V... 21st C. Chinese Factories or Brands
(with limited information and international distribution)
V... 21st C. Chinese Factories or Brands
(with limited information and international distribution)
There are a lot of Ukulele factories in China, usually in Guangzhou, and whilst some of them make the famous brands that are distributed internationally, (and some don't respect copyright), they also produce other less famous brands that only get very limited distribution. These may be the factory "house" brands or may be a limited trial run and they never really went into production, (but then a trial run of 500 is more than some luthiers will ever make)?
I haven't found the information to be more specific, but some of these brands are as good as the famous ones made along side them so deserve some recognition. Some of the factories will have used more than one of the brand names on otherwise identical models of Ukulele and I am finding the more I look into it that some of these "manufacturers" are really only internet distributors who may be fronts for factories or may be small businesses with a shop on Amazon, Ali Baba or similar market places
Anyway here is what I have found.
Also known as Vines Music they are based in Huizhou, Guangdong, with some conflicting information on when the company was founded? (as is often the way on the Chinese websites it says 2014 but also says it had been making OEM instruments before this). There is some unspecified mention of a link to Spain on the site too, possibly technical help, possibly ownership?
Whatever the case the firm uses the branding Vien, Vines and Yamilio (though I've seen no instruments branded with this), has a Vein and Vines website, and makes Guitars, Violins and Soprano Concert and Tenor Ukuleles, plus Amps, Drums, Guitar parts and accessories. The Ukulele output is all very generic looking though so I wouldn't be at all surprised if, despite all of the claims of manufacturing they are really just a distributor/middle man especially since some of the pictures n the sites still carry Huayi brand names!