A visit to DaSilva Ukulele Co.
UKULELE MOVEMENT had the opportunity to visit Mike DaSilva of DaSilva Ukulele Co. in Berkerly California. This is where Michael DaSilva makes high-quality custom ukuleles completely from scratch. DaSilva ukuleles are 100% handcrafted. Yes – right down to the herringbone rosette strips or alternating wood edgings are painstakingly glued by hand and cut into strips to inlay as required.
The expertise of Mike is astounding, we witness him shaping a block of mahogany wood into a neck in less than 10 minutes, done without any measurements or markings, just by feel (see video). His stock of instrument-grade tonewood is equally amazing, the grains of the Californian Redwood salvaged from the bottom of sea after 20 years of being submerged seems to glow with a 3-D effect of water rippling on the surface of the wood. He showed us his cut soundboards made from Quilted Spruce, (very) Curly Koa, Curly Mahogany and many more which never ceases to amaze us the moment some water is sprayed on the surface of the wood to show the wood's true grains.
The highlight of the visit is to be shown a personal collection of original ukuleles from the 1890s made by the very hands of the Portuguese master craftsmen who sailed to Hawaii to work. In his glass cabinet were a Nunes, a Dias, and a Santo. All dated in the late 1890s. There were also some vintage pieces like the Martin 3K from Martin & Co., a vintage Kamaka Pineapple and a vintage Roy Smeck Vita Uke. Simply exquisite!
Mike is now building reproductions of the Nunes and the Dias. The Santo will soon be ready for order. Expect a lead time of around 10-12 weeks from the time you place your order with us to delivery date. Mike currently makes about 30-40 ukuleles a year, and some of his clients include Warren Buffett, James Hill, Bosko & Honey, Aaron Keim, Pops Bayless, and Michelle Kiba so a long wait is expected for good things.
We are proud to be only representative of DaSilva Ukulele Co. in Asia and if you so desire to have your own custom uke built by a master craftsman, come to us to discuss your requirements for a quotation. You can also find out what Mike has built in the last few years by clicking [here].
Videos of Mike DaSilva shaping an ukulele neck from a block of Mahogany wood in less than 10 mins.
