Bugsgear

Bugsgear (Eleuke)
Bugs Gear, (I have seen it written with and without a space in the middle?) are a Japanese company that was started in 2004 by a man called Philip K, selling Guitars and Ukuleles that were made in China.

I don't know the full history but at some point they appear to have started branding the bulk of their Ukuleles Eleuke but there were budget acoustic Ukuleles with Bugsgear on the headstock on sale too. The catalogue of instruments they sell is ever changing with fairly iconic looking Ukulele models coming and going. Currently they seem to be focusing more on the Kalimba, (Thumb Piano), however there are still Guitars and Ukuleles being included.

Over the years Bugsgear are most famous for solid body nylon strung Ukuleles with under-saddle, piezo pickup branded EleUke, (by Bugs Gear) but they have produced a number of electro-acoustic Ukuleles with this branding as well. These Eleuke models are almost always quite innovative in their design, though for some of the solid body models have taken inspiration from, and then given a modern twist to, the more traditional Ukulele range. I have never seen an Eleuke Mini, Tiple Ukulele, Taropatch or Lili'u but I have seen all other scales in various of their ranges over the years.

In 2013 they added some steel strung electric Ukuleles to the Eleuke range and a plastic Soprano that they have called the Aqulele to the Bugsgear range, with a Concert scale Aqulele added in 2015. The 2013 Aqulele has a specially patented new bridge but for the 2015 model they have kept the string attachment method but gone back to a separate saddle and it appears they have discontinued the Concert Aqulele now.

In 2017 they signed a licencing deal of some sort with SHS and the Aquleles and the (No Cigar) Cigar Box ranges are now sold under SHS's Eddy Finn branding.