Barebones Folk Instruments

Barebones Folk Instruments Designer and maker of handcrafted instruments. Ukuleles, Mandolins, Banjos, Dulcimers, Cajons

Barebones Folk Instruments is a owner operated business located in Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am self taught as a Luthier and design my own particular styles of Ukuleles, Octave and standard mandolins, resurrected Banjo's and also build a unique range of Cajon percussion boxes. I offer a range of models, all with options to custom build in various woods and with opportunity to add furthe

r upgrades in materials, hardware, finish and accessories. I also have a range of completed instruments available ex-stock through my website. I welcome you to view my product and also photos of my work on the website galleries.

31/01/2026

A number of people have asked for a demo of my Dulcimers. Well, thanks my friend Phillipa, after many years we finally managed to grab a vid of at Auckland FF 2026.

A milestone reached at Barebones... Our 300th stringed instrument produced. Come and visit our display at the Auckland F...
19/01/2026

A milestone reached at Barebones... Our 300th stringed instrument produced. Come and visit our display at the Auckland Folk festival, this weekend at the Kumeu showgrounds.😎

Last build for 2025 just completed. Another one of our Wayfarer Irish tenor banjos, to replace stock sold previously. Ma...
27/12/2025

Last build for 2025 just completed. Another one of our Wayfarer Irish tenor banjos, to replace stock sold previously. Maple neck, mahogany body with black walnut heel cap and overlay to headstock and armrest. Twin rods through the body secure the neck and aid tuning stability. These are astonishingly robust, despite only weighing around 2.2kg, and they'll fit in a baritone uke bag making them the idea travel instrument. Adjustable truss rod installed under the wenge fretboard, topped with paua fret markers. Sweet action and really easy to play with the 19-5/8" scale.
😎

"Mr. BONES... ME OLD TAMBOURINE EXPLODED" wailed Captain Festus McBoyle"Exploded?" says I, Mr. Bones."Arrgh, like a smal...
27/11/2025

"Mr. BONES... ME OLD TAMBOURINE EXPLODED" wailed Captain Festus McBoyle
"Exploded?" says I, Mr. Bones.
"Arrgh, like a small keg of gunpowder... BOOOM!!! Now it's just in pieces of eight, or ten. I need another, but none on shore is sturdy and strong enough for a long voyage." remarked the Captain.
"You want one strong enough to ricochet a cannon ball off." quips Mr. Bones.
"Aye" said the Captain "and maybe robust enough to stop a musket ball and deflect the backswing of a cutlas, too."
"I got a 100 year old banjo-mandolin body here that should suffice." I said.
"Brilliant" says he "here's the broken bits and a pile of gold for ye trouble. Scribe ye mark on it and the year it was commissioned, and send a message to the tavern when it's ready, me hearty."
"Righty O" says I.
"And make sure it looks like it's been dragged up from Davey Jones's locker, I don't want it looking like spanking new on the stage!!" the Captain yells over his shoulder as he departs.
"Your wish is my command" I call, with a flourish of the arm and a curt bow.
So I did.....😎

A rainy morning and can't do much in the workshop, so I decided to string up this Waterview series dulcimer I completed ...
28/10/2025

A rainy morning and can't do much in the workshop, so I decided to string up this Waterview series dulcimer I completed a few days ago. I chose some nice 1/4 sawn maple for the fretboard on this one, quite a nice contrast to the cedar top and pacific rosewood back and sides and the Paua fret markers really "pop" against it. This is stringed instrument #298 produced at Barebones, so a bit of a milestone coming up in 2 more builds 😎

Further to my post on this alteration/conversion of the bridge on the uke with bad intonation, I just received this ema...
11/10/2025

Further to my post on this alteration/conversion of the bridge on the uke with bad intonation, I just received this email from the client:

"Hi Bones,
Just a quick update to let you know that the uke arrived safely here the other day. The strings have now settled and it's playing beautifully in tune - it is a joy to play! It really feels like a completely different instrument.
Thank you once again for all your work on this!
Cheers, Frank"

Nice,😎

Final sealer coat applied on another of our unique Waterview Dulcimers. Maple fretboard with cedar top, #298 makes it l...
10/10/2025

Final sealer coat applied on another of our unique Waterview Dulcimers. Maple fretboard with cedar top, #298 makes it likely I will produce our 300th stringed instrument before the end of 2025 😎

Trad II Royale Octave Mandolin #297. After the excellent result achieved with the last custom order, I decided to dupli...
28/09/2025

Trad II Royale Octave Mandolin #297.
After the excellent result achieved with the last custom order, I decided to duplicate it for stock. I used the second piece of the cedar I'd stored for years, giving a rich, round tone with great projection and loads of sustain, just like it's sister, #296.
Again, with Victorian ash for overlays etc. to set the whole thing off.
Very pleased to get such consistency between the two of them 😎

Address

Waterview
Auckland

Telephone

+64211324217

Website

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