A quick online search for a ukulele will offer up many results looking very like each other. Playability, tone and appearance of many of these instruments is often inconsistent or questionable.

Panyard makes Octopus Ukuleles to be enjoyed for a lifetime. This is due in no small part to a host of features rarely found in instruments in the Octopus’ price range.

Each ukulele comes fitted with Aquila Nylgut® strings as standard, the best in the world for intonation and tone. Aquila produces approximately 300,000 ukulele strings in their Italian factory every day – that’s enough to re-string 75,000 Octopus ukuleles!

Octopus Ukuleles (student models) come supplied with a branded carrying bag, in strong water-resistant nylon with zipper opening. A convenient way to keep your instrument safe when on the move.

We Play Nice Together!

Ukuleles
Check out our top of the line Octopus Ukuleles. We’re the only U.S. distributors of these fantastic instruments.
Hand Percussion
Check out our wide variety of hand percussion instruments, brought to you by SLAP percussion.
T’ings
Another Panyard innovation, this rhythm instrument is great for all types of bands.
Steel Pan
Last, but certainly not least, we offer every type of steel pan, from entry-level to professional quality.

What the experts say

Don't just take our word for it. Here are some reviews from professional ukulele teachers and performers:

Andy Eastwood

“Octopus ukuleles really go beyond what we’ve come to expect from a uke in this price range. The build quality and attention to detail are fantastic. If you’re on a budget or you want an educational uke for kids then you can’t really go wrong with an Octopus.”

Mary Beth Kell, Kindergarten Teacher

“ Fun and easy are the two best words to describe Jumbie Jams! My kindergarteners loved playing them and their focus was incredible!"

Online Customer

“It is worth noting that the pan is not merely ‘cast’ and put in a box. It’s obvious that the pan was professionally tuned…you can see small hammer strike dents and indentations on it, which is really neat. The note areas appear to be drawn on with marker instead of pre-stamped…which is also a GOOD thing…they wanted there to be some leeway so that the final product would have the correct notes and sound good, instead of assuming that the ‘D’ note, for example, would end up centered at a specific spot.”

The making of an Octopus

To make a fine ukulele you need a good design, a modern production line, top-grade raw materials and components. It is also crucial to have unbeatable quality control. The rigorous QC testing procedures at Octopus Ukulele are second to none - it is their aim that every ukulele leaving the factory is of excellent quality. Our team at Panyard is proud to partner with Octopus to provide these instruments to the US.

A significant aspect of Octopus ukulele production is how much of the process is completed by machine. The factory has invested heavily in researching and developing improved technologies, putting Octopus at the forefront of ukulele design and manufacture.

Cutting and shaping the wood is entirely computerised. A particularly good example is how we manufacture the side board of our ukuleles.

Our hi-tech process allows us to create a strong and robust 2+1 layer ply side board. This added strength means that, unlike on some other ukes, there is not the need to brace the front and back of the instrument. This results in a big improvement in potential sound quality, as well as an aesthetically pleasing instrument.

Sanding and painting are also computerised processes, allowing for total consistency throughout the build.

Once painted, we dry the ukuleles in a dust-free environment – this guarantees a perfect finish on every instrument.

When the paint is dry, we use a laser cutter to remove the paint where the bridge is to be attached. The bridge is then glued ‘wood to wood’, creating a very strong bond. Using a laser cutter affords incredible precision to the task, so the area around the bridge is very neat and tidy.

The bridge is attached to the ukulele by an automatic gluing machine. The glue volume is always exactly the same on every instrument, and the positioning of the glue is also fixed.

Before ukuleles are packed in their boxes they are pre-tuned and play tested.

This automated process ensures that strings are pre-stretched and wound onto the machine heads correctly. A new Octopus ukulele requires very little tuning when taken out of the box for the first time, setting it apart from the majority of instruments out there!