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Thread: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

  1. #1

    Default Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Hello everybody

    I am a newbie from France and I would like to try the tenor guitar.
    I will tune it in DGBE as I allready play ukulele and preference for short scale as I play essentially struming.
    I thought about a harmony jazz style.
    My research : do you know where I can find that guitar and what about the price ?

    Thousands thanks for your help

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Hi and welcome to the Café. Which region do you live in? You'll probably have a hard time finding anywhere outside Paris to try a tenor guitar in person, which just leaves you with the big mail order companies like Thomann for new instruments. For older or vintage instruments you have TGs coming up regularly on Ebay.uk and the exchange rate makes it favourable to buy from there. Not much comes up on Ebay.fr or Leboncoin.

    If you're anywhere near the La Rochelle region you're welcome to try some of my home-made tenors (I'm just a hobby builder and am not trying to sell you anything!). I don't have anything in DGBE tuning though as all mine are tuned in fifths.

    Enjoy discovering the tenor guitar world but be warned, they are addictive and you might find yourself collecting them in different scales or with 5 strings... One is rarely enough!

  3. #3
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Vintage tenor guitars can be found on eBay, there are specialist shops but mainly in the USA, I guess it depends on how much you want to spend?

    Harmony Archtops are one of the more common makes you might see for sale, they are not generally rated as good sounding instruments but some people love them!

    Most tenor guitars have a 23" scale but a few have a 21" scale, in the 1920-30s Regal made a solid top Tenor, they come up for sale regularly & they can have a 21" scale.

    If you want to buy a new one, then you have lots of choice for less money than many vintage guitars would cost you.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandocarver View Post
    Hi and welcome to the Café. Which region do you live in? You'll probably have a hard time finding anywhere outside Paris to try a tenor guitar in person, which just leaves you with the big mail order companies like Thomann for new instruments. For older or vintage instruments you have TGs coming up regularly on Ebay.uk and the exchange rate makes it favourable to buy from there. Not much comes up on Ebay.fr or Leboncoin.

    If you're anywhere near the La Rochelle region you're welcome to try some of my home-made tenors (I'm just a hobby builder and am not trying to sell you anything!). I don't have anything in DGBE tuning though as all mine are tuned in fifths.

    Enjoy discovering the tenor guitar world but be warned, they are addictive and you might find yourself collecting them in different scales or with 5 strings... One is rarely enough!
    hello Mandocarver

    I live in the south of France and go sometimes to visit family at the "ile de Ré"
    What I am looking for is a jazz style guitar, archtop, harmony style.
    Is it what you build ?
    Is it possible to communicate with MP ?

  5. #5

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by fox View Post
    Vintage tenor guitars can be found on eBay, there are specialist shops but mainly in the USA, I guess it depends on how much you want to spend?

    Harmony Archtops are one of the more common makes you might see for sale, they are not generally rated as good sounding instruments but some people love them!

    Most tenor guitars have a 23" scale but a few have a 21" scale, in the 1920-30s Regal made a solid top Tenor, they come up for sale regularly & they can have a 21" scale.

    If you want to buy a new one, then you have lots of choice for less money than many vintage guitars would cost you.
    Hello

    Of course I would have prefered to buy a new one but most of them are made for the folk music and my idea is more to play struming jazz and preferently a 21' scale.archtop harmony style.
    In a first time I don't want to spend to much money, just to check if I like this format.

    Thank you for your answer

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by D0miuke View Post
    hello Mandocarver

    I live in the south of France and go sometimes to visit family at the "ile de Ré"
    What I am looking for is a jazz style guitar, archtop, harmony style.
    Is it what you build ?
    Is it possible to communicate with MP ?
    Hi D0miuke,
    Yes, of course feel free to send me a personal message - in either French or English. I have made a few tenors in a variety of styles but I don't sell them professionally, I was meaning you'd be welcome to visit in order to try different scale lengths and styles, etc.

  7. #7
    Registered User Seonachan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    I don't think there is, or has been, a production archtop with a 21" scale. I think someone on this forum has a 21" archtop made by Herb Taylor? Of course custom builds like that will not be cheap. If you really want to try something inexpensive before deciding, I'd go for a Harmony archtop, tune a full step lower than your intended tuning, and capo at the 2nd fret.

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    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Kala (Ukuleles) makes a reasonably priced 21" scale tenor guitar (street priced under $400US), but it's not an archtop. If you have a relationship with a ukulele dealer with access to the Kala line, these are a terrific entry into the instrument if you are flexible in your search.
    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

  9. #9

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by Ted Eschliman View Post
    Kala (Ukuleles) makes a reasonably priced 21" scale tenor guitar (street priced under $400US), but it's not an archtop. If you have a relationship with a ukulele dealer with access to the Kala line, these are a terrific entry into the instrument if you are flexible in your search.
    Yes it seems interesting for a taste, but I have red somewhere that they do not recommend to tune it DGBE, I don't know why.
    Do you have an idea ?

