Allen McFarlen, Cairns Australia
Where he started.
Allen was a Panel beater by trade and 10 years ago decided to build full time. He began building guitars in 2005, and the following year he was invited to a luthier conference in Western Australia with a focus on Ukuleles. In order to attend he had to bring an ukulele he had built, and without any prior knowledge in the instrument - apart from them looking like a ‘tiny guitar’, he thought a Soprano size would be the easiest, as it was the smallest. Well, was he wrong!
It was at this conference where he met one of his mentors David Hurd, a luthier from Hawaii. David wrote a book called ‘Left brain Lutherie’ and he offered a 2-day in-depth course about his book and his practices and a year later, he had the opportunity to work for a week with Rick Turner.
“Taking what I learnt from David Hurd and others started a much better understanding of the differences between the ukulele and guitar and considerations that needed to be taken into account with construction, bracing and how far you might push the envelope avid gave him a much better understanding of the differences between the ukulele and guitar, and the considerations that needed to be taken.”
“What I learnt in that short time might have taken me a life time left to my own trial and error. It was an absolutely invaluable time that I’m forever grateful, and credit Rick with the much of the success I have now.”
nothing was 'good enough’ unless it was perfect...
Allen’s entire working life previous to lutherie has been about repairing very expensive prestige automobiles. So attention to details is paramount, where nothing was ‘good enough’ unless it was perfect. It’s this same mindset that he puts into building instruments every day.
He says, that building any stringed instrument is a sum of all it’s components. Using quality materials is critical and shouldn’t be overlooked, especially the sound board. It’s important that all processes have strict quality controls and tolerances, an example, sometimes with timber no matter how skilled or diligent you are, a defect can be exposed and may not meet those standards - as a luthier you should be able to be willing to say “not good enough” and toss it in the bin and try again. “Getting in that mindset is the most critical part of building.”
“..it would never sell if people didn’t want to pick it up first to try it out.”
One of the lessons Allen learnt from Rick Turner, was that no matter how good the instrument was, it will never sell if people didn’t want to first pick it up and try it.
He says, while volume, tone, sustain and playability are all part a great instrument, it’s no use if they are left hanging on the shop display wall.
So his main goal is for his instruments to be visually appealing with a timeless look that will be sought after decades from now. He has always admired and been inspired by the Art Deco era, the designs always felt timeless and classy. So he tries to incorporate those elements in his design and inlay.
Along with its unique body shape, non-traditional design which Allen developed in 2006, is what makes a Barron River stand out. Allen also includes a hard shell case and shipping with his price, which not many luthiers include.
“Still find it hard to believe that I get to build from my workshop not 3 metres from my back patio surrounded by tropical gardens and native birds.”
What was it about ukuleles that made you start building them?
“Two things actually. I am constantly amazed at the tone and volume that you can get out of such a tiny instrument. As well people wanting a ukulele are much more open to the use of non traditional timbers, and the instruments are so much easier to ship. A deal maker for me when I want to use so much timber that is Australian sourced.
This is very different in the guitar world where clients are very set in traditional tone woods, most now on the CITES list so pretty much impossible to source in Australia and shipping them especially overseas had become very problematic with paperwork and so prohibitively expensive.”
Not only this, he gets to work with clients that want him to build something special for them. He enjoys when clients trusts his best judgement it makes him push himself that extra mile to surprise them.
