Instrument Manufactures & Luthiers

Recommendations

I'm a little biased but here are my personal recommendations for custom and production ukuleles. — Curt

20 December 2025

My (Curt's), main performance and go-to ukuleles are two cedar top and rosewood back and side Ko'olau CS Tenors ukuleles (one built in 2009 and and one built in 2017).

Custom Builders & Luthiers

These are some of the best ukuleles available. I personally have played ukuleles from all theses builders and have two Ko'olau CS Contemporary Tenors. — Curt

Ko`olau Guitar and Ukulele Company

Ko`olau Guitar and Ukulele Company

"Ko'olau Guitars and 'Ukuleles" are professional quality, hand crafted instruments. The shop is located in Kaneohe, on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, approximately fifteen minutes from Honolulu, at the foot of the the beautiful Ko'olau Mountains.

C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.

C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.

Martin's steadfast adherence to high standards of musical excellence, mixed with experienced management, has largely accounted for the company's remarkable longevity. Marketing methods and product mix have changed at Martin over the years, but the company attitude towards guitar building has never varied. In the preface to the 1904 catalog, Frank Henry Martin explained to potential customers, “How to build a guitar to give this tone is not a secret. It takes care and patience. Care in selecting the materials, laying out the proportions, and attending to the details which add to the player's comfort. Patience in giving the necessary time to finish every part. A good guitar cannot be built for the price of a poor one, but who regrets the extra cost for a good guitar?” Almost eighty years have passed since Frank Henry Martin authored this statement of policy, but it still is an accurate expression of Martin's ongoing commitment to quality.

Kamaka Ukuleles

Kamaka Ukuleles

Since 1916, Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. has prided itself on producing only ukuleles of the finest quality -- durable, exquisite instruments that improve with age. Like the ukuleles, the company itself continues to withstand the test of time. The company's longevity shows its commitment to both customer and employee alike, and reflects other important values as well.

Kanilea Ukulele

Kanilea Ukulele

We specialize in standard to professional grade musical instruments. Each ukulele is finely hand crafted using the highest grade, well-seasoned wood and scaled to produce a perfect intonation. These instruments are meticulously built by skilled craftsmen, under the guidance of Master Luthier, Joseph Souza. Our state of the art, humidity controlled facilities in Kaneohe, Hawaii allows Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele balance “Traditions and Technologies”. Every ‘ukulele comes with a 100% customer satisfaction, money back guarantee and our industry leading limited lifetime warranty.

Klos Guitars

Klos Guitars

KLOS Guitars was born as an answer to the question of why are carbon fiber guitars so expensive. Hand crafted with extreme precision in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, our guitars blend the practical with the elegant. We keep the neck out of mahogany and blackwood so that your fingers have a familiar feel while making the body and soundboard out of durable carbon fiber. This hybrid wood and carbon fiber approach lets us keep the price well under $1000 for our acoustic model, while still producing a compact, durable, and great sounding travel guitar. Our #keepitKLOS philosophy is that music is meant to always be around us, so grab your guitar and take it with you everywhere you go!

Recommended Entry Level and Intermediate Brand for Major Manufactures

I’ve had or have a few of theses. Nice upgrades up from cheap beginner models and up.

Pono

Pono

"Pono" instruments are professionally designed and handcrafted by the "Ko'olau Guitar and `Ukulele Company" and on the Island of Java, with final adjustments and set-up on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Ohana Ukuleles

Ohana Ukuleles

Welcome to "Ohana", where you will find the many hand-crafted ukulele models we offer - from soprano to baritone, mahogany to selected koa from the islands of Hawaii, conventional to vintage models, plus unique ones for those who are looking for something different.

Kala Brand Music Company

Kala Brand Music Company

Mike Upton is the founder of Kala Brand Music Co. in northern California. Established in 2005, Kala builds 140-plus models of ukulele, including travel and bass variations.Kala and Makala brand of ukuleles.

Amahi Ukuleles

Amahi Ukuleles

A new line of ukuleles from an establish fine instrument company. Manufacturer/Distributor of High-Quality Ukuleles including Amahi and Snail Ukuleles. Over 40 models available with exotic woods and unique designs.

Teton Guitars

Teton Guitars

We build guitars focused on tone, quality and playability rather than margin and profit. We put audio principals before business practices. Teton Guitars® are produced by Chesbro Music Co., a 100 year old family owned and operated company in Idaho Falls. We’ve crafted instruments that sound and play like guitars that cost 10 times as much. Tetons are only sold to independent local stores. Visit your local music store and try one out, then look at the price. We double dog dare you to not be impressed. No dogs were harmed in the dare.