We recently connected with Ross Yamamoto and have shared our conversation below.
Ross, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
One of the hardest things to do is to find a niche and fill it. Having an idea is not a difficult process for those accustomed to looking at an industry and seeing the “holes” in it so far as needs of the potential customers. Understanding this, anyone can successfully build a niche business.
Most of my journey has not been an idea, but a need. When I was young, I used my interests to build small businesses. Always hands-on, I enjoyed the processes of building or creating something. Seeing the need was instinctual in a way. I needed a skateboard or a surfboard, I built it. If I needed a Fishing Rod, I’d build it. learning how was so important. Aligning myself with people who knew how to do these things was the first step in the journey. I’ve been blessed by meeting some great mentors. Some by doing the craft, but mostly by just simply watching the craftsmen building the item. My dad taught me fiber glassing and how polyester resin worked. For surf boards I worked a couple years with Clyde Beatty, who was famed for the “Rocket Fish”, a swallowtail twin fin. I built fins and sanded and polished a ton of boards, and made countless amounts of fins. Always watching and helping out with the lamination process.
In the beginning the money wasn’t very good so I went into the restaurant business. Learning to cook, prepare, and sell the items. I had a “hot dog” stand in a mall in Palos Verdes, CA. “The Surf Dog” was a hit. and I made enough to support myself and invest. I also tried a sit-down lunch bistro. “Sparta” Deli” was a great experience! I learned not only what to cook, but how to cook a variety of homestyle Greek foods! It was an education, but a big loss. People say “Losing is a great way to learn, I do not agree. It’s a painful way to learn. When the Restaurants came to an end. A friend just graduated from college and wanted to open a surf shop. I was skeptical at first, but after some research we found there was a niche to fill. We initially thought “All our friends will shop at our shop”, only to realize that they were all sponsored surfers and didn’t need anything. Re-aligning our thoughts we came up with the vision of getting kids to surf with their parents, and BAM! Families in Manhattan Beach gathered into support us as well as residents of neighboring towns. The family surf boom was just getting started and we were in! It was exciting, as we grew from a 500 square foot store to a 3000 square foot store and a 1500 square foot satellite store in Redondo Beach in less than ten years. At the pinnacle of “Surf Concepts” success, I became ill. My partner bought my share of the business, and I retired. But not from building stuff. I was mentored in Bicycle repair and building, worked part time at a Tackle store and learned the new skill of machine wrapping fishing rods, as well as reel repair and lure making. Because I couldn’t make a wage due to the sale of the surf shop (for tax reasons) I made gates and fences for my neighbors with my friend. “Rocky” taught me a lot, and it was fun.
One day I was working on a hand carving on my porch for my next-door neighbor’s gate, and a guy whose dog had befriended mine saw my woodworking and asked, ” how’d you like to build guitars?” That’s a dream for all the wood workers I know! next thing I knew, I was doing quality control for the Asher Guitars “Electro-Hawaiian” Lap steel Guitars. I moved on to milling and jig making for Bill Asher. I watched his expertise and his “behind the scene” man Robert Asher create and repair some of the most beautiful instruments I’d ever seen! We were building and restoring guitars for many famous artists. I was learning how to shape necks and bodies, fretboards and bridges. It was a dream! We got busy, so busy that I couldn’t keep up and was replaced by a CnC machine for many of my previous work. Timing was perfect as my wife and I moved to Vista CA. Bill called me one day and said that there was a luthier program that was 15 minutes from my door, and it is at Community College. I learned the remaining skills at Palomar College in San Marcos CA. Former Director, Jack Stone and stringed instrument teachers Ken Minasian and Jeff Scott, have given me a great hands-on education of the “do’s and don’ts” of luthiery. I opened Hāmākua Musical Instruments In 2018 and have been building high end, Handcrafted stringed instruments ever since.
Ross, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
……and sometimes I build ukuleles.
I love life as an adventure. I’ve had a blessed life, one of surfing, fishing, music and art. Now in my latter years, I try to take all the experiences I’ve had and put them to use in this seemingly unending re-invention of who I am. In a world of computer assisted building, A.I., and “Made in China”, I feel the need to represent the arts of the hand made.
Whether it’s a skateboard, or surfboard, fishing rod or a meal. How can I make it with my own hands and make the item exude love. How do I take the past and move it towards the future? With a love for “Old stuff”, antiques have always intrigued me. Not as a collector, but as a builder. I try my best to let people feel the love of what I am making. This creation aspect of handcraftsmanship is what drives my newest venture in instrument building.
