Charity Auction: Nathaniel Rich The Tree Mahogany Custom Tenor for Maui
Mahalo to master luthier Nathaniel Rich for the amazing instrument and donation as well as Nick Howlett for an epic set of "The Tree" mahogany wood. More on this special wood below. This is a brand new custom tenor created to help the people of Maui.
This is an auction with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the people of Maui. You will be invoiced and payment will be made directly to Craig and Sarah's non profit "Four Strings at a Time".
The instrument pictured AND in the videos is the one available here. There is a tiny cosmetic flaw under the bridge that you can see in the very last picture. It is very tiny and only cosmetic.
Kalei and Corey give us a sample and review from this gorgeous custom tenor.
Originally a guitarist, Nathaniel Rich studied classical music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He had built his first guitar at the age of 15, and eventually decided that lutherie was his true calling. He went to work for different master luthiers including Ervin Somogyi and then he spent years doing repair/restoration including for many of the musicians in the San Francisco Symphony. More recently he moved to the Big Island Hilo area and he started building ukuleles.
"The Tree" is a famous mahogany tree cut in the Honduras’ Chicibul Jungle in 1965. It was huge with a magnificent spiraling bark and loggers knew it would be amazing and, though it was in a crazy part of the jungle, they went for it. But they couldn't get it out. It fell down a ravine. Other people came and tried and no one could get it out for 18 years. As you know, it did have amazing figure but it also has more density and properties of rosewood in it's tone as well. Because of this, and it's scarcity, it became the most sought after wood for custom guitars for years. Not much of this wood is still around but this amazing set was donated by Nick Howlett for the people of Maui and Nathaniel certainly used it well.
The top on this instrument is doubled with western red cedar for long term stability. The sides are doubled with Hawaiian koa. The purfling is blue as well as the staining of the curly mango wood used for the fretboard and rosette.
The unique elevated fingerboard allows easier access beyond the 12th fret, increases mass for better sustain, and the distance from the strings to the soundboard is increased providing an advantage for the right-hand. This is a unique and amazing custom tenor!
The recent devastating fires in Maui have caused widespread destruction and displacement for many individuals and families. In response to this crisis, Nathaniel built this instrument for auction to raise funds to support those affected by the fire.
Great feel and comfort, the beauty of nature and craftsmanship, and that tone just keeps you coming back for more. This is a special instrument in many ways. It's one of the finest instruments you will ever play and we appreciate your desire to support our brothers and sisters on Maui.
Includes hardshell case and our final setup work.
- Tenor Ukulele description
- The Tree quilted mahogany
- Laminated sides and top
- Koa inner laminate on the sides, western red cedar on the top
- Dyed/Stabilized curly mango fingerboard
- Curly mango inlays
- Elevated fingerboard
- Rubbed oil finish
| Specs | 1. This auction will close on Sunday, July, 14 2024 at 3:30 pm Hawaii time.
5. When the auction ends, the highest bid received at or above the reserve price will be the winner. We must receive your bid for it to count. |
|---|---|
| Options | CASE Other Options (Many found in the essential accessories above) |
| Brand | Other |
Shipping Information
For more even more details and FAQ visit our Shipping Page under the Company Info tab at the header menu.
SHIPPING CARRIER OPTIONS:
FedEx is our primary shipping carrier, all orders that qualify for free domestic shipping will be sent using FedEx. UPS and DHL can also be chosen as alternative options upon checkout, USPS is only used for smaller accessory orders.
As soon as the shipping label is created you will be automatically notified via email with tracking information. All packages will be shipped with a signature requirement by default. If you do not wish to have a signature requirement you will need to notify us, either by leaving a note in the “special instructions” when adding the item(s) to your shopping cart or by emailing our shipping department directly. Any shipping related requests (hold/delay/address change) should also be directed to our shipping department ( [email protected]).
NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: You may also be required to pay import duties/taxes, this will vary depending on your location and the value of the item(s). To estimate these taxes, you can contact your local customs office. Fedex also offers a helpful estimation tool: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/international.html
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMIT: If your ukulele contains any amount of shell inlay (abalone or pearl) it will require a permit to be shipped internationally. The cost of this permit is $93.00 USD. We will handle the paperwork and file the permit for you, but the cost of all duties and fees are the responsibility of the customer.
