BARNETT UKULELES . GUITARS . CIGAR BOX GUITARS . LAP STEEL GUITARS

ABOUT ME

My background is varied, starting out as a mechanic. I've worked as a designer, artist, illustrator, 
photographer and architectural modelmaker. The common trait running through all these areas is the combination of 
hands, head and heart. 

The skills and thinking from this background have all been combined in my instrument making. 
Playing guitar and ukulele gave me the desire to build instruments for myself.
 Making the fit and feel of them suit my playing style as well as being individual in their apearance.

Around ten years back I met up with John Hewitt of Hewitt's Fiddle shop.
 To cut a long story short I started doing inlay work on John's "Kapono" brand ukuleles. 
This lead to making the braces for their ukuleles along with other components. 
My regular pick ups and drop offs of work lead to me learning my share of luthery skills.
 John and I regularly talked over ukulele design, tonewood choices - everything ukulele.
 Plus a fair sprinkling of guitar and fiddle facts and theory.
 Over time I did short runs of intricate inlay designs on ukulele sound boards and headstocks,
 featuring hibiscus, kowhai and franjipani designs. 
This relationship became like an unofficial apprenticeship for me with a valued friend.
 I owe a debt of gratitude to John Hewitt.

Making my own instruments has become a bit of an obsession, 
with new ideas popping into my head constantly.
 Having more than reached my limit for yet another instrument in my own music room 
I felt my passion for making stringed instruments needed to take a new direction 
- building custom instruments for others.
 Still building instruments one at a time, taking my time to do it the way I know best.

Barnett Ukuleles & Guitars . Auckland . New Zealand
Email: terry@colourworkshop.co.nz         Phone: 027 2947 327