Custom DeVine Tenitone Ukulele

Circa 2020. Preowned. A masterpiece! Custom DeVine Tenitone Ukulele handcrafted on the island of Maui, HI by master luthier Eric DeVine. Eric handcrafts a select number of instruments per year using only the finest grade of woods and materials available. With a prestige and craftsmanship like no other, DeVine ukuleles are among some of the absolute finest ukuleles available in the world and highly sought after.  His attention to detail and love of his craft is a testimony to the caliber of instruments he produces, many of which continue to be adorned by musicians worldwide including world-renowned musician Eddie Vedder.

This gorgeous DeVine tenitone ukulele is handcrafted of a musician’s grade Redwood soundboard and a master grade Brazilian Rosewood back and sides handpicked from a limited stock of reserve wood in Eric’s stock of premium woods. The natural hues of this gorgeous set of old growth Brazilian Rosewood adds to the overall elegant feel of this beautiful masterpiece. Solid curly Hawaiian Koa wood neck with graphite rod for added stability and increased sustain of the ukulele. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge and a matching Brazilian Rosewood top headstock plate in keeping with the theme of the instrument. Hawaiian curly Koa wood top and back binding with a matching bound fretboard for ease of play up and down the neck. Bone nut and saddle.  Meticulous wood scroll inlay on the fingerboard, bridge, and back of the instrument with matching wood position markers inlaid on positions 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, and 17. Classic slotted headstock and natural mother-of-pearl ‘V’ or ‘DeVine’ logo with abalone shell vine inlay. Elegant black-white pin-striped purfling on top, back, and sides and a side sound port for monitor-like effect and professional fine-tune Rodgers slotted headstock machine tuners for precise tuning and classic appeal.  Nitrocellulose high-gloss finish. Gorgeous abalone shell soundboard purfling inlay – absolutely magnificently done. Brazilian rosewood rosette with abalone shell inner scroll inlay attesting to the skill of the luthier and beauty in contrast between the darker hue of the wood and shimmer of the abalone shell.

The tenitone design is a new design by DeVine that incorporates a slightly longer scale than a tenor and is focused on an optimal tone and scale length that is between the traditional tenor scale and a baritone scale instrument. The result is something absolutely magnificent! With an even more full and pronounced tone, added sustain, and remarkable projection. A new body design and scale length, this is a true masterpiece in craftsmanship and tone with a design entirely unique to DeVine ukuleles. The tenitone is tuned to a standard GCEA tuning and yields more power, more volume, more sustain, and more possibilities for the player but tuned down one step to F,Bb,D,G it takes on a whole new and even more pronounced tonal personality that in my opinion is unmatched. It has all the added benefit and comfort of a slightly longer scale than a tenor yet is ergonomically a marvel with the benefit of a more forgiving instrument with a wider fret spacing than a tenor but without the great distances between frets often associated with the longer baritone scale. This one is as goldilocks would likely describe it to be “…just right!”

In terms of the condition, this is a preowned ukulele and has been meticulously cared for. Preowned instruments when cared for have the remarkable benefit of having been played and are thus more “open” in their sound profile. This instrument is no exception. The sound is remarkably full and open. The only issue I see is on the soundboard at certain angles a light impression can be seen on the ‘A’ string (G-string with the current Bb tuning) on the upper bout. It is not in the finish or what I would typically identify as damage to the instrument but rather seems to be a dip in the wood that only at certain angles can be seen against the high gloss finish. You can see this in the tight shot of the instrument in the video below for your reference.

Tonally, Brazilian Rosewood is regarded as one of the world’s most sought after woods and sets of this quality are extremely rare. Redwood is richer in color than cedar with darker reds and widely regarded for its bold sound and brilliant response. It possesses good response from the bass to mids to trebles with tremendous warmth and rich overtones. A remarkable combination of beauty and tone. DeVine ukuleles have a tone all to themselves. Remarkable clarity and sustain with perfectly set intonation as well. There is no compromise to the work that has been done and no expense spared of time or resource for the build. Beautiful aesthetics parallel the warm, rich and complex tones offered by this wonderful ukulele. One of the best in high-end custom ukuleles in the world, you’ll be very pleased with the craftsmanship and tones of a custom DeVine ukulele. ID#210038

Price: SOLD