Outdoor Ukuleles

Outdoor Ukuleles
Outdoor Ukuleles was founded by Scott Seelye in 2013, in Bend, Oregon, U.S.A.

In 2012 Scott Seelye came up with a plan to start producing quality plastic Ukuleles with via funding project on Kickstart. The prototype Ukuleles for this project were created using a 3D printer, and were supposedly, the first Ukuleles to be made this way. The Kickstart project failed to reach its funding target but he persevered and started to manufacture Ukuleles in April 2013, with the help of a US injection moulding company.

In the beginning the Ukuleles were all Soprano scale with a square neck and a choice of all plastic friction tuners, so the Ukulele is entirely plastic or metal friction tuners. The first runs were "any colour you like so long as its black," but in 2014 they introduced a different colour; well not quite colour as it was a transparent version. Since then the company has expanded, and so has the range, adding a number of other colours, though still slightly opaque, and a Tenor scale model. They have also given up on the use of friction tuners, including the plastic push fit tuners that meant there was a 100% plastic model, and all models now have open geared tuners. There have been some other changes to the original design too, particularly with the profiling of the neck, it is a lot more curved than it was originally, though it still has a flat area in the middle. there has also been an upgrade in the materials used for the black ones, they are now made from 50% carbon fibre which makes them a lot stronger than before.

In addition to expanding range of Ukuleles, there some other additions to the catalogue too. One is a Tenor scale Banjolele made from carbon fibre composite polycarbonate with radial bracing on an 11" drum, and an internal stainless steel head tensioning system. The carbon fibre means that the neck and body have to be black, but the head can be either transparent or cream coated. The second addition to the catalogue is a 20 inch scale, nylon strung 6 string "Travel" Guitar. This too is made from carbon fibre composite polycarbonate and whilst it is very small for a Guitar, the scale length is the same as a Baritone Ukulele and it is also offered with an A~D~G~C~E~A tuning as a Guitalele.