G-String

G-String Ukuleles Co.
G-String were founded in 1993 in Oahu, Hawaii by Derek Shimizu who, at the start was the only luthier.

Over time the business grew from Derek Shimizu's Grandparents Garage to, in 1997, a workshop in Halawa Valley, and to become a very well respected and influential Ukulele manufacturer in Hawaii, some even considered it on a par with the "Big K's".

In the workshops the production ran more along factory lines with each employee responsible for a specific part of the finished Ukulele rather than being a collection of luthiers who all make individual Ukuleles under the banner of G-String. The reason for this is the production line method produces more consistent quality, however all staff there can produce a Ukulele from start to finish on their own, and if they can't when they start they are taught how to. This in house training is one of the reasons for their influence, a lot of the independent luthiers in Hawaii, like Gareth Yahiku and Mark Bajet, started out learning the trade as employees of G-String. It also leads to all of the employees making their own, (kind of journeyman piece), Ukulele to prove their workmanship, which they can keep, sell or whatever.

Another reason for their influence was they very much embraced modern technology in the manufacturing process, using CNC cutters and Lasers, to produce top of the range Hawaiian Ukuleles. This modernism also shows in some of their designs, with laser etching, alternate sound hole placement and headstock shapes.

The Ukulele range covers all scales from Soprano to Baritone and all string combinations up to Taropatch. They are predominantly made with koa but I have seen a few spruce and cedar top models.

In 2009, Derek Shimizu closed the workshop down, moved from Halawa Valley to Hilo and went back to being a one man operation. In 2014 he left Hawaii and moved to Las Vegas where he is still in business as G-String making mainly Concerts and Tenors. He still has his laser and he does make other scales as custom options but the bulk of his work goes back to be sold in Hawaii or Japan.

Gallery
Some photos Courtesy of Ukulelefriend.com