manufacturer of stringed instruments including electric ukuleles. As of this writing, Eastwood offers one model of electric baritone uke.
Fanner brothers, Brian and Mark
Fanner Guitar Works
South Africa
Handmade electric baritone ukuleles, starting at US$545.
I played a Pixelator at a ukulele festival and just had to order my own. Named it Pixie. Great little Telecaster-style electric baritone ukulele. Very happy with my purchase.
Favilla, vintage only (pre-1986).
Flight Ukuleles
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Europe
Entry-level and mid-range baritone ukuleles.
Giannini, vintage only.
Gibson, vintage only (pre-1970).
Guild, vintage only.
Tony Graziano
Tony Graziano Ukuleles
Santa Cruz, CA
USA
Handcrafted custom ukuleles, baritones starting at US$2000. Tony also makes the hard-to-find baritone pineapple starting at US$1200.
Brian Griffin
Griffin Ukuleles
Bellingham, WA
USA
Handcrafted one-of-a-kind ukuleles starting int the low four figures US$.
Stephan Grimes
Grimes Guitars
Kula, Hawaii
USA
Handcrafted ukuleles with baritone ukuleles starting in the mid four figures US$.
Beau Hannam
Beau Hannam Guitars & Ukuleles
Colorado, USA
Beau builds about 15 instruments annually, each a “unique piece of heirloom quality art.”
David Hanson
Hanson Ukuleles
and Cripple Creek Mandolins
Georgia, USA
Handmade stringed instruments.
Jerry Hoffman, vintage only (2005-2019).
HonniMusic
Sunshine Coast, Australia
Handmade electric baritone ukuleles, starting at under US$200.
Jonathan Dale
Jupiter Ukes
Eastern Pennsylvania
USA
Focusing on local woods, Dale builds beautiful handcrafted ukuleles, parlor guitars, and banjos.
Kala Ukuleles
Northern California, USA
A well-known brand. Their Kala Elite® line and their U·Bass® are built in California. Their Makala brand offers a baritone uke for just under US$100.
Kamaka Ukuleles
Hawaii, USA
One of two famous “K brands” of Oahu that offers a baritone.
Handmade in Hawaii and family owned since 1916.
PBS tells the Kamaka story on YouTube.
Kanile’a Ukuleles
Hawaii, USA
One of the four famous “K brands” of Oahu, Kanile’a recently added a baritone ukulele to their lineup of fine instruments. Made in Hawai’i.
Kevin
Kelali Ukuleles
Santa Rose, CA
USA
Handcrafted in the US, with baritones under four figures.
Michael Keller, vintage only.
Hank Johnson
Kimo Ukuleles
Southern California, USA
One-of-a-kind custom ukuleles handcrafted by Hank Johnson, baritones starting at US$1600.
My main instrument nowadays.
Ian and Adam Klosowiak
Klōs Guitars
Utah Rocky Mountains, USA
Founded in 2014, Klōs has become known as a goto brand for premium carbon fiber stringed instruments, built in the US.
Klōs carbon fiber baritone ukulele
Barry Maz, the Got-a-Ukulele guy, reviewed the Klōs baritone uke in this YouTube video.
John S. Kinnard
Kinnard Ukes
Southern California, USA
One-of-a-kind custom ukuleles handcrafted by John Kinnard, baritones starting at US$2000.
Visually stunning work and a reputation for world-class quality.
Kmise
China
A decent baritone uke for a minimum budget.
I played one at a pool party and it was fine for the splashy sing-a-long.
Entry-level ukes, available outside the US.
Ko’olau
Oahu, Hawaii
One of the four famous “K brands” of Oahu. No baritones, but their Pono brand has some great choices in professional baritone ukuleles under four figures US$ (see listing below).
A well-known brand with entry-level and mid-range models.
My first uke, through which I fell madly in love with baritone ukuleles, was a Lanikai S-B spruce top mahogany baritone.