With so many people finding the ease of ukulele playing, family members who are players, friends who are learning or relearning with spouses or children or other friends, the ukulele is the perfect instrument. With family roots in Hawaii going back to the early 1900’s, it all seemed like a natural progression. Coming from guitar building and repair, it was.
At Hāmākua Musical Instruments, we strive to help you on your ukulele journey. Whether you play like a rock star or just strum along at the camp fire, we’d like to help you sound better, play more comfortably and generally “get happy” when you see your own custom instrument hanging next to your easy chair.
We can help diagnose and heal your ukulele when it’s sick! We do repairs and adjustments that are essential to good sound, and comfort in playing. Whether or not it is one we built. If you do have an HMI ukulele it’s guaranteed for the life of the instrument from any manufacturing defects for the original owner. Diagnosis is always free. We honor our builds by standing behind our craftsmanship.
Standing apart from the mass marketed, overseas brands, we build with wood. Solid wood. From curated wood billets, to milled piece, to animal-based glues, and natural shellac finishes made to look like a vintage instrument that has been loved by its owner. We strive to set ourselves apart by using the best materials for the type of ukulele your needs dictate.
Ross Yamamoto is a Southern California native, born in Los Angeles, California. His parents from Hawaii grew up in simpler times. He and his two brothers took naturally to the ocean with their parents. Swimmers, surfers and fishermen, with music always present in the household. From a young age all three boys learned the art of surfboard manufacturing and from there, Ross made surfboards in a four-car garage with longtime friend Jim Gelfat, and also learning the fine art of fiber glassing while working with Clyde Beatty at Ocean Surfboards in Santa Monica. Then College called…
The next ten years he was devoted to building his restaurant business. When that opportunity closed, he and Lifelong friend Eric Nakaji started Surf Concepts. It was a small surf shop that grew to relatively good status among the shop rivalries in the South Bay.
Ross began his luthier’s career with friend and neighbor, Bill Asher of Asher Guitars. Apprenticed for five years learning wood selection, milling, pattern and jig making, and teardown and repairs.
Moving to Vista California, he attended Classes at Palomar College and is currently working towards a Certificate in the Stringed Instrument Program as well as quickly being accepted as a Teacher’s Assistant.
Hāmākua Musical Instruments was founded in 2018. Specializing in Ukuleles and ukulele repairs. Also creating a work group where aspiring woodworkers can become Ukulele builders. From raw lumber to fine musical instrument, they build and learn side by side.
Along with the experienced wood workers, Ross has taken on “private builds”. This is where Ross mills the wood and the customer aids in preparation and assembly. Homework and a lot of sanding are always involved! And of course, they end up with an awesome instrument with their personal logo on the headstock!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Every day we pivot. Every decision, no matter how small can help you. It’s more a matter of your attitude and how you react to the situation or question(s) around you. Several times I needed to change directions and re-invent “Who I am” and “What I do”. If I ponder on my past, whether in failure or success, during this time, I’m stuck living in it. I live for the now, with an eye on the future. These are the only two things I have a say in.
When I was young, I made surfboards, but it wasn’t profitable enough so I moved on.
I owned and ran restaurants, due to circumstances beyond my control, it ended, so I moved on.
I partnered with a friend and open a successful surf retail business. I became ill, but healed and moved on.
I built custom fishing rods for the Southern California ocean fishermen during the healing process and still do today as an enthusiast of jig fishing.
I learned and was mentored in Luthiery (the building of stringed instruments)
Don’t stop learning. Don’t stop pivoting. Don’t stop. Move on…
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Customer service….
Remember what that was? It’s a dying art. It’s the method that goes directly against profit. It’s not about getting a tip at the end of your service, its about a relationship and commitment to the people that are involved in the transaction. It’s how you treat them no matter how you are treated. It’s not fair, it’s not right, it’s not by law, it’s righteousness. It’s not in secret, it communicates. It’s not fault finding, it’s forgiving with all the grace and mercy of an angel.
Your reputation (and product) are connected to your customer service.
If it’s wrong, you need to make it right. Most of the time at your own expense in time or money or humility.
It all balances on your “ethics”. The world has seemed to have lost it right along side with Customer Service.
(FYI… My last year at Long Beach State University, Ethics was removed from the necessary curriculum to get your Business Administration degree.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hamakuamusicalinstruments.com
- Instagram: 1379HMI
