Tenor guitar

  1. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    After hearing Jill McAuley's playing of her new tenor over on the SAW Social Group I decided that I'd like to have one too, so I am in the process of building one at the moment. I have used the design I did for a travel guitar I built last year for someone and the timbers used are Engelmann Spruce for the top and Spanish Cypress for back and sides. Bindings and bridge are Purpleheart and I intend to use a gold-coloured mandolin tailpiece and a floating bridge; tuners are gold guitar ones I had in my possession. Tuning will be GDAE as octave mandolin and Irish tenor banjo, so no new tunings to learn.
    Thanks to Jill for initial inspiration through her fine playing.

    Link to the pix on my Picasaweb page: https://picasaweb.google.com/luthier.john/TenorGuitar
  2. Ten_or_Fifths
    Ten_or_Fifths
    Very cool John. I just picked up a bunch of woodworking and luthier books and started sharpening my Grandpa's chisels (the planes I'll pick up in the next load). I'm starting with a three-string cigar box mandola (for practicing Jethro chords around the campfire), but I'd like to eventually do a copy of my Regal tenor if I stick with it. I think those plans were the original model for the TenorTone, but it's been modified since then (X bracing and such). I'll be studying one of your "beginning carving of the neck" photos today.
  3. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    All the best with the cigar box mandola, T. Sounds an interesting concept. Just got the tenor finished and strung up today and hope to get some recording with it in the next day or two. More pictures of finished instrument on the Picasaweb link as above:
    https://picasaweb.google.com/luthier.john/TenorGuitar
  4. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Here is a first effort at recording the new guitar. Straight recording into condenser mic with no effects or enhancements. Tunes are the 6/8 march "Donald Harrison's Welcome to Portree" and the 3/4 retreat march "The Highland Brigade at Magersfontein"
    Link to SoundCloud file:http://snd.sc/oJCJeW
  5. GKWilson
    GKWilson
    Wow John. That's an amazing sounding instrument. And to think the glue isn't even dry yet. If I hadn't just hocked my socks for a new mandolin I'd be talking to you about building another. Maybe down the road. Fantastic.
    Gary
  6. John Kelly
    John Kelly
    Thanks, GK. I have now recorded the tenor along with my bouzouki and acoustic guitar. Here is a link to the SoundCloud file; the tenor is to the left and the bouzouki to the right of the mix (I hope!): http://snd.sc/oK0zUA
  7. walt33
    walt33
    That is beautiful, John! Never heard of "purpleheart" before, but the wood has a wonderful color. The asymmetrical bracing is interesting, too. Unfortunately Soundcloud is down right now, so I can't give a listen.

    Walt L.
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