Lardy's Ukulele database

Armadillo Enterprises

Armadillo Enterprises of Tampa, Florida, USA is run by musician Elliott Dean Rubinson and purchased the Dean Guitars trade name in 1997. The company also owns Luna Guitars and DDrums. All Armadillo Enterprises Ukuleles are made in China and DDrums only have drums and drum accessories in their catalogue

Luna Guitars

Luna Ukuleles was founded by Yvonne de Villiers in 2005, Luna make a range of acoustic and electric Guitars, some Mandolins and a fairly full range of Ukuleles in Soprano to Baritone scale lengths, plus a couple of Banjoleles, some Bass Uke models and a Resonator Ukulele. They are all decorated in some way either laser etching, inlay or decal work, and have a very distinctive look, apparently this is due to an all female design team

Aurora by Luna was a range of colourful Soprano Ukuleles aimed at children, (and adults who like this sort of thing), including some with fairy tale pictures by Mary Ann DiNella launched in 2013. I believe they are discontinued now

This firm has nothing to do with the Japanese Luna Gakki and its current or historical branding

Dean Guitars

Dean Guitars was founded by Dean Zelinsky in 1976 and is most famous for its electric Guitars. It does do acoustic and resonator Guitars too plus in 2013, Soprano Concert and Tenor Ukuleles were added to the catalogue. These are much plainer and more traditional looking than the Ukuleles of the sister company Luna apart from, in 2014 they introduced a Concert model in a couple of different finishes based on their ML electric Guitars. In 2016 they put out some Concert scale Ukuleles with sound boards featuring graphic designs they describe as "Inspired by the likes of pop surrealism and lowbrow culture" and look a bit like cartoon monsters.

Dean Guitars did not make any Ukuleles before the purchase by Armadillo Enterprises

Aurora Dragon

Dean ML

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