June 2023 UPDATE from Jamie Houston, Owner.
Since October 2020 when we sold the last DUKE10 Banjo Ukulele we have had a steady stream of emails from hundreds of people looking to get a DUKE10. It was even suggested by one store in the UK that "the DUKE10 is now an almost fabled cult instrument"!
So the exciting news is that now China has re-opened its doors (it was COVID that put a halt to production) I am exploring the possibility of manufacturing a new batch of DUKE10 Banjoleles. For those of you who have been waiting, I hope this is the first step to getting things up and running again. Watch this Space, or follow our updates on Facebook and Instagram.
Please CLICK the yellow button below to send us a message to Register Your Interest in a DUKE10 should we start making them again.
When it's time to explore a new sound and delve into the world of banjo ukuleles, we invite you to check out the amazing DUKE10 Tenor Banjo Ukulele
Strums Like A Uke, Picks Like A Banjo.
The DUKE10 evolved from ideas so simple we don't know why anyone hadn't thought of them before.
Keep scrolling to find out more.
Check out what the reviewers are saying
Ukulele personalities from around the world are loving the DUKE10. Watch the videos below to find out what they think.
A Warm Welcome from Jamie Houston - Owner
While you wait to find out if you can get a DUKE10...
Cheer yourself up with some awesome ukulele-themed merchandise! We have tees, hoodies, mugs, cushions, and even more...
Happy DUKE10 Owners Sharing Their Happiness
the duke10 banjolele - improved, evolved, unique & loved!
So light you will be amazed!
The first thing you will notice when you take your new banjolele out of it's colorful gig bag is that it is SUPER LIGHT!
In fact, we don't know of another banjo uke that is this light.
Only 2.2 lbs (1kg). That's nothing like some of the 4 lb monsters out there!
The DUKE10 - light as a feather! Well, almost!
Comfy armrest, so no more sore arms!
On most banjoleles you have the metal tension hooks digging into your arm, so we decided that every DUKE10 would come complete with a well-placed and very comfortable armrest which also keeps your arm off the drum head, avoiding unnecessary muting of the sound.
So comfortable you will love playing it!
Smooth-edge tailpiece, so no more string breaks
Most other banjo ukuleles tie-off the strings under a metal tailpiece, which often has a sharp edge meaning it is common for the strings to break.
To fix this problem, we designed a simple 'smooth-edge' tailpiece that the strings effortlessly pass over and then through the drum to tie-off inside the rim. Now your strings will never break at the tail because they tie-off behind the wooden drum.
Change Your Tone with the Adjustable Drum Head
Use the (included) tension key to tighten or loosen the drum head.
Tightening it to be hard to the touch will give you a very bright sound. You will get good note distinction, but less bass response.
Loosening it to be softer to the touch results in a warmer, less bright, or plunkier sound.
This puts you in charge of how you want your DUKE10 to sound.
Make Tuning A Breeze
They may look like traditional friction pegs, but they are actually planetary geared tuners (with a 4:1 ratio).
Why should you care? Because they make tuning is a whole lot easier. They are very smooth to turn and hold the strings in tune very well.
Happy DUKE10 owners love these tuners!
Nice Low Strings, Forever!
Over time, the distance of the strings from the fingerboard of a banjo ukulele can increase. This makes it harder to press your fingers down when playing chords.
It happens for a variety of reasons but the main one being movement of the neck.
To remove this issue once and for all the DUKE10 has a one-piece neck - a rigid spine of sorts. So when your get your new banjo uke, the strings will be at the right height with everything in alignment. The best part is that it stays that way forever!
Every DUKE10 Has a Pickup
Yes we know, banjo ukuleles are already loud so why would we put a pickup in every DUKE10?
Well let's just say that it comes in very useful on more occasions than you would think - Great for plugging in to your little personal ukulele amp or going big and using with a full sound system in a venue.
Unique, Just To Be Different
Sometimes you find an instrument that just speaks to you, and we have designed the DUKE10 to get noticed.
From its minimalist design to its unique and quirky headstock, this banjolele attracts a lot of attention.
The design is sure to make you stand out in a crowd!
And Then There's The Gig Bag
Talk about making a statement!
You will certainly get noticed when you walk in toting your DUKE10 in this colorful and fun gig bag.
Every DUKE10 comes in one of these awesome bags, complete with backpack-style straps. Grab yours today and stand out from the crowd.
What People Say
Who Is Jamie Houston?
It all started back in 2006 in Byron Bay, Australia! Sitting around a BBQ at a mate’s place, when a guy pulled out a little coloured ukulele and started playing.
Well, that got me asking questions about how to play and how hard it was, and so on. Sound familiar? I know many of us got our start on ukulele in a similar way.
That humble beginning became a driving passion for me to share the love of making music on the ukulele (or in this case, the Banjo Ukulele!). I fell in love with the DUKE10 Banjo Uke in 2017, when I received 'Version 1' to check out by its creator Ed Ackman. A coincidence that he also lives right here in New Zealand!
I loved it so much that when Ed told me he wanted to sell the business, I jumped at the chance to make DUKE BANJO UKULELES my own and purchased it in August 2018.
Worldwide Impact - Making a Difference
Playing, singing or listening to music is such a wonderful thing. Many of us, me included, use it as a way to relieve stress and to add real joy into our lives and the lives of others.
Ukulele has become the instrument of choice for millions of us around the world. It has to be the happiest instrument on the planet! We're sure you will agree that it's almost impossible not to smile and laugh when you are playing.
By creating the DUKE10 Tenor Banjo Ukulele, DUKE BANJO UKULELES has a real stake in helping the world to become a better place.
Our vision is for every ukulele player in the world to add a DUKE Banjo Uke to their (usually growing) collection.
We are Proud to Support Survivor Girl Ukulele Band Project in India
And we ask you to UKE IT FORWARD® too.
This is a global invitation to bring healing and hope to survivors of human trafficking in India through your ukulele.
UKE IT FORWARD® for survivor girl ukulele band is the first annual world-wide campaign inviting all ukulele lovers, ukulele jams, ukulele orchestras, ukulele clubs, and ukulele superstars to hold an event to support survivor girl ukulele band project.
Click to find out more and to Join the Band!
Can You Help Us To Make A Real Difference In The World?
We are on a mission to gather as many inspiring 'Ukulele Stories' as we can. Why? Because we know that making music on a ukulele, or in our case the Banjolele, and spreading that love far and wide is one of the most powerful ways to make a real difference in our communities.
We like to think of DUKE Banjo Ukuleles as a company that spreads happiness, and believe that through our DUKE10 Banjolele we have a real stake in helping the world to become a better place.
Whatever level of player you are, we want to hear how the ukulele has changed your life! Send us your story here.