SHIPPING COST will vary depending on the size dimensions and weight of the package as well as the destination. To get a quote, use the “Calculate Shipping Cost” link located next to the “Add to Cart button” on each listing.
This is made even easier when you are already logged in to your customer account. Follow this link to create an account if you don’t already have one go HERE.
FREE SHIPPING: All orders within the USA with a total over $500 will qualify for free FedEx 2-day air shipping.
SHIPMENT AND TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS are sent automatically via email as soon as the shipping label is created so please make sure your email address is accurate when placing the order. Outgoing shipments are picked up by our shipping carriers Monday through Friday.
ACCESSORY AND CASE ORDERS: While non-instrument orders for cases and accessories do not require the same processing time needed for instruments, they do require time for processing and packing. The typical processing time for accessory/case orders is (1-4 business days) depending on current order volume.
CURRENT SETUP PROCESSING TIMES AND DETAILS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE “SETUP OPTIONS” TAB.*
*If you would like to receive your instrument as soon as possible you can forego the full setup process by selecting the “Basic QC Only” option or by selecting the “Full Setup RUSH” option when adding instruments to your shopping cart. More details are available under the “Setup Options” tab.
Setup Options
Current Turnaround Time: Amount of time it takes before shipment-
Full Setup: 5-10 Business Days
Basic Quality Control: 2-3 Days
BASIC QUALITY CONTROL covers inspecting the instrument for any major defects that would have been missed by the factory and any faults in construction that could potentially damage or limit the functionality of the instrument over time. Any defective instruments are rejected and replaced. We make sure that each Ukulele meets the basic standard for a brand new instrument and will be ready to play once you receive it. A final cleanup is also included after inspection before packing and shipment.
Full Setup - FREE for all Ukuleles $399 and over / $20.00 for Ukuleles from $300-399 / $30.00 for Ukuleles Under $300
Includes:
-Overall QC evaluation: To find defects in construction as well as to get an overall view of the instrument and note the areas that need extra attention and adjustment during the setup.
-Saddle Adjustment: The height of the saddle is lowered to reduce the distance between the strings and the fretboard, making it easier to play than the factory setup, especially higher up the fretboard.
-Nut Slot Adjustment: The depth, width, and angle of the nut slots are adjusted to create a more comfortable playing experience especially on the lower frets.
-Fret Dressing: After adjusting the nut and saddle heights, high spots in the fretboard or uneven frets will potentially cause fret buzz, dead spots, or other unwanted problems. The frets are filed to create a more consistent level across the fretboard. We then crown the frets to return their rounded curvature back to the top of each fret creating a clear contact point for each string. We then smooth and polish the frets and condition the fingerboard to bring them back to new condition.
-Final Cleanup: We always do a final overall cleanup of the instrument to make sure it is in new condition and ready to play before it is prepared for shipment.
Rush Setup & Delivery - Additional $50.00
The RUSH SETUP AND DELIVERY service is for customers who would still like to receive everything included in the full setup but on a shorter time frame. One of our setup technicians will work overtime outside of normal business hours to complete the setup within 2-3 days of the order being placed and immediately hand it over to the shipping department for packing and shipment. The $50.00 rush charge is in addition to the cost of the full setup.
Additional services (see individual product listings to add these services to your order)
Re-stringing: We will replace the factory installed stock string set with a new set of your choosing. Select the “replace stock strings” option when adding your desired string set to the shopping cart.
Strap Button Installation: 1-2 buttons are installed to allow the use of a strap. Color options available.
Pickup installation: for players who would like the option to play or record with amplification.
Friction Tuner Upgrade (friction tuners only): We offer upgrade options for select instruments with friction tuners to be retrofitted with new geared tuners for better precision and comfort when tuning.
Left-handed Setup: Left-handed setups are also available upon request. Occasionally an additional charge may be added for compensated saddles on select models.