EARNEST INSTRUMENTS
was founded by Joel Eckhaus in 1976. The name was originally inspired by
an old Regal “Octophone”, brought in for repair, that the customer had nicknamed “Ernest.” Joel copied the dimensions and built a similar instrument,
and EARNEST INSTRUMENTS was born. As the name implies, these are serious instruments,
capable of expressing the artistry and technical
proficiency of any musician.
JOEL ECKHAUS
began building instruments in 1973. He studied woodworking at
the Shelburne Craft School and at Rochester Institute of Technology with noted
cabinetmaker, James Krenov. He apprenticed at the Tourin Musica, in Duxbury,
VT, with harpsichord and viol maker, Peter Tourin, and built his first EARNEST
mandolin at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop, in Elkins, WV, under the
instruction of Paul Reisler. He opened a shop in 1976, and has been playing,
teaching, designing, building, and repairing string instruments ever since.
His woodworking experience also includes sailboat repair and construction,
home renovation, nickelodeon construction, whirligig design and production, fine furniture and
cabinetmaking, and production lutherie with Dana Bourgeois Guitars. Joel has a BS
degree in vocational education and currently teaches woodworking and
instrument making at Maine College of Art.
In addition to being a luthier, Joel also plays the mandolin, tenor guitar
and banjo, ukulele, and musical saw. He studied uke and banjo with former
vaudevillian, Roy Smeck, the “Wizard of the Strings”, and studied mandolin
with former Texas Playboy, Tiny Moore. He was a founding member of the Arm
and Hammer String Band, and has performed with the New York Banjo Ensemble,
the Howitzer Mandolin Orchestra, the Neverly Brothers, the Blue Sky
Serenaders, the New England New Vaudeville Review and the Pinetones.
He currently plays with the ukabilly duo Dos Eckies; a ukulele/tap dance duo,
Ham & Legs; and his own group, Ukulele Eck and the Fabulous Lacklusters.
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Take a piece of Firebird, a little Explorer, some Flying V, add a bit of Danelectro, and a touch of Fender. . . put ’em all together and what have you got?. . .The Boomerang! Earnest Instruments combines the best of what’s “out there” into one retro-electro-mando that brings back the future. Available in mahogany or limba (a.k.a. korina), the Boomerang features a bolt-on neck, reverse headstock, lipstick tube pickup, pearloid pickguard, amber speed knobs, and a strat style tailpiece with through body string anchors. Available with 4 or 5 strings, 14.5″ scale length, or NovaX multi-scale fretboard.