How so? Well first of all, Macassar Ebony is one of the premier exotic woods used in high end custom acoustics. Even higher in cost than koa wood but the sound quality is undeniably a fine choice.
Clean and crisp, rich with overtones and singing sustain, and coupled with a cedar top, the tone of this macassar is absolutely perfect for what many look for. Cedar has a "broken in" quality, or a sweetness in sound that it takes other woods many years to attain. What I notice is that the Macassar adds defenition, projection, and reverberating sustain. And that's not to mention the looks.
All woods were not created equal and never has that been more evident. Framing off this exquisite curly maple wood binding. This gives a nice contrast that enhances the overall visual appeal. Also helping in that regard is the slotted headstock which is impeccably finished, even along the inner walls.
This model, like all new Pro Classics from Pono has a radius fingerboard. It's not an extreme radius, and is hardly noticeable until pointed out. But it surely adds to the comfort of play. We must warn you, if you get this instrument, your others may get ignored. It's a treat in every way.
The truss rod advantage. The newer, higher quality Pono case. Many things give value to the newest Pro Classics. Namely, the precision workmanship and skill level of these builders. It also shows a persistance for excellence that Ko'olau has shown. This is the pinnacle of that effort and now available in a limited run.
This tenor is displayed and protected by the cleanest gloss finish yet from Pono. This glassy smooth laquer finish is extremely strong yet just a few thousandths of an inch thick. This is the art of uninhibited protection. Also to be noted is that Pono has kept improving and I would put the beautiful look of this finish up against ANY custom shop instrument. It's as flawlessly done as you will find now. And that is a first for Pono, even though improvements have been with each shipment. This last arrival honestly surprised me in quality. I think you will share my appreciation. This is the finest quality on the market at this price and we are proud to say that with confidence.
Comes with our Black Oahu Hardshell Case!
Don't hesitate too long, we guarantee you'll love this beautiful instrument for many years!Top customer reviews
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Great value. 0 people found this helpfulWhoever wrote “Clean and crisp, rich with overtones and singing sustain” in the description (Andrew?) nailed it. My perspective is that of a new Tenor player. I’ve played Roy Smeck style arrangements on mahogany soprano ukuleles for years. I want to learn some James Hill chord melody arrangements so I opted for this cedar topped Pono tenor and I’m lovin’ it. The set up is great. String height on the third string at the 12th fret is about 2mm. I had the stock strings swapped for D’Addario Titanium strings and the intonation is good. I was a little surprised at the balance of the instrument. The head stock seemed heavier than what I’m used to. The ebony body helps here. I’ve read about some folks having issues with the neck shape but for me the playability is great. I like the neck shape. Because of the higher string tension on a Tenor it took me a few days to get used to fretting the first fret, but I’m over that. The finish is beautiful. Thin, smooth and flawless. Overall the craftsmanship is top notch. This ukulele is eye candy and the tone and sustain is a whole new world for me. If you’re serious about a Cedar topped Tenor then buy one of these before they’re gone!
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I love this ukulele so much! 0 people found this helpfulWords cannot begin describe how much I love this ukulele! It just arrived today when I got home from work and I can't stop playing. The action is so sweet and the tone is so rich, vibrant and full of spine tingling joy. With the pickup installed I am eager for my up coming gig. Much love and thanks to everyone involved in creating such a magnificent ukulele.
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Get off the fence and buy one.... REALLY 0 people found this helpfulThe ETSH Ukulele arrived yesterday so where do I start? It has to be with the service and setup by HMS. Andrew and I talked and discussed which PONO would suit my desires and fit into my budget. After our discussion and a few emails to follow up on a few things, the ETSH was the choice. Going with Andrew’s recommendation to string it with southcoast HML-RW’s I have to say put this uke to another level I was not expecting. I was so blown away with this low g setup, that it had me playing for a straight hour before putting it down to go get something to drink.. The radius fingerboard makes it almost too easy to play. It’s my first leap into the tenor world and for my budget I couldn’t be happier with my choice. The quality is second to none and I’m excited to have such a wonderful instrument. If on the fence, climb off, you can’t go wrong with this ukulele. The sound samples are great, but it sounds even better in person!! I couldn’t be happier when I opened the case. Workmanship is everything anyone could ask for, except for those whom you can never make happy. OK, I’m not a professional or even close but I do know the value of my purchase the great workmanship you’ll find in the Pono line along with the quality of the sound that is projected by this ukulele. Go ahead and purchase one before their all gone. Should you wait too long then get the chance to play one later on, you’ll be kicking yourself for not buying one when you had the opportunity.
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Great Value 0 people found this helpfulJust got the ukelele today and am blown away with the quality. It is visual perfection, the tonality and projection are excellent, and the intonation is spot on. I find the action facilitates my playing, and I'm quite pleased with the setup your shop did. I can't really come up with enough superlatives.
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Pure Awesomeness 0 people found this helpfulI can't sing the praises of this uke enough. When I opened the hard-case to reveal it, my jaw literally dropped. Not only is it a stunning looker, with the gorgeous ebony grain, flawless cedar top and koa binding tying everything together, but it produces a fantastic sound. The notes are so defined, precise and clear, and the sustain goes on forever. And once again, I am very grateful for HMS' great set-up service; I bet it was already a great instrument before Andrew and his crew got their hands on it, but now it's just plain AWESOME. There is no other brand or company offering this level of pure quality at such a great price, so THANK YOU Pono and HMS. I love this uke.