Category: Articles

EARNEST collaborates directly with musicians to design and build custom instruments to meet unusual or specific needs. The process often begins with the discussion of a “dream instrument” and leads to rough sketches, first drafts, full-sized models, selection of materials, electronics, color, and finish. Final drawings are drafted and approved before actual construction of the instrument begins. The result is a one-of-a-kind instrument, created with the combined knowledge of the musician and the luthier. Joel’s experience as a woodworker, luthier, and a performer enables him to understand both the technical requirements of musicians as well as the technical challenges of building instruments. His knowledge of wood technology, acoustics, musicology, and instrument history informs his sense of design and construction. The fact that he plays the instruments he builds ensures that they will sound and feel “right.”

Epiphone Electric Tenor Guitar

Walking Stick Uke

Lil’ Ricky Rickenbacker Tenor Uke

Colander Girl – Resonator Concert Uke

The Shelele, Walking Stick Uke

Weissenborn Electric Dulcimer

The Earnest Bandolim

The Rounder Electric Guitar

The Stukulele (made for Stuart Fuchs)

Custom Blonde Veronica Tenor Guitar

“The Skinny” Electric Tenor Guitar”

 

Swamp Cat With a lightweight swamp ash body and ears like a cat, the SWAMP CAT has a traditional bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and a hardtail bridge with through-body string anchors. Available with either single coil or humbucking pickups, the SWAMP CAT has a clear, bright tone and great sustain, thanks also to the 14.5″ scale length. The SWAMP CATcomes in four or five string models with a translucent blonde lacquer finish, black or parchment pickguard, and chrome knobs. Custom colors are also available. The SWAMP CAT was designed for Barry Mitterhoff, classical, ethnic, bluegrass, jazz, and blues mandolinist extraordinaire, currently touring with the band, Hot Tuna. 4-string model – $1500 5-string model – $1550 Total Length Body Width Body Depth Body Length Scale Length 27“ 10“ 1 5/8″ 14“ 14 1/2″ Mandolins

LeRoy Palomino The Hall of Fame Uke Mainlander American Standards Strad Uke

Ceegar Box & Hootchulele Tululele Ipulele Sputnik La Paula Stretch Paddlelele

American Standards Earnest Instruments, in collaboration with several artists, is pleased to introduce the “American Standards” series, a limited edition of one-of-a-kind painted ukuleles commemorating the golden age of American popular music. The paintings attempt to illustrate both the lyrics of the songs as well as the spirit of the times in which they were popular. Customers can request special songs for the series, or choose from a list of suggested titles. No two ukes will be alike and prices will vary depending on the size and style of uke, and the requirements of the painting. Number one in the series commemorates the song “My Blue Heaven”, written by Walter Donaldson and George Whiting, which became the first million selling vocal hit with the 1927 recording by Gene Austen . The “My Blue Heaven” uke was painted by Greg Dearth, illustrator, painter, and an accomplished jazz musician, from Franklin, Ohio. (Scroll down for close-ups) Ukuleles

5-string Radiator

Radiator It’s acoustic; it’s electric; it’s resophonic; it’s the RADIATOR–Earnest Instruments’ latest “resocoustilectric” tenor guitar! Available in either four or five string (suggested tuning, FCGDA) models, the RADIATOR features a hollow thinline ash body, bolt-on maple neck with two-way truss rod, rosewood fretboard, and National-style cone and biscuit bridge. The unique “apostrophic” soundholes enhance the bass and midrange harmonics giving the RADIATOR a loud and full acoustic sound. Plugged in, The RADIATOR just cooks with tone. Standard electronics include a lipstick tube pickup and a McIntyre piezo transducer with tone and volume controls and a three-way switch. Standard finish is satin lacquer with a translucent blonde color. Other finishes and electronic options are available. Rectangular hardshell case included 4 string model — $1850 5 string model — $1900 Total Length Width-Upper Bout Width-Lower Bout Maximum Depth of Body Neck Width at nut Scale Length 36″ 9″ 13 3/8″ 2″ 4 string: 1 1/8″ 5 string: 1 7/16″ 23″ Tenor Guitars

4-string Radiator

Boomerang 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. 4 string – $1150 5 string – $1200 Total Length Width-Upper Bout Width-Lower Bout Maximum Depth of Body Body Length Scale Length 27″ 7″ 10″ 1″ 14″ 14 1/2″ Mandolins

Mandolins

Ukuleles

Tenor Guitars

Lap Steel Guitars

Custom Designs

Selma	Flying TV	Radiator	Rosetta
Veronica	Tenorcaster	Big Red	Tenor Guitar Conversions

Tululele Rock ‘n Roll will never be the same with the Tululele, which combines the sound of an acoustic uke with the look of a classic electric guitar. With a hollow ash body, a bolt-on maple neck and a concert scale length (14 7/8″), the Tululele pumps out plenty of acoustic sound and also plugs in to your favorite amp for a hot acoustic/electric effect. The Tululele is available in “Ruby”, “Blondie”, or “Bluey” (custom colors and finishes also available — see below) and includes a standard piezo soundboard transducer, and a plush lined chipboard case. Tululele acoustic/electric –$600 Total Length Width-Upper Bout Width-Lower Bout Maximum Depth of Body Body Length Scale Length 24″ 6″ 7″ 13/4″ 9 7/8″ 14 7/8″ Ukuleles

Custom Tenor Tuluele, built for Ed Vedder, Pearl Jam

Earnesto A classic European styled flat-top mandolin, EARNESTO is designed for the ethnic or classical musician looking for an alternative to the standard bowlback, archtop, or crack top mandolin. The large, deep body, and long (14 1/2″) scale length gives this instrument a clear brilliance, with strong bass and rich overtones, capable of a wide range of timbres and moods. EARNESTO is available in a variety of domestic and imported hardwoods, with a slotted or solid headstock. Earnesto Flat Top Mandolin – $1750 Total Length Width-Lower Bout Maximum Depth of Body Body Length Scale Length 27 1/4″ 10 5/8″ 2 9/16″ 13″ 14 1/2″ Mandolins