Captain Backpacker ukes no longer being made

That's sad.

I played MMStan's backpacker uke last summer and was impressed.

Oh well, UAS gets reassigned to something else. :)

keep uke'in',
 
excuse me jeff but have u heard anything off bevan lately??
i put an order in a couple of months ago now and he did mail me about 3 weeks ago to tell me the wood is cut and in the dehumidifying room but not heard anythign for a while?
daz
 
darrendiablo said:
excuse me jeff but have u heard anything off bevan lately??
i put an order in a couple of months ago now and he did mail me about 3 weeks ago to tell me the wood is cut and in the dehumidifying room but not heard anythign for a while?
daz
Click to expand...

I emailed with him about a week ago about starting up a custom backpacker. He indicated he had a backlog of work but would put me on the list.
 
Hi Stan. Lovely to hear from you!

I have decided to stop making backpackers, after the current crop.
My reasons are slightly convoluted, but essentially:

Since I started making them, almost every backpacker has gone overseas, mostly to the US and South East Asia. On the other hand, almost every standard ukulele has been sold here in NZ. I have enough orders to keep me going with just standard ukuleles.
The timbers I use are incredibly precious. Not in terms of money - you simply can't buy most of the timbers I use - but in terms of rarity. Most kiwis have never seen or even heard of half the timbers I use.
I have always been a little uncomfortable about sending native wood instruments overseas. Perhaps it is difficult to understand for most people, but you may know what I mean, as a Hawaiian. Maori people use the word Taonga to describe the 'treasures' belonging to this land. Perhaps you have a similar concept, which could include Koa, and everything else which has been unsustainably stripped from your lovely island for the 'benefit' of others.
Anyway, I digress. I have decided that:
1. I'd rather be making normal ukuleles than backpackers.
2. I'd prefer the majority of my instruments to stay in this country, as 'artifacts' of our rapidly dimishing native flora (being stripped so that we can supply milk to other parts of the world)
3. I simply don't have time to do both. I'm a one man operation, with about 2.5 days a week at best to make instruments. My kids are young (3 and 5) and I want to hang out with them as much as possible.

Now, I am still happy to make normal ukuleles for overseas customers. This is simply about adjusting the balance.

I will obviously be happy to sort any problems that may arise from the backpackers I've made. I don't want any unhappy customers out there.

Thanks for the email Stan. Always nice to hear from you.
Hope all is well with you.
Mahalo, Bevan

Aloha Gang, Bevan Ukes sound amazing...most all my friends who have played it will not put this uke down....and when then come back, they ask to play it...
that says alot...considering I have alot of ukes to choose from....perfect intonation and good volume.. crisp tone....just lovely to play....
 
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I have a lot of respect for that. Kind of like when we ask tourists to leave the lava rocks here so they don't get homesick.
 
Awe,

i'm so bummed.... i'm so new to the uke world and would have loved to buy one of these.... just a little soprano... stan can you put in a good word for me... :(



mm stan said:
Hi Stan. Lovely to hear from you!

I have decided to stop making backpackers, after the current crop.
My reasons are slightly convoluted, but essentially:

Since I started making them, almost every backpacker has gone overseas, mostly to the US and South East Asia. On the other hand, almost every standard ukulele has been sold here in NZ. I have enough orders to keep me going with just standard ukuleles.
The timbers I use are incredibly precious. Not in terms of money - you simply can't buy most of the timbers I use - but in terms of rarity. Most kiwis have never seen or even heard of half the timbers I use.
I have always been a little uncomfortable about sending native wood instruments overseas. Perhaps it is difficult to understand for most people, but you may know what I mean, as a Hawaiian. Maori people use the word Taonga to describe the 'treasures' belonging to this land. Perhaps you have a similar concept, which could include Koa, and everything else which has been unsustainably stripped from your lovely island for the 'benefit' of others.
Anyway, I digress. I have decided that:
1. I'd rather be making normal ukuleles than backpackers.
2. I'd prefer the majority of my instruments to stay in this country, as 'artifacts' of our rapidly dimishing native flora (being stripped so that we can supply milk to other parts of the world)
3. I simply don't have time to do both. I'm a one man operation, with about 2.5 days a week at best to make instruments. My kids are young (3 and 5) and I want to hang out with them as much as possible.

Now, I am still happy to make normal ukuleles for overseas customers. This is simply about adjusting the balance.

I will obviously be happy to sort any problems that may arise from the backpackers I've made. I don't want any unhappy customers out there.

Thanks for the email Stan. Always nice to hear from you.
Hope all is well with you.
Mahalo, Bevan

Aloha Gang, Bevan Ukes sound amazing...most all my friends who have played it will not put this uke down....and when then come back, they ask to play it...
that says alot...considering I have alot of ukes to choose from....perfect intonation and good volume.. crisp tone....just lovely to play....
Click to expand...
 
I suggest you look at a Griffin travel uke. He can be reached at House and mill tonewoods. Fantastic instruments with a great sound.

He'll either hand make one for you or sell you one with a line he just started using the same instrument makers that Taylor uses in Mexico.

My "pinecone" is made from Engleman Spruce top, concave hand carved fiddleback maple back, maple sides, walnut neck and Honduran Rosewood fretboard with Pegheads added later.
 

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As a newbie, While I'm sad that I won't get a chance to experience this mind-bending implementation of the ukulele formula, I understand his need to take a stand on cultural protection grounds.

In the meantime, can I point our collective attention to the following alternatives to elicit comments (and perhaps reviews):

A similar shape, with traditional headstock and tuners, there's Strums and Drums' Strum Stick Uke:
http://www.strumsanddrums.com/index_files/Page1459.htm

As well as an alternate version of the folding uke, produced by laser punched bamboo:
http://www.ponoko.com/showroom/chosetec/products
one of which is currently being assembled by a UU member:
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/f...lding-Ukulele-Build&highlight=folding+ukulele
 
well i had my email of bevan yesterday saying that its almost finished he just had the strings to put on today and then he said he will play it for a couple of days then do a final set up and then post it to sunny wales for me :)
i have to admit, since my time joining on here i have read countless posts from other people who get excited about having a new uke and have never understood why, until now......
i am like a kid at christmas :) this is my first uke purchase since i got my first ever one which is a brunswick and to be honest i have looked about other music shops and played other ukes with the intention of buying somthing else but have never found one that sounds to me, any better than my brunswick (i have a terrible ear and im sure theres tons of better ones out there)
but with the backpacker on its way i am so excited to finally have another one that i can pick up and play :)
sry in advance lads but ill do an excited review when it arrives :)
since i hear that he wasnt doing anymore backpackers i have been on edge weather he woud come through with mine but yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!
 
well i finally got it :) (not bevans fault, it got stuck in my customs for 2 weeks) :)
looks fantastic and plays nice too :)
daz
 
That sounds like the kind of bloke you'd want for a mate. Can't fault his logic one bit.

<edit> in reference to his comments to Stan.
 
Truly hoping I can source one from one of the stores Bevan lists on his site. Kicking myself that I've only JUST discovered the uke, and missed out on getting one that's locally made!
 
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