Where did the time go?

Wow!  It's been awhile since I had a chance to sit down and blog.  For anyone that might be wondering what happened to me, don't worry!  I'm still here.  Life has been chaotic lately.  Most of it having to do with my job.  I recently got promoted to a very demanding position.  It's definitely a blessing, but doesn't allow me a lot of time to blog or work on new new ukulele ideas.

But seeing as I had a few free minutes this morning, I thought I'd give you a heads up on a couple of ukulele related things that I've got going on right now.

I recently had the pleasure of contributing to this article - 5 Ukulele bloggers explaining their recording setups for both video and audio.  Definitely worth a read if you're not satisfied with the quality of your recordings.

And secondly, I asked my blogging buddy to build me a mini ukulele (with an 11" scale).  It is fnished!  And it looks and sounds absolutely amazing (video below)!  The body and neck are solid cherry with a Tru-Oil finish. The rosewood bridge has a bone saddle and the rosewood fretboard has abalone inlays. It has Grover 3W tuners strung with Worth Clear Light strings.  Many thanks to Daniel Hulbert of Circuits and Strings for creating this little beauty for me!  Make sure to check out his site for some awesome builds.

So that's my unofficial update for the moment.  Hoping to getting back to blogging some new ideas on a more regular basis, so please don't change the channel. :)

5 Custom Ukulele Builders

Like so many others, I don't own a custom ukulele and I probably won't have the money for one anytime soon.  Having a wife and kid definitely limits your ukulele budget.  Not that I'm complaining.  I wouldn't trade my family for anything!  But that doesn't keep me from looking and dreaming about which custom uke I'd buy.  That being said, here are 5 custom ukulele builders that you NEED to check out if you're thinking about getting your first!

Boat Paddle Ukuleles

I have to start with one of my personal favorites based out of my home state of Missouri.  Boat Paddle ukes have a simple, yet elegant look and every sound sample I've heard has been nothing short of fantastic. 

Interview w/ Jerry Hoffman from Boat Paddle Ukuleles

Boat Paddle Kayak - yet another uke I must have!

For being such a fantastic custom ukulele builder, Jerry Hoffman sure is very humble guy.  Sometimes humility can be mistaken for a lack of confidence, but that's not the case with Jerry and his Missouri based company, Boat Paddle Ukuleles.  I simply think that he strives for excellence and perfection in all his builds.  He strikes me as the type that's never satisfied and always wants to do better both for the customer and for his own peace of mind.

I don't know about you, but that's exactly the kind of individual that I want building my custom ukulele - someone that will go above and beyond to make sure you're 100% happy with your purchase.  This is exactly why I'm planning on making that beautiful uke to the left (Boat Paddle Kayak) my first custom ukulele. 

I recently had the opportunity to correspond with Jerry in interview type fashion and ask him a few questions.  Hope you enjoy it!  And of course, don't forget to check out some of his AMAZING work here at the Boat Paddle website.