Jay Lichty
Lichty Guitars
Blue Ridge Mountains
North Carolina, USA
One-of-a-kind custom handcrafted instruments, baritone ukuleles starting at US$3500. Lichty has said that baritone ukes are his specialty (Ukulele Magazine, Spring 2021).
I’d hang a pin-up of a Jay Lichty custom baritone inside my locker… if I had a locker.
Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars & Ukuleles
Clearwater, Florida
USA
Handcrafted ukuleles by Augustino and Donna, baritones starting at US$660 for the Model A.
A great option if custom is outside your current budget.
Distributed by in Japan by Takumi Ukuleles.
A well-known brand will several entry-level baritone ukulele models.
Mainland Ukes
Indiana, USA
A family owned business with several mid-range baritone ukulele models available.
Entry-level ukuleles including a baritone uke for just under US$100. Owned by Kala.
Johnathan Mann
Manndolins
Tennessee, USA
Handmade fine instruments spedializing in electric mandolins and ukuleles, starting around US$1600.
Electric baritone ukulele models
Dear Santa, please bring me a Mann Raptor electric baritone ukulele…
Martin, vintage only.
Michael McCarten
McCarten Ltd
New Hampshire, USA
Fine crafted custom and limited edition stringed instruments specializing in arch tops.
Mike Pereira
MP Ukuleles
Southern California, USA
Handcrafted small-batch baritone ukulele Cali model US$950, no customization. A great option if custom is outside of your current budget.
We picked up a lightly used Cali bari for a good price on the ukulele underground forum. Very nice uke, hand made in the US, for under US$1k, and quite handsome.
Cary Kelly
Mya-Moe Ukuleles
Glenview, Illinois
USA
One-of-a-kind custom ukuleles, baritones starting at US$1600. The Cascade Series is made entirely of sustainable North American woods.
Mya Moe’s YouTube channel has a large collection of videos showing their build process step-by-step. A great resource for learning about the art and craft of the luthier.
Who doesn’t want a Mya-Moe?
Noah Ukuleles
UK-Vietnam
An independent UK company supporting a family of Vietnamese luthiers. Handmade, solid wood ukuleles at affordable prices.
A well-known mid-range brand.
Zacchaeus Steimle
Oceana Ukuleles
Port Orchard, WA
USA
“Made by hand, play with heart.”
Beautiful handcrafted instruments. Featured in Ukulele Magazine winter 2020 issue. Interesting and unique scalloped fretboards I’d like to try.
YouTube channel: Oceana Ukuleles
David Ingalls
Ono Ukuleles
Ashland, Oregon
USA
Fine instruments, lovingly handcrafted.
In depth interview with David Ingalls on YouTube, with demos.
A well-known brand, entry-level baritone ukuleles.
A well-known brand that offers entry-level baritone ukuleles. Owned by Washburn.
Unfortunately, when you search for “baritone” on their website, you get no results. But they do have several if you dig around and click on every model.
Perkins Guitars
Chris Perkins
Oregon, USA
One-of-a-kind guitars, basses, and ukuleles.
I can’t link to the website because it’s not secure, but here’s the YouTube channel.
Pinol Family
Pinol Guitars
South Florida • Nicaragua
Handcrafted fine stringed instruments, baritone ukuleles starting around US$1450.
Founders of Abuelas House, a non-profit empowering underpriviledged Nicaraguan youth through music.
Pono Ukuleles
made in Java, Indonesia
Pono has some great choices in professional baritone ukuleles under four figures US$, with deluxe models just above that. Owned by Ko’olau, one of the four famous “K brands” of Oahu.
Making a Pono Ukulele YouTube video
Charlie Rich
Randolph Ukulele
St. Paul, Minnesota
USA
Fine ukuleles handcraft in St. Paul. Founded in 2008.
“Raven” J. Ravary
Raven Arch Tops Ukuleles
Maui, Hawaii
USA
Handcrafted fine instruments specializing in archtop ukuleles.
Pepe Romero, Jr.
Romero Creations
Maui, Hawaii
USA
A collaboration of world renowned luthier Pepe Romero, Jr. and multi-Grammy winning virtuoso Daniel Ho.
