Hi All
Sorry for the limited information, but at the moment I have been focusing on selling locally here in the Philadelphia area and just getting going in the general media and the appearance in the Ukulele Undergroud (with which I am well acquainted took me by surprise). I have been woodworking for over 50 years and have built banjo necks, hammered dulcimers, and 16 ukuleles. Two are in current production and several more are planned. I am retired and build slowly. Each of my ukes is hand made and each has a different sound. I could create sound bites but haven’t gotten that far yet. I like people to see and play them before they buy. It is possible for me to set up a Skype viewing but I haven’t used that mode of sale yet. If you want to try it out perhaps I can arrange it. My website is under development and doesn’t list prices yet. I expect to do that after Memorial Day. At the moment, I am not making them to order as part of my interest is to find interesting wood that gives good sound and durability. My purchases and interest can vary from time to time. As mentioned, I have two more ukes in production made top, bottom and sides from a block of Australian Blackwood but I plan that the next two will have recycled redwood tops. My prices are probably too reasonable but then I am not a recognized builder. I probably do undercharge for the ukes but at the moment this is what I am asking. From my own experience the best way to buy a uke is to see and play it. I am a member of the Swarthmore Ukulele Orchestra and enjoy playing my own ukes. As a last note, I have started putting soundports in my ukes. It does makes for a lot more time and effort and will probably force me to raise my prices in the future.
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards,
Joel Marcus
UKULELE No. 2013 – 2 $680
Tenor Mode: 26-5/8” long
Scale Length: 17-1/16”
Back, sides Figured Hawaiian Koa
Top: AAA Grade Spruce
Fingerboard,: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
MOP Inlayed Peg Head
Geared Tuners
Ebony bridge
Neck: Koa
Tortoise Plastic Binding
UKULELE No. 2013 -3 $900
Tenor Model – Six (6) String
27-1/16” long
Back and Sides: Highly figured Hawaiian Koa
Top: AAA grade Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP and inlay Position Markers
Slotted Peg Head with premium Gold Plated Tuners
Rosewood Bridge with internal variable support
Abalone Rosette
Strings: (6) with doubled 2nd and 4th
Neck: Tiger Striped Maple
UKULELE No. 2014 - 6 $510
Concert Model: 23-3/4” long
Scale Length: 14-5/8”
Back, Sides and Top: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
MOP Inlayed Peg Head
Standard Tuners
Rosewood Bridge
Neck: Mahogany
BWB Plastic Binding
UKULLELE No. 2014 -7 $600
Scale length 17” compensated
Back and Sides: Zebrawood Neck: Mahogany
Top: Tenor Model: 26-3/4” long
AAA Grade Sitka Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Fancy Inlayed Bridge
Tortoise Shell (Plastic) binding
Geared Tuners
UKULELE No. 2014 -8 $610
Tenor Model: 27” Long
Scale length 17” compensated
Back, Sides and Top: Waterfall Bubinga
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Binding: Black Plastic
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Bridge: Ebony with String Pins
Geared Tuners
UKULELE No. 2014 -9 $610
Tenor Model: 27” Long
Scale length 17” compensated
Back, Sides and Top: Waterfall Bubinga
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Binding: Black Plastic
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Bridge: Ebony with String Pins
Geared Tuners
UKULELE No. 2015 - 10 $600
Tenor Model: 26-1/2 “ long
Scale length 17” compensated
Back and sides: Highly Figured Mahogany
Top: AAA Grade Sitka Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Binding: Fancy Wood Inlay
Bridge: Ebony
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Geared Tuners
Sound Port with Ebony Binding
UKULELE No. 2015 -12 $600
Tenor Model: 26-7/8” long
Scale length 17” compensated
Back and Sides: Highly Flamed Maple
Soundboard: AAA Grade Sitka Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
MOP Inlayed Peg Head
Binding BW Plastic
Sound Port with Ebony Binding
Neck: BO Mahogany
UKULELE No 2015- 13 $600
Tenor Model: 26-7/8” long
Scale length 17” compensated
Back and Sides: Highly Flamed Maple
Soundboard: AAA Grade Sitka Spruce
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
MOP Inlayed Peg Head
Binding BW Plastic
Sound Port with Ebony Binding
Neck: Mahogany
Geared Tuners
UKULELE NO. 2015 -14 $390
Soprano Model: 21-1/4” Long
Scale Length: 13-3/4”
Back, Sides, Top: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Bridge: Rosewood
BWB Plastic Binding
UKULELE NO. 2015 -15 $390
Soprano Model: 21-1/4” Long
Scale Length: 13-3/4”
Back, Sides, Top: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony with MOP Position Markers
Hibiscus Inlayed Peg Head
Bridge: Rosewood
BWB Plastic Binding
Each of these ukuleles is hand made by Joel Marcus, member of the Guild of American Luthiers (GAL). They are characterized by exotic or interesting grained tone woods for the back , sides and sometimes the tops. When the tops are spruce, they are always AAA grade with tight grain. Each sports inlay of MOP or abalone and often wood marquetry in the peg heads. All have position markers and are strung with top grade strings such as Aquila, Freemont and C.F. Martin. They all sound great.