Browsing Posts in Finished instruments

Two new tenor ukuleles

02/12/2013 Comments off

Here are the two latest Muse tenors to head out of the shop.

This first tenor Is a beautiful dark set of koa that I really enjoyed building with. It has a very special tap tone to it that gives it a very clean, clear and precise sound when played.When I acquired this koa I was very excited to buildd with it knowing that it would have a very special sound and clarity to it.

This Muse model tenor ukulele is wrapped in white koa binding and is adorn with my signature fretboard and bridge inlay as well as my new custom purfling.

This next muse tenor uses a more blonde set of koa. This blonde koa offers a more open sound with more harmonic overtones.

Both of these ukuleles are on their way to Ukulele Puapua and will be available this week.

New Brazilian Rosewood Tenor Ukulele

10/20/2012 Comments off

New Brazilian Rosewood Tenor Ukulele

Here is a new Brazilian Rosewood tenor ukulele that I just finished. This uke boasts a set of beautiful figured Brazilian rosewood, curly koa binding and neck, A mastergrade redwood top with over 50 grain lines per inch, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and bridge and many other details.

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Luthier info and guitar and ukulele building tips, Ukuleles none

Just finished : New custom ukuleles

09/28/2012 Comments off

Here are a couple of tenor muse model ukuleles I just finished up.

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Ukuleles none

New Baritone Ukulele : the muse baritone and a Kasha tenor ukulele

07/20/2012 Comments off

More new custom ukulele

This first custom ukulele is a baritone Muse modle that features Mastergrade koa top, back and sides with the new purflex purfling and signature fretboard and bridge inlay.

baritone ukulele muse side

baritone ukulele muse

baritone ukulele muse front

baritone ukulele muse bridge

baritone ukulele muse back

baritone ukulele muse back full

This next ukulele is a Kasha tenor uke made from the rare white koa.

tenor ukulele white koa

tenor ukulele white koa front

tenor ukulele white koa back full

tenor ukulele white koa side

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Luthier info and guitar and ukulele building tips, Ukuleles none

Eddie Vedder’s ukulele repair update

03/12/2012 No comments

Eddie Vedder’s ukulele repair update:

Now that we are back from the Thailand Ukulele festival it’s time to get back to work on Ed’s uke. This uke was one of my very early ukes before I had incorporated all of the current technology such as the bridge support.

For this repair I will need to remove the back portion of the bridge and build up some new material to make room for the connecting screw for the bridge support. Here is the before shot.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge before repair

Next, we will start removing the ebony with a small finger plane and some sanding blocks to level out the back of the bridge to make room for the new piece.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge removing the back of the bridge

With the bridge all leveled, the new piece is shaped to install. The string holes also need to be marked on the new piece so when they are drilled, they match the original holes.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge new back

Here is the new back installed and ready for the holes to be drilled.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge new back installed

Now this uke has the current bridge that you will find on any DeVine ukulele.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge with string holes

After 8 years of service and the lack of the current bridge support, the far end of the bridge had come a little loose. So, with a technique of wicking in progressively drier mixes of glue (starting with a very wet mix) the corner was back where it should be.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele bridge glueing

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Guitar and ukulele works in progress, Luthier info and guitar and ukulele building tips, Ukuleles none

Eddie Vedder’s DeVine tenor ukulele is getting a little TLC

02/10/2012 No comments

Eddie Vedder’s DeVine Tenor is back for a little tune up.

After eight years of service, Eddie Vedder’s DeVine Tenor ukulele is ready for a little tune up.

It was really exciting to get to see this uke again. An ukulele that has been around the world numerous times, been played in front of millions of fans and been features in Ed’s solo ukulele album. It’s hard to believe it has been eight years since band mate Mike McCready took home this uke for Ed as a thank you gift.

This was actually one of the first few ukes I ever built and was built before I started using a bridge doctor type bridge system. Without the current bridge system that I use the bridge would have a tendency to pull forward as this uke has done. I will begin the repairs by removing the bridge from the ukulele and building up the back portion behind the saddle. This will give me enough room to add in the stabilizing system inside the uke. After the bridge is put back in place and the top flattened, I will address a couple of small cracks in the top. Cedar tops, as this uke has, are notoriously easy to crack or dent. Although there are a couple small cracks, considering the amount this uke has been played, it is in very good condition.

Eddie Vedder's ukulele in case

Eddie Vedder's ukulele front quarter

Eddie Vedder's ukulele worn top

Eddie Vedder's ukulele front

Eddie Vedder's ukulele back

Eddie Vedder's ukulele backlit

Eddie Vedder's ukulele top

Eddie Vedder's ukulele lights

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Luthier info and guitar and ukulele building tips, Ukuleles none

Abe Galan playing a DeVine Micro Flamenco guitar

02/04/2012 No comments

Here are a couple videos of my good friend Abe Galan playing some flamenco tunes on a guitar I made for him last year. The guitars is a very small bodied cannon made from cypress and carpathian spruce.

DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Guitars, Videos of people playing DeVine Guitars & Ukuleles none

Muse tenor ukulele is ready for Thailand

01/18/2012 No comments

The Muse tenor ukulele is ready for Thailand

It was a long week of finishing and setup, but the last three tenors are ready to go out into the world!

This first custom uke is a tenor Muse bound for Thailand. I will be attending the Thailand Ukulele Festival with Kimo Hussey, Dan Ryerson and a few other players and builders from Hawaii on February 25-26. This will be the second anual Thailand uke fest and promises to be a great turn out.

This Muse tenor will be made available at the show in Thailand in February after it has been displayed at Kimo’s booth “Ask Kimo” Kimo will also be playing the uke in his concert for the festival. The price has not yet been set for this uke and it will not be sold till the end of the show.

We also recorded a few new videos that will be posted shortly.

muse tenor ukulele back side top

muse tenor ukulele back front

muse tenor ukulele back side

vintage muse tenor uke

muse tenor ukulele back side close

muse tenor ukulele back full

muse tenor ukulele back side half

Here are the other two ukes that were just finished as well. These ukes will be shipping out to Ukulele Puapua today.

kasha uke custom koa front

custom muse koa tenor ukulele

Available guitars and ukuleles, DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles, Finished instruments, Luthier info and guitar and ukulele building tips, Ukuleles none

Custom ukuleles : Cuban Mahogany tenor ukulele

01/14/2012 No comments

Custom ukuleles : Cuban Mahogany tenor ukulele

It’s finally time to enjoy all of the labor that goes into a custom instrument! After working on this batch of ukuleles for the past couple months, the first one is finished.

This Cuban Mahogany ukulele will be headed for Australia tomorrow morning. This Cuban Mahogany has been a joy to work with. It bends very well, has an incredible tap tone with tons of volume and sustain and is some of the most beautiful material I have ever worked with. The contrast between the Cuban Mahogany and the curly Koa is a great match as well. The nice even color of the Mahogany and the wild curly colors of the Koa make a very nice match. The Cuban Mahogany will turn to a nice dark red color over time making this uke more beautiful over time.