  10. #10

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by Seonachan View Post
    I don't think there is, or has been, a production archtop with a 21" scale. I think someone on this forum has a 21" archtop made by Herb Taylor? Of course custom builds like that will not be cheap. If you really want to try something inexpensive before deciding, I'd go for a Harmony archtop, tune a full step lower than your intended tuning, and capo at the 2nd fret.
    Interesting, any recommendation for the strings and the gauge ? when you say a full step lower it means CFAD ?

  11. #11
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by D0miuke View Post
    Yes it seems interesting for a taste, but I have red somewhere that they do not recommend to tune it DGBE, I don't know why.
    Do you have an idea ?
    No idea, I cant think of a reason!

    Personally I think, I would have far more fun, with a new Karla than an old Harmony. (and I have an old Harmony)

  12. #12
    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    I've seen the Kala tenor guitar tuned DGBE in their exhibit at the NAMM show. No problem if you use the right gauges.
    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

  13. #13
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Capos on 23" scale tenors will do the job . Im about to order one for Mine..


    and How about a Baritone Uke , with the right strings it can be Tuned that way
    and be finger strummin Nylon strings too.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  14. #14

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    Capos on 23" scale tenors will do the job . Im about to order one for Mine..


    and How about a Baritone Uke , with the right strings it can be Tuned that way
    and be finger strummin Nylon strings too.
    sorry, please can you precise capos on 23", thank you.
    I allready play tenor ukulele and had a baritone, I don't think we get the same sound and sensations with the tenor guitar, I wan to try.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Ted Eschliman View Post
    I've seen the Kala tenor guitar tuned DGBE in their exhibit at the NAMM show. No problem if you use the right gauges.
    Yes you are right I got the information.
    Thank you

  15. #15

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by fox View Post
    No idea, I cant think of a reason!

    Personally I think, I would have far more fun, with a new Karla than an old Harmony. (and I have an old Harmony)
    Yes It is what I Conclude for the moment and think I will order one Kala, just a bit worried about the necessary set up as I have no luthier around me.

  16. #16

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Hello fron Spain. I have just registered after reading many interesting topics on tenor guitars. So this is my first reply to a post.
    I also play ukulele (all sizes, and both GCEA and DGBE).
    After two years with ukuleles I got to now about tenor guitars and curiosity led me to buy my first tenor a year back.
    As you, I was looking for a shorter scale instrument and the Kala TG finally was my option. Bought it at the Southern Ukulele Store (UK). It is a great ukuleke dedicared store that happens to sell the Kala TG. Very good service. I would order from them again anytime.

    Things you should keep in mind regarding the Kala TG:
    -nut width: 30 mm (like most TG). Coming from uke you are used to 35 mm. The narrower neck also affects string spacing. I ask my luthier for a new nut with slightly wider spacing between strings.

    -tunning: you can also tune it as regular uke (low G). After some trial-error with a few wasted or broken strings this gauges worked well for me: .23/.16/.14/.09 --- GCEA
    I used Dadarios. This are the strings refs: PB23/PL16/PL14/PL09

    -Sound and finish: beatiful sound and finish (both).

    Hope this helps.

  17. The following members say thank you to ukespain for this post:

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  18. #17

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Thank you very much Ukespain, of course It helps very much, I am on the way to order this Kala TGR at the same shop.
    And also happy to learn it is possible to tune it with lowG as I use to do with my ukuleles.
    If you have videos or mp3 I'd be very curious to hear them.

    Thanks again

  19. #18
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    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by D0miuke View Post
    Yes it seems interesting for a taste, but I have red somewhere that they do not recommend to tune it DGBE, I don't know why.
    Do you have an idea ?
    I have the Kayla tuned to DGBE and it sounds and plays very nice, If you go that way I could send you a set of strings of the proper gauge. That is what is important for sound and to not over stress the instrument.

  20. #19

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Quote Originally Posted by Granger View Post
    I have the Kayla tuned to DGBE and it sounds and plays very nice, If you go that way I could send you a set of strings of the proper gauge. That is what is important for sound and to not over stress the instrument.
    Thank you very much Granger, I ordered this instrument and ask the dealer to tune it DGBE.
    I should receive it to day, I will tell you.

  21. #20

    Default Re: Looking for tenor guitar short scale

    Hi, I was trying to reply to the person who tuned their Kala tenor guitar like a regular uke (low G). But I'm new here and can't figure out how to move this question to the correct spot -- I can only figure out how to edit it! Anyway, I'm wondering if the strings are still working for for the person who tuned their Kala tenor guitar like a regular uke (low G)? Thanks in advance!
    Last edited by apdapd; Oct-05-2020 at 4:49pm. Reason: I am new here and accidentally posted in the wrong spot.

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