Does anyone know where, in Java, Pono mandolins are made? It is a huge island with, I think, three distinct areas/states/something. I have a number of Indonesian friends and if it is convenient, maybe I can stop by the factory when I visit.
Does anyone know where, in Java, Pono mandolins are made? It is a huge island with, I think, three distinct areas/states/something. I have a number of Indonesian friends and if it is convenient, maybe I can stop by the factory when I visit.
Loar LM-370
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
I guess no one knows. Either that or it is a secret location known only to those of calloused fingers and a hatred for all things banjo.
Loar LM-370
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
FWIW, the Pono website doesn't seem to give an address, but it does say About:
"Kilin Reese . . . . before settling in the beautiful beach town of Kailua, Hawaii."
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
Kilin has posted elsewhere that they are made in Indonesia and then set up in Hawaii:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...octaves!/page3
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Yes, but where?
I have friends staying in Java right now, so I might be able to go there for a visit if I knew where to go.
Loar LM-370
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
OK, that thread has the name of the owner with a phone number. It might be a good idea to simply call and have a conversation. You'd have to have an appointment to go there anyway. You could also simply send him a PM here on the Cafe. The message with that information is below:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...=1#post1550097
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
You can find a phone number on the Pono website. By far, ukes are the majority of their builds. I have two parlor guitars, a six and a 12 string, and there is not a piece of plastic on either. Likely you will get the owner on the phone. Sometimes you tend to forget just how small these companies are. I had a RedEye question once and got the owner/designer on the phone. At the time he had Austin musicians building them on his kitchen table.
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My guess is that the factory is not used to having visitors, and may not even have a way of doing that unless you have a business relationship/purpose for the visit.
Sure, Indonesians are very friendly and very smart people, as far as my experience goes.
I was thinking more along the lines that it's a production shop, and there are staffing and/or liability concerns with any production shop if you start having random people walking around.
Its the Ectonesians ya have to watch out for...Just call or email Kyle at pono. He will tell you if and where you could tour.
No matter where I go, there I am...Unless I'm running a little late.
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