ukuleles

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Ukulele

Rigaud

Bob Rigaud graduated from the Roberto-Venn School in Phoenix and later worked as an instructor there. He moved to Greensboro, NC in 1979, where he worked as a repairman at a local music store. At this time he began making resophonic guitars (with sound-posts) in his home workshop, where he also made cutaway nylon stringed guitars and custom carved electric guitars. One of these (Sculptar) was featured in Guitar Player magazine (March 1985).  Bob continued to grow his career as he built acoustic guitars and specialized in the repair and restoration of vintage guitars. Circa 2019 he was devoted to the design and development of custom acoustic guitars.

Source: Rigaud Guitars website (2 September 2019)

Richter (Mfg Co)

richter mfg co the richter mfg. co. was founded at chicago, il by carl h. richter in 1926 to market instruments. they were no longer listed in 1944 [source: mugwumps] chicago made guitars. according to posts at guitarsite in 2003-4 there are guitars made by richter mfg co at least from from 1929-1937 richter also made buckeye brand guitars, sweetheart (a brand name used by chicago distributors targ & dinner for ukuleles and banjoleles) plus instruments for a lot of other distributors. one name i believe they used on their own instruments was princess. richter appear to have contracted out banjo making. richter painted guitars advertisement musc trades 1930 [source: lardy's ukulele corner] instruments made by richter include parlor and classical guitars. richter also made cowboy guitars with brands "the plainsman" featuring a scene from a gary cooper movie (1936) of the same name.

Dowina

Dowina began in 1979 in the village of Devín in Slovakia with the opening of violin workshop overlooking the castle. Later acoustic guitars were added to the product range. In 2010 they moved to larger premises in Devinska Nova Ves, encompassing a production center, warehouse, custom shop and administration.

Source: Dowina website (15 August 2019)

Blanton

Blanton is a brand for banjos, Wiessenborn guitars and mandolins aimed at American Fok, Old Time, Irish trad and bluegrass musicians. Blanton instruments are distributed in Japan by Hosco and some are also made in Japan.

Blanton is also a brand name for US made pedal steel guitars.
 

Republic

Frank Helsley founded Republic Guitars in 2007 as an affordable modern resonator brand, in the town of Rowlett just outside of Dallas Texas. In 2009 Helsley came up with the Highway 61, a travel-sized guitar with a single cut-away. The Republic range covers both classic single-cone and tri-cone models. In August 2013 Republic Guitars relocated to Austin. To keep prices affordable Republic Guitars are imported.     

Source: Republic Guitars website (24 June 2019)

Reliance

Reliance was a brand name of George Houghton and Sons (GH&S) of Birmingham, UK. George Hougton opened his Reliance factory in 1888 in Heaton Street, Birmingham. GH&S made a range of stringed instruments including banjos, ukueles and guitars. George Hougton's son (also named George) closed the Reliance works in 1962 and the equipment and some of the staff moved to a factory at 12 Gravel Hill, Bexleyheath, Kent where they made instruments under the Dallas label

Rayco

Luthiers Mark Thibeault and Jason Friesen founded Rayco Resophonics in 2002. Rayco was named after Mark’s late father Raymond. In 2011 they were joined by Damian Jones and Josh Lafountain. Rayco make resophonic, lap steel, wiessenborn and electric guitars as well as resophonic ukuleles.
 

Source: Rayco Resophonics website (2 June 2019)

Kanile'a

Kanile`a ukuleles are standard to professional grade instruments made in Kāne`ohe, Hawaii. The company was founded by Joe Souza who began an apprenticeship with Peter Burmudez in 1991 at the age of 20. in 1998 he opened his own ukulele business with his wife Kristen.

Islander

Islander ‘Ukulele is a brand name of Kanile’a ‘Ukulele - a Hawaiian family-owned and operated ukulele maker. The Islander ukuleles are more affordable than the Kanile'a branded instruments and the Islander range includes concert. soprano and tenor ukuleles as well as guitarleles and mini guitars.

Penn (Pennino)

Penn was a ukulele and guitar brand name of the Pennino Music Company. Pennino Music was founded in Los Angeles, California by Jeanette Pennino Banoczi (1922 - 2017) and her first husband Humbert Pennino (1907 - 1955). Jeanette was born Jeannette Bernadette Boulay in Lowell Massachusetts and showed a talent for trumpet playing. In 1940, at the age of 18, Jeanette moved to New York City where she played First Trumpet for the Phil Spitalny All Girl Hour of Charm radio programme until 1945. She decided to relocate to California following a trip to Hollywood to play in the movie "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". She married Humbert Pennino, first trumpet for Arturo Toscanini's NBC Symphony Orchestra and they founded and ran Pennino Music Company, the largest wholesaler of musical instruments on the West Coast. During this period Pennino Music Company used the Penn brand for ukes and guitars.

Pegasus

Pegasus is an acoustic guitar and ukulele brand founded by Bob Gleason. Pegasus instruments are made in Hawaii typically from Koa wood. Gleason started building instruments in 1971, first working on a mountain dulcimer kit then making dulcimers from scratch. After graduation from University in 1973, he left California for Seattle, Washington where he began selling his dulcimers at street fairs. Soon he was also making mandolins and in 1974 he made his first guitars. In 1976 he attended a guitar building course at The Apprentice Shop, Tennessee which helped launch his career as a guitar & ukulele maker. He launched a wholesale music supply business Hilo Strings in the 1990's which sold improved ukulele string sets.

Source: Pegasus Guitars website (12 December 2018)

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