Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I've been asked by several past clients if I would build a steel string tenor guitar with ukulele tuning, and this has been a fun project with a couple of stuff ups along the way. Namely ruining 2 necks when I was really not fit to be out in the workshop because of injury....thus not having my head totally in the game. But sitting on my arse for 2 months was more than I could stand....Live and learn.

Anyway, the first hurdle was to decide on body size. Back in September when I was down south Nick gave me a copy of a tenor guitar plan he was finished with. I laid my baritone body template over the plan and it was pretty much a spot for length and width. That was great news, as I have cases that are a nice press fit. Scale length was decided upon at 22" as that is also what fit's into that case with a 14fret to body join, putting the saddle in the middle of the lower bout.

Then was the issue of what strings to use. Lot's of research went into that, working out the appropriate tension based on what's typical of tenor guitars. I settled on a set of strings that give pretty much spot on to 20lbs tension to each string.

The tension on my Baritone Ukes is approximately 55lbs total (string choice dependant) while this one will be 80lbs. so I bumped up the top thickness and brace height to accommodate the extra tension. I used my usual 5 fan braced pattern to limit the variables in the build, and going with something I'm very familiar with. And here is the result.

I've used the design brief from a previous client that wants a tenor guitar and been asking to make him one. He is a lefty so that's why it's strung up as such, though I've put fret markers on either side of the fret board so it could be strung up the other way with a change of nut and saddle.

Body - Makore
Top - Red Spruce (Adirondack)
Neck - Spanish Cedar
Tuners - Grover Sta-Tite
Binding - