Signature Series "Year of the Snake"
SN. 29100
A masterpiece of artistry and sound, the “Year of the Snake” Custom Super Tenor marks a breathtaking collaboration between Kanileʻa ʻUkulele and world-renowned inlay artist Craig Lavin. Handcrafted from solid Joe’s Stash Grade Hawaiian Koa, this instrument embodies both power and precision — pairing visual storytelling with an unmistakably rich, resonant tone. A single-piece mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard and bridge ensures lasting stability and smooth playability, while the UV-cured gloss finish and silk neck provide a flawless feel in hand.
A Living Story in Craftsmanship
The body is framed with Snakewood front and back binding, an oval side port for player connection, and a Snakewood armrest for comfort. Chrome tuners with koa buttons, a graphite-infused TUSQ nut and saddle, and Kanileʻa’s proprietary TRU-R Bracing and TRU-Reduction systems deliver clarity, sustain, and balance that rival its artistry.
This is more than an instrument — it’s a living story, told in Koa, Snakewood, and abalone light.
A Symbol of Power and Renewal
Following the serpent’s path up the fretboard, each movement tells a story. The ebony fingerboard becomes a canvas for the snake’s journey — its body winding gracefully up toward the Phoenix-style headstock, inlaid with glistening precision that invites the player’s eye to travel with it.
The Keeper of the Melody
Crowning the instrument is the cobra’s head — a commanding symbol of strength and awareness. Craig Lavin’s artistry transforms the Phoenix-style headstock into a moment of visual power: the cobra poised and alert.
Each scale is carefully inlaid to shimmer under the light, evoking the spirit of the snake — graceful, protective, and ever-watchful. The design embodies not just craftsmanship, but character — a guardian for the instrument and the stories it will tell.