THE WHITFORDS

WHITFORD INSTRUMENTS

Eldon Whitford has been obsessed and actively involved with the vintage musical instrument world for almost 40 years.  (He was Elderly Instrument's first employee.) His mostly out-of-control love for great instruments led him to learning repair work and eventually to building his own instruments.    He is now considered one of the foremost authorities on vintage American acoustic instruments.  He researched & authored the definitive book on Gibson flattop guitars, Gibson’s Fabulous Flattop Guitars.   Ann has been his occasional assistant.

Lew Fowler made his living for 50 years as an architect.  In the later part of those years, he developed the same illness as Eldon regarding building high end guitars. As long time friends and consultant comrades, he and Eldon decided to join forces a few years ago, combining their skills, experience, tools, and tone woods. 

 Lew and Eldon conferring on Lew's Fusion Model

              Gene Autry replica built by Eldon

Each continues to build his own guitars, under his own label, Whitford Guitars and Fowler Guitars.  But these days they use each other’s consultation expertise and specific construction skill specialties.   Every guitar they build is better for it. 

They do not custom build but slowly produce guitars that turn their own cranks.  When done, folks buy them.  It’s as simple as that.   

If you are interested in a guitar of the highest quality, one that is great sounding, great playing, and great looking, you’ve found the right builders.  Each guitar is handcrafted slowly, one at a time, to old-world instrument building standards.      

E-mail or call for current availability. 

NORTHWOODS UKULELE COMPANY

Making the world greener, one uke at a time.

And here is perhaps the  most exciting thing: these ukuleles are constructed using all reclaimed tone woods.  

All of the great old well-seasoned tone woods used in these ukes were destined for landfills for a variety of reasons (mostly because the pieces were too small for guitars). 

These reclaimed pieces have come not only from Lew’s and Eldon’s shops, but also from other noted guitar shops such Galloup Guitars, Gibson’s Flattop Division, Newson Instruments, Nugget Mandolins, and Gonstead Guitars.  

Many came from Michigan trees. 

Some have come from logs from Michigan’s lake bottoms, some from old furniture, and some from Michigan furniture builders. 

Last year, Lew & Eldon created Northwoods Ukulele Company.  Their goal was to create and build the best ukuleles ever. 

They have done extensive research on the best vintage ukuleles by Gibson, Martin, as well as the best old Hawaiian ukes.   They have also done in-depth research on these old gems and have systematically altered one small change at a time. 

They now believe they have retained the best vintage features and construction processes, while making significant improvement in other areas.  After the completion of a couple of prototype batches, they have now met their goals and are building what they believe is the best sounding, best playing and possibly the best looking soprano ukuleles ever.   

These Northwood Ukuleles start at about $1,000.  

Call or e-mail for availability.       

     BUY AMERICAN…

              ESPECIALLY MICHIGAN MADE INSTRUMENTS