deHoutwinkel

Daryl vanderGroef - UTAH, USA

Where he started

de Houtwinkel meaning “the wood shop” is as unique of a company as its maker. Being a one-man shop in Utah, allows Daryl to meticulously put his expertise and attention into every piece from design to delivery. He has spent a greater part of a decade as a Wildland firefighter and on one of his off seasons in 2015, he began crafting ukuleles. The science behind the instrument and how it evolved over the years is what drew him in, with his engineering background it seemed a natural fit.

He read his first biography “Antonio de Torres Guitar Maker: His life and work”, was immediately enamoured by the way he built his instruments, and the passion he puts into them. Other influences came from airplanes, and astrophysics. Daryl style stands on its own and he tries to avoid copying other builders’ style, his instruments are distinguished as ‘modern but with a traditional twist’!

Building a better, more modern instrument.….

Being a wildland firefighter, Daryl knows first hand of the effects on our warming climate, and the destruction wildfires can cause; provided Daryl a better understanding of our forests.

The knowledge gained has been an integral part of his build philosophy: Building a better, more modern instrument that is sustainable, and will last many generations. All while preserving the history of how they were made.

“There is no greater feeling in the world, than to be the absolute last thing between nature’s fury, and the most important resource we have on this planet.”

it’s a wonderful feeling to create a new one-of-a-kind…

“the most enjoyable part of his job is working with so many different people, the wholesome sense of community within the ukulele world reverberates with everyone he meets. His client’s happiness is the most important thing to him, building someone something they can cherish for a very long time and how much happiness it brings is irreplaceable. Everyone has different styles and needs, so to him it’s a wonderful feeling to create a new one-of-a-kind ukulele each time.”

Thank you!

“Thank you for supporting small luthiers! You will get so much more love from your instrument and it will never leave my shop without every square inch of it being touched by my own hands.” – D. vanderGroef