What People Say

“I cannie put it down. I adore the thin headstock, slim neck, petite nut, LOW action, perfect natural finish and beautiful grain. Finish, intonation, frets, bridge are all perfect. So well made, light and responsive. Smells rich (important) Clearly one that will age well. The tiny man inside is a sign of the thought and ingenuity that has gone into crafting this uke. Buy one if you can, you won’t regret it. Never named a uke before but this one is now called Yewness.”

“I first saw the wonkylele in a review by Barry Maz, and was intrigued, so I got in contact with Will about getting one made. He had a nice selection of woods, and sent lots of pictures to help me choose. We settled on something unusual, yew with a very nice wide stripe. Will sent lots of photos of the whole process, asked lots of questions to make sure I was happy, and answered all of mine as well. When the uke came, it looked way cooler in person! I love this little gem. Very happy, great tone, easy action. If you want a high quality instrument, and someone who is great to work with in having it built, Will is highly recommended.”

“It is a work of art and superb craftsmanship. The choice of wood is excellent and the grain on both the front and back is perfectly matched. Nice purfling around the sound hole. Tuning is a pleasure with the Gotoh tuners mounted in the banjo style headstock and the contrasting fingerboard is beautifully shaped and finished at the bottom. The intonation is spot on and the sound from the instrument is exceptional in both tone and volume (the guy sitting *behind* me in our ukulele group commented on how good my new ukulele sounded. I didn’t tell him it was new.) I find it very comfortable to play and handle, whether strumming or picking. Inside, the body is perfectly clean with no glue visible and the young man in his raincoat looks very much at ease in his new surroundings. This is the best ukulele I have ever owned (and I can tell you I have had a few). This is a keeper. I am cured of UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome). “

“I just wanted to drop you a note to say how much I’m enjoying the ukulele I recently bought from you. It’s not just a beautiful instrument – it feels alive. Every time I pick it up, I get a real sense of joy. There’s something wonderfully characterful about it; from the craftsmanship to the sound, it’s clear that a lot of care and soul went into its making. And then there’s that little model person inside – such a whimsical, unexpected detail that somehow makes the uke feel like it’s got its own little spirit cheering me on. It brings a smile every time. Thank you for creating something that’s not only fun to play, but genuinely uplifting to own.”

“I tried several of Will’s instruments at the 2024 Ukulele Festival of Great Britain in Cheltenham, and I was particularly struck by this Oakulele, made out of wood rescued from someone’s fireplace. I thought oak would be rather dark, but this instrument is bright and chimy. Imagine my delight when it popped up for sale! I was even more delighted when it arrived. In spite of its slenderness, it is the loudest and punchiest soprano I own, and away from the clamour and bustle of Cheltenham Town Hall, the finer details of the unusual angles become apparent. I am particularly privileged, because this is (one of)* the first of Will’s ukes with his signature miniature person sitting on a strut inside. I think it’s a brilliant touch. This is one to treasure forever. Marj””

“Will Grove White ukuleles are a perfect reflection of his musical talent. They are a wonderful blend of character combined with high technical skill. My commissioned cedar and bog oak tenor (#35) combines great tone with excellent volume yet comes in a slimline form that is super comfortable to play. The main body tonewood choices were mine but otherwise I left most of the design decisions to Will who has an older style aesthetic yet with a modern openness to exploring different woods. The whole process of commissioning an instrument with WIll was a lesson in how to add value to the experience of dealing with a luthier. Couldn’t recommend a WGW ukulele more.”

“I bought my solid cherry soprano after playing a friend’s. I’ve been after my favorite soprano wood. I always thought I’d stop at Mahogany or Koa but then Cherry came along. Will has harnessed what’s he’s learnt from other builders and then put some of his own very obvious inspiration and oompf into what is a deliciously playable instrument with more punch than Muhammed Ali, an addictive tone and wonderfully balanced sustain. There is not a day when I do not pick my Will Grove White uke up. It’s stunning. “

“Just a quick note to comment on the quality of the ukulele that I bought from you. While I am a rank amateur (I play more for my pleasure), I have made it a point to buy good quality instruments. When it comes to ukuleles, I own Kamakas, a Romeo, several Kanile’as and even a Maton from Australia (acquired when I had a joint appointment there). I learned about your products from a recent ‘Ukulele Magazine’ and I took a chance on it. I am very pleased with the quality of construction (up there with the best of the Hawaiian ukuleles) – clean joints, well-done fret boards (that have been sanded and shaped on the backside), and high-quality parts. The tone is excellent (I usually play either a concert or a tenor and it has taken me time to get used to a soprano with a long neck). Furthermore, your communication process with me was extraordinary – far more than simply accepting the order. Overall, a great instrument complemented by great service – what more could you want.”