Wunderkammer Musical Instrument Company is built around the wonder, intangible magic and curiosities created by musical instruments of yesteryear. Owner and luthier Liam Kirby is a builder based in Bath, England who has worked to recreate that magic with his new builds since 2012.
As Liam himself puts it: 'There's something about old instruments, ones built in the early 20th Century and before. Working for several years in a folk music emporium I've been fortunate enough to have had many of these treasures pass through my hands, as grudging trade-ins and oblivious attic discoveries. When played, they ring against you excitedly. They are often nearly-but-not-quite symmetrical. The varnish is thin - easily scratched, yes, but the natural beauty of the wood glows through. They are artifacts, not products.'
By using traditional building techniques and by cherry picking his favourite attributes from ukuleles across the instruments history and roots in European Folk Music through to classic Hawaiian Kumalae and Kamaka builds, we are delighted to work with Liam on a collection of different ukuleles for Southern Ukulele Store across the four conventional ukulele sizes. If you love a taropatch or something weird and wonderful; don't be limited by our selection here as Liam continues to build gorgeous one-offs and historical instruments from his workshop in Bath, Somerset.
The 'Boswell' tenor ukulele is based on the shape and stylings of many lesser known mainland US guitar brands of the 1930s. Many companies like National, Regal and even Gibson would produce uniquely shaped instruments to meet the demand of the growing Ukulele market. This is a lovely open tenor shape and 17''scale with and 12 fret fingerboard. It weighs absolutely nothing, I worry that a passing gust of wind might blow it away forever!
This tenor uke is made from reclaimed mahogany that was previously Victorian furniture. The neck profile is slim in the first position by the nut but gets deep up in the third position as the neck approaches the body. It is very comfortable though with a roomy 37mm nut width. Unique features about this instrument that you wouldn't find on modern factory built instruments is the glued in ebony bridge saddle on a rosewood bridge and ebony wood nut. The bridge is a bridge pin design with maple bridge pins
You can hear more about this instrument including a sound sample in our video with Liam below:
Finally, for those that cannot visit and try the instrument before buying; I feel it's important to note that these instruments are not cosmetically perfect like a modern factory ukulele. These are made by hand and hand finished in a way that is meant to look rustic. The price of these instruments reflect this and the rough and ready feel is an important part of the aesthetic quality and 'shabby chic' vibe that Wunderkammer is going for when building these instruments.
Specification:
Solid reclaimed mahogany top, back and sides
Mosaic rosette
English holly front binding
Mahogany neck
37mm nut width
Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge
Maple bridge pins
Ebony nut and saddle
Shellac stain and sealer, hand rubbed oil finish
Worth BM Fluorocarbon strings
Gotoh Planetary tuners
Label designed by Jake Smithies
TGI tweed hard case included
