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.

After posting up the Crown model yesterday, back into the workshop to finish putting this fella together. Another of my ...
06/08/2026

After posting up the Crown model yesterday, back into the workshop to finish putting this fella together. Another of my popular Trad II model Octave Mandolins with the 22-1/8 inch scale., replacing the one in the showroom sold recently. Spruce top, sapele back and sides, wenge fretboard and bridge and more of that walnut to finish off the overlays and heel-cap.

WOW! this is a winner. All sapele mahogany with walnut finals and overlay on headstock. What I will have to call my "Cro...
04/08/2026

WOW! this is a winner. All sapele mahogany with walnut finals and overlay on headstock. What I will have to call my "Crown Extra-Jumbo Baritone Uke". After the success of the custom 3/4 classical guitar I built to this body size, I thought, Hmmm, a nice sapele topped baritone uke version probably wouldn't go amiss. And it hasn't. The body is 20mm wider than my standard, from the centre outwards, 80mm sidewalls (usually 70-75mm) and a slightly larger sound hole. Tuned DGBE, it has superb rich tone. Sorry, it's already probably sold, you'll have to wait till the next one, because this is so exceptional, I'm gonna have to make another😎.

WOW, this is a real beauty. After purchasing both a Barebones Waterview series dulcimer and a baritone Crown Royale uke,...
14/05/2026

WOW, this is a real beauty. After purchasing both a Barebones Waterview series dulcimer and a baritone Crown Royale uke, one of my South Island clients commissioned this custom 3/4 scale parlour classical guitar in the same design. Some beautiful recycled mahogany for the neck, back and sides with a spruce top, wenge fretboard and walnut for overlays etc.
A few extra customer requested tweaks from a typical classical guitar: A narrower neck (43mm at the nut, 55mm at 12th fret) similar to that found on a steel strung guitar. A full set of fret markers on both the fretboard face and side.
Also, we added 18-1 ratio Wilkinson open geared guitar tuners for ultra fine tuning.

I took it to Ray Taylor for him to test drive.... his comment:
"If she doesn't like it, get her to send it back, because I'll have it!!" 😎

Goodbye to this gorgeous Trad series Mandolin, build #304, a special order by a client who just collected it from the s...
30/03/2026

Goodbye to this gorgeous Trad series Mandolin, build #304, a special order by a client who just collected it from the showroom. Some lovely mahogany for back and sides and a spruce top, black walnut scratch plate, overlays etc. Wenge fretboard and ebony floating bridge topped off with a quality set of Grover machines. It has a slightly wider fretboard than standard mandolins to customer specification, and a reasonably wide, deep body. Very pleased with the sound, especially from an instrument that has not been played in yet, and a very nice action. This will mature superbly as time goes on.😎

Just completed in time for Hamsterfest folk festival next week. This Crown Royale model tenor uke has all the goodies yo...
29/03/2026

Just completed in time for Hamsterfest folk festival next week. This Crown Royale model tenor uke has all the goodies you've come to expect from Barebones + more...... All solid woods body, (mahogany with spruce top), NZ native tawa neck, wenge fretboard and bridge, black walnut overlays and inlays. Lightweight Graph Tech planetary tuners for balance, bone nut and saddle and a great action with a deep warm tone.😎

Over the years several people have asked me customise their banjo armrests, adding a wood top to prevent the chrome surf...
12/03/2026

Over the years several people have asked me customise their banjo armrests, adding a wood top to prevent the chrome surface irritating of the skin (hence why I make my Wayfarer banjos with this feature). I'm now offering them as an accessory, available with maple, walnut or mahogany top surface, finished with a hard, gloss lacquer. They fit most 24 bracket 11" head banjos and others with slight modification.

Address

Waterview
Auckland

Telephone

+64211324217

Website

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