Luthiers known for their baritone ukuleles?

Mivo

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I just realized that I could easily name manufacturers and individual luthiers who excel at tenors, concerts, and sopranos, but that I don't know any custom builders whose specialty are baritone ukuleles.

When you think of "baritone" and "custom", who comes to your mind?

(No, I don't have any plans just yet. :))
 
I have had personal experience with three custom builders who build baritones: Kinnard Ukuleles (John just began building baritones a few years ago, and they're magnificent. I don't have one of his baritones only because he built me a tenor guitar), Ono Ukulele (I've had a chance to play a few of David's baritones and they were wonderful instruments; he's building me one now) and Compass Rose (Rick Turner has designed a baritone using a jumbo-shaped body; I have two of them, a steel string tuned DGBE and a nylon string tuned GCEA an octave lower than tenor).
 
Mya Moe does baritone. Just checked the site and looks like it would be over a year before your order would be completed, though.
 
When I think "baritone" and "custom", I think "Jerry Hoffmann". (hoffmannlutherie.com)
 
I dont think I can name many luthiers who are specialised in other sizes than tenors. A few yes, but not many. Most luthiers at least seem keen to market their tenors much more.
 
Jon Duncan told me that Barron River make great baritones. You can have matching instruments :cool:
 
I have a baritone Boat Paddle (now Jerry Hoffmann Luthier) custom built 5 string narra b/s cedar top, D body style, maple fret board, maple bridge, MISI pu that is great! Mr. Hoffmann would be worth a look.
 
My wife ("Barihappy") and I play Boat Paddle, Myamoe, and Kala baris. The first two are truly special and the Kalas are, in our opinion, best bang for the buck out there. With all of the combinations of alternate tunings of our tenors and baritones coupled with all of the different brands of string options, we are guaranteed a lifetime of challenge and pleasure in musical exploration.
 
The LFDM baritones HMS had a few weeks ago sounded amazing!
 
There seems to be some great luthiers building great baritones out there. I wish I had the chance to play a lot of them before I decided on who to build my first baritone. When it can down to it I focused on either a Barron River by Allen McFarlen or a Hoffmann (formally Boat Paddle) as both of these builders created fabulous tenors for me. No matter which I chose I knew I would get a wonderful instrument. Ultimately I decided on the Hoffmann after Jerry and I discussed wood sets and other options. I think that I will be receiving all that I could ask for in a beautifully crafted Uke in about 4 months time.
 
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I love my MyaMoe baritone. I also have another custom from Portland Guitars...beautiful workmanship.
 
I hope not diverging much from the original question, which Baritones come to mind in terms of playability, ease of play. The arthritis in both of my large thumb joints makes playability now the primary requirement. Of the ones I've tried, Kamaka, Pono, Harmony and Giannini, the vintage Giannini was by far the easiest to play. How would the vintage Martin Baritone action compare to the Giannini?
 
I saw some old Kamaka Baritones...and the neck width was nice...
I did play the the Lfdm Baritone that was at HMS and it is very nice..i am sure you could ask custom builders to build the neck the way you want
 
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