Their bartione offering is a six string mini-guitar, designed with the Pepe Romano baritone guilele flurocarbon string set.
Silvertone
vintage only
Jamie Ryan
Songbird Stringed Instruments
Omaha, Nebraska
USA
Jamie specializes in handcrafted banjo hybrids included his baritone banjolele, also known as the guitar-banjo hybrid (dgbe), one of the few in the marketplace.
Says Jamie: “The concept started with a couple of custom orders but evolved into a permanent model in my lineup. It sounds really good and I got incredibly excited about it. Because I always use a larger 10” rim instead of the traditional 6” rims, my design lends itself really well to the 20” scale length of a baritone uke. I’m currently marketing it on my website as a guitar-banjo hybrid because of the dgbe tuning but it’s really a re-entrant tuned baritone ukulele by design.”
Lee Stansell
Stansell Guitars and Ukuleles
Pistol River, Oregon
South Oregon Coast, USA
Fine handcrafted instruments with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest woods such as Port Orford cedar, myrtle, and black walnut.
Says Lee: “My ukuleles take inspiration from flamenco guitars… light, powerful, yet able to allow the natural character of the woods to realize their full potential. No cutaways… no fancy inlays… just pure flamenca-leles.”
Latest models for sale.
A short documentary about the builder on YouTube.
Takumi
vintage only
Distributor of Kiwaya, LoPrinzi, and DaSilva in Japan. The company no longer makes its Takumi brand.
A well known UK guitar company that offers a baritone ukulele for under £200.
Quite a few baritone ukuleles to choose from between US$100 and $300.
Rob Collins
TinGuitar
Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
UK
Handbuilt ukuleles, tenor guitars, and mandolins, made in England from reclaimed, sustainably sourced and indigenous woods.
Ray Vincent
Ray Vincent Musical Instruments
Gananoque, Ontario
CANADA
Beautiful handmade ukes and guitars with signature nautilus shell shaped body. True functional art. Ray recently wrote to me saying that he enjoys baritone ukuleles so much that they’ve become his favorite. Enthusiastic review of one of Ray’s tenors on GotAUkulele: Ray Vincent Tenor Ukulele – YouTube.
Ray’s YouTube channel: @RayVincent.
John Widman
Widman Custom Electronics
North Carolina
Handcrafted custom stringed instruments starting at US$2,800.
Uluru Ukuleles
Ayers Music Company
Taiwan
An obscure but well-regarded brand available through indepedent music stores. Mid-range through custom high-end.
To Do list
Bruce Wei (no website, facebook only)
Clearwater (China)
Duke of Uke (Londond, see Baz)
Gretsch (baritones are vintage only?)
Isuzi (see Baz review)
Leho (website has security warning), Lohanu (budget)
Mahalo (budget but decent), Makai
Mainland Ukes (Nashville), Mele (Michael Rock, Maui), Mitchell Guitars (budget)
NFC (Nicaragua, facebook only? similar to Cocobolo)
Pelem (Indonesia)
Wildcat (Paul Barnard, see Baz review))
Zachary Taylor (see Baz review)
No baritones
aNueNue
Blackbird, Big Island Ukulele, Blue Star (discontinued?), Bushman
Collings, Cornerstone
DaSilva, Diamond Head, Dolphin
Eastman, Eddy Finn, Enya, Epiphone
Fender, Flea
Hamano, Harley Benton, Hive, Honua, Hono, Hricane
Ibanez, Imua, Island Ukuleles, Islander, Iriguchi
Joyner
Kanile’a, Kemehameha, Kiwaya, KoAloha, Koa Pili Koko, Koki’o, Ko’olau, Kumu
Leolani, LFDM
Magic Fluke, Makanu, Moore Bettah
Opio, Outdoor
Pegasus, Penguin, Petros Custom Ukuleles, Pimental & Sons, Pohaku
Raine, Risa
Snail, Stagg, Shima
Tagima, Twisted Wood, Ken Timms, Rick Turner,
Vorson
Waterman
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