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The magic of Javier Zambrano’s ukuleles became a Manabita label venture that, for now, has its largest market in the Sierra

The magic of Javier Zambrano’s ukuleles became a Manabita label venture that, for now, has its largest market in the Sierra

The greatest reference we have about the music that emerges from the ukuleles is the video of Wash, the Pixar short film. The tune was spread worldwide by Hawaiian artist Israel Kamakawiwo’ole or Israel IZ, as he is also known, according to what is known.

This four-stringed instrument, smaller than a guitar, originated in Hawaii and Tahiti. But more than 8,800 kilometers from those towns, in Manta, their music is also heard and ukuleles are made.

Javier Zambrano, 32 years old, a luthier who has been making this instrument for more than seven years, claims to have built more than a thousand with his hands.

Starting was not easy, because in the first jobs he had to receive financial support from his father, who provided him with wood, until he became financially independent with the sale of ukuleles. “I had to save and so I could already have capital to continue with the whole process.”

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Then, with the support of two friends, he was able to increase the flow of 5 or 6 instruments per month, seven years ago, to the delivery of about 50 per month today.

Through his veins runs the love for art shown through strings and a processed wood that sings melodies that envelop the soul, since his father has been making guitars for more than 40 years; and he decided, in addition to building them, to design an instrument that little by little seeped into the participation of renowned artists, such as the Colombian Julieta Venegas.

Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic limited many activities, Zambrano or JZ, as his friends know him, He opted for virtuality so that many people, including children, begin to learn to play the ukulele.

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“Our brand sees the need of many customers, but they don’t have the chance to learn or don’t have the tools. So, I too, thanks to my university studies in music pedagogy, decided to create a virtual school that started in the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have been training students for two years to learn to sing the ukulele in an incredible time: in just one month, with eight sessions”, says Zambrano.

To make a ukulele, Zambrano looks at the wood, designs and paints to use.. Hence you only get the raw material of species found in manabita soil, such as cascol, cedar, black laurel, teak and even mangowhich he assures has left great sound revenues for his instruments.

Javier Zambrano looks at the wood, designs and paints to use. Photo: Neptali Palma. Photo: Neptali Palma

He says that he could industrialize the product, but points out that the craft is not changed, by the sound. “It’s like Creole food: it doesn’t change, and it has a special flavor because it’s cooked over firewood. This is how he considers making the guitars one by one”.

He argues that wood is like skin, and skin has to breathe. Consider that wood has pores, so the paint that is placed on that wood should not “clog the pores” of the ukulele, which allow for an excellent sound.

The largest market that the Ukeleles JZ brand has acquired is in the Sierra, in Quito, and now it aims to attract more customers. Another goal of Javier Zambrano is that some Ecuadorian artists have this instrument to sing his melodies.

“Mirella Cesa, I would love for her to play the ukulele (JZ), since she plays the charango very well. Pamela Cortés, perhaps a cover, an acoustic with a ukulele. And, why not, Juan Fernando Velasco playing a corridor with the ukulele, which is a very versatile instrument with which many musical genres can be played”, Zambrano stands out as an aspiration.

The perspectives that this mante has with the elaboration of this instrument have no limits. In his house-workshop, located in the Eloy Alfaro parish, south of Manta, he kneads wood, strings and ingenuity to meet a demand for ukuleles, a musical instrument made with passion, “the seasoning” to obtain enchanting sounds.

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“The most difficult thing is, when one is used to making a large instrument, to reduce all that in size and use professional luthiery techniques on classical guitars. That was the most complex part, distributing the internal construction in a small instrument like the ukulele”, says Zambrano.

In the future, this entrepreneur from Manabita wants to see his brand in the hands of great artists and on the best stages; and, why not, abroad, with a personalized and handmade product. It is an instrument that Zambrano believes gives joy to whoever plays it and is easy to take anywhere.

“You will get very good results singing it, because this instrument is known as the one that gives you happiness,” he insists.

And singing the melody that is heard in the short film Wash, Zambrano continues to shape woods, giving them life and sound through an instrument that generates nostalgia, awakens passions and, above all, relaxes. And to think that everything starts with a wood that, after assembling it by hand, intones sounds that ooze through the skin of the ukuleles of the enterprising Manabita. (YO)

Source: Eluniverso

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