Named after a guy named Les Rietfors rather than being French for ‘the rietfors’. His website boasts very high level support from legends like Bill Tapia, Ledward Kaapana and Lyle Ritz. Les Rietfors died in 2005 but his ukes continue to be popular. On eBay On eBay UK Video Review

Collings have long been a highly respected name in the guitar making world and made a stir when they moved into making ukes and launched their range of ukuleles at NAMM 2010. On Video Musicguymic plays a song using a Collings Ukulele. James Hill testing a Collings guitar. On eBay On eBay UK

Kamoa Ukuleles are a Hawaii-based ukulele company but only their ‘Kaua’i Built’ range are made there. Their most prominent endorser is Pierce Brosnan. Komoa Ukulele Review Aldrine tests out a few Kamoa ukuleles. On eBay On eBay UK On Video Larrysmusic1952 plays a song using a Kamoa Ukulele.

Keith Ogata comes out with some really off the wall designs: holes drilled in unusual places, arrow-shaped headstocks. Ogata is based in Hawaii but takes inspiration from his Japanese heritage – from which stems his use of the Japanese character used by his family for three generations. On eBay On eBay UK Video Review

Bean Sprout ukuleles are made by Aaron Keim (of Boulder Acoustic Sociey) and Heidi Litke. They very much focus on banjo ukuleles and pay great attention to detail (each part of the ukes are specifically designed for Bean Sprout). Although it isn’t fair the ukes are demoed by Aaron. He could make a tin can […]

Ookook are a Korean based company. They make a range of ukuleles from the standard beginner uke to solid koa ukuleles (including the first time I remember seeing a slotted headstock on a concert). You can download their catalogue and check them out for yourself (pdf link). On Video There are videos here, here and […]

Here’s a brand of ukulele so obscure no one is 100% what it’s name is. It looks like Maranugi to me, but you can look at the headstock and judge for yourself. All that is clear is that these instruments were sold in New Zealand and don’t seem to have appeared anywhere else. Ron got […]

Tanglewood are a British company and best known for their guitars but have recently started adding ukuleles to their collection. Their ukes are at the cheaper end of the scale; from brightly coloured ukes at around £25 to a range of solid spruce top ukes around the £100 mark. On Video kennymelodica on a Tanglewood […]

APC Instruments are a Portuguese company. They began in the 1970s making guitars and traditional Portuguese instruments like the ukulele forebears the rajão and the braguinha. And now have a range of ukuleles. On Video On Amazon UK

On Video Iron and Wine’s Naked As We Came on on 23″ concert Koyama. On eBay On Amazon UK Review Cameron of Kamuke magazine reviews the Koyama Cactus soprano.