Willie Wixom

[mm stan]

There is always a risk buying custom ukes as you cannot play them before buying and you feel obligated when you get your ukulele, good or bad....Pick and select your luthier
on your own intuitions and from people who have them and not go on the hype...is it the luthiers style you want, budget right, and listen to videos or sound samples ..If you are budget
conscious and want a safer route, you can buy premimum ukes off the rack or custom builder ukes off the rack...the later you might pay for a middle man, but you get to try before you buy that cuts out the risk factor....

 

[janeray1940]

I would not make any assumptions as to how well Wixom ukes are selling or how popular they are in the uke buying universe based upon how active Wixom threads are here.

For comparison, the builder I chose for my custom doesn't get much discussion around here, nor do very many of his ukes turn up in the Marketplace. Based on my experience and the few others who own one of his ukes, I'm guessing this is because we are all perfectly satisfied with what we have, and have no further need to discuss it.

This has been an interesting discussion to me because when I was seeking recommendations for a builder a couple years ago, my inbox got flooded with recommendations for Wixom, some of them badmouthing the builder that I was leaning toward (and ultimately chose). The hype was really, really strange; I chose to ignore it and go with my instincts, which proved to be the right thing for me.

 

[rubber necker]

For comparison, the builder I chose for my custom doesn't get much discussion around here, nor do very many of his ukes turn up in the Marketplace. Based on my experience and the few others who own one of his ukes, I'm guessing this is because we are all perfectly satisfied with what we have, and have no further need to discuss it.

This has been an interesting discussion to me because when I was seeking recommendations for a builder a couple years ago, my inbox got flooded with recommendations for Wixom, some of them badmouthing the builder that I was leaning toward (and ultimately chose). The hype was really, really strange; I chose to ignore it and go with my instincts, which proved to be the right thing for me.

The strange thing about the Ukulele Underground, is that most members who have a opinion on a good ukulele or a bad ukulele never owned one or even played/seen one

I guess they can make their opinion on what they feel

 

[RichM]

The strange thing about the Ukulele Underground, is that most members who have a opinion on a good ukulele or a bad ukulele never owned one or even played/seen one

I guess they can make their opinion on what they feel

Your evidence to back this up is... what? Or are you just basing your opinion on what you feel?

 

[rubber necker]

Your evidence to back this up is... what? Or are you just basing your opinion on what you feel?

Lol,good one you got me
but it is only My Opinion and I was answering Janeray1940 not you

btw I will no longer be on the Ukulele Underground to keep you happy

 

[Brian W]

This is a great thread, and one that I feel I should reply to. I am currently on Wiilie's build list for a custom designed soprano. If anyone remembers some of my threads from a few months ago, I was looking for a custom, hand-made instrument and had inquired about a number of different small-time builders. I must have talked to at least 10 different builders before making my final decision to go with Willie. I have talked to him over the phone on a number of occasions, and at times had quite lengthy discussions. He was the only one willing to give me complete answers to every technical build and set-up question that I threw at him. He is very knowledgeable about the building process and has admitted to making a few mistakes along the way--which he has learned from and remedied. I can assure everyone here that he has no shortage of work, and his current waiting list is about 6 months out. He is building me a soprano with a custom dreadnought body shape. I don't know why Martin doesn't offer a dreadnought soprano, considering they invented the dreadnought design for their guitars; I am hoping it will add a little extra volume to the sound. It will have a western cedar top and curly claro walnut for the back and sides. He was even nice enough to send me a number of pictures of the wood itself. The grain of the cedar is VERY tight, and should resonate real nicely. The walnut is chocolate brown in color, with a highly figured grain pattern. He should be ready to start the build at the end of March. I will start a thread of the build process, and include some pictures. I will also give a detailed review after receiving it and let everyone know my thoughts and impressions of the build quality.

 

[mds725]

For comparison, the builder I chose for my custom doesn't get much discussion around here, nor do very many of his ukes turn up in the Marketplace. Based on my experience and the few others who own one of his ukes, I'm guessing this is because we are all perfectly satisfied with what we have, and have no further need to discuss it.

This has been an interesting discussion to me because when I was seeking recommendations for a builder a couple years ago, my inbox got flooded with recommendations for Wixom, some of them badmouthing the builder that I was leaning toward (and ultimately chose). The hype was really, really strange; I chose to ignore it and go with my instincts, which proved to be the right thing for me.

I recently had a chance to play a beautiful tenor made by the same person who built your ukulele, and it was magnificent.

 

[janeray1940]

I recently had a chance to play a beautiful tenor made by the same person who built your ukulele, and it was magnificent.

As is my soprano I only hope that some day my playing will be worthy of it!

 

[SailingUke]

As is my soprano I only hope that some day my playing will be worthy of it!

With a great ukulele like yours, your playing is bound to grow.
You also are talented !!!!
I love my tenor and I know it has assisted in my improvement.

 

[janeray1940]

With a great ukulele like yours, your playing is bound to grow.
You also are talented !!!!
I love my tenor and I know it has assisted in my improvement.

Thank you *blush*

Not to derail too far, but I do know that having one uke I love to play so much has really helped. While I do love my other 2 ukes as well, all three fretboards are a little different and I do play best on the one I play the most.

 

[808boy]

This is a great thread, and one that I feel I should reply to. I am currently on Wiilie's build list for a custom designed soprano. If anyone remembers some of my threads from a few months ago, I was looking for a custom, hand-made instrument and had inquired about a number of different small-time builders. I must have talked to at least 10 different builders before making my final decision to go with Willie. I have talked to him over the phone on a number of occasions, and at times had quite lengthy discussions. He was the only one willing to give me complete answers to every technical build and set-up question that I threw at him. He is very knowledgeable about the building process and has admitted to making a few mistakes along the way--which he has learned from and remedied. I can assure everyone here that he has no shortage of work, and his current waiting list is about 6 months out. He is building me a soprano with a custom dreadnought body shape. I don't know why Martin doesn't offer a dreadnought soprano, considering they invented the dreadnought design for their guitars; I am hoping it will add a little extra volume to the sound. It will have a western cedar top and curly claro walnut for the back and sides. He was even nice enough to send me a number of pictures of the wood itself. The grain of the cedar is VERY tight, and should resonate real nicely. The walnut is chocolate brown in color, with a highly figured grain pattern. He should be ready to start the build at the end of March. I will start a thread of the build process, and include some pictures. I will also give a detailed review after receiving it and let everyone know my thoughts and impressions of the build quality.

Congrats on your upcoming new uke. I had Willie build me 2 ukes to MY specs and both are keepers and will be heirlooms. I have a May build slot but may not use it, got into fishing more now and put my ukes (35) on the back burner.
As far as his popularity, it was due to his prices that he offered for a custom built uke. Certainly caught my attention so I went to see for myself as I lived close enough. Seeing and trying his ukes sold me enough to order one built to my specs. Then a year later, another one.
Yes, he is busy enough to his standards being retired. Got on the list again when I picked up my second uke.
Willie is a nice person and easy to work with. Just remember, you get what you pay for.