CTurner
Well-known member
During our recent trip to California to visit our son and daughter-in-law, we scheduled a visit with luthier John Kinnard and his marketing partner, Kevin Beddoe (http://www.kinnardukes.com).
We spent a wonderful hour or so in the workshop—chatting, listening to plans for the new year in John’s offerings, and playing a few wonderful Kinnard ukes. Being the owner of a Kinnard all-walnut tenor, I figured I was pretty familiar with his style and craftsmanship. But the ukes I played (two tenors and a baritone) were fabulous. They seemed even lighter in weight and with even better construction and finishing—hard to believe! I noodled on each one in turn and my hands couldn’t stop their fingering and exploration. Super playing feel, like “buttah” some would say. And all with the kind of balance in the voicing that makes these ukes stand out.
They talked a lot about future directions and models, which is their information to share, but I'll be keeping an eye on the Kinnard website. I'd love to have a second Kinnard uke someday.
Yes, some pics:
Thanks again to John and Kevin for taking the time to share uke playing and uke talk!
Craig and Ginny Turner
We spent a wonderful hour or so in the workshop—chatting, listening to plans for the new year in John’s offerings, and playing a few wonderful Kinnard ukes. Being the owner of a Kinnard all-walnut tenor, I figured I was pretty familiar with his style and craftsmanship. But the ukes I played (two tenors and a baritone) were fabulous. They seemed even lighter in weight and with even better construction and finishing—hard to believe! I noodled on each one in turn and my hands couldn’t stop their fingering and exploration. Super playing feel, like “buttah” some would say. And all with the kind of balance in the voicing that makes these ukes stand out.
They talked a lot about future directions and models, which is their information to share, but I'll be keeping an eye on the Kinnard website. I'd love to have a second Kinnard uke someday.
Yes, some pics:
Thanks again to John and Kevin for taking the time to share uke playing and uke talk!
Craig and Ginny Turner