In being on the look out for nice Ukuleles I see the work of a number of full and part time luthiers. The instruments they make look very nice and worthy of note.
From Portland, Maine, he began making instruments in 1973 and started Ernest Instruments in 1976 having studied woodworking extensively and apprenticing as a luthier. He makes Tenor Guitars, Mandolins and Ukuleles of all scales including Bass ones, but it prefers Concert Scale. He likes to make unusual looking instruments and prefers domestic US woods to exotic imports.
From Marengo, Illinois, he is predominantly a maker of the Violin family of instruments with a backup line in the Mandolin Family. 40 years as a engineer/craftsman and some self study taught him luthiery and he now works full time as a luthier
From Asheville North Carolina, he makes a number of instruments like Guitars and Mandolins, under the name of Celentano Woodworks, but mainly he does some very imaginative Ukuleles in all scales including Bass ones, plus he has made some Banjoleles too. He does claim something along the lines of; "if you can dream it he will make it" He also says he doesn't use CNC tools for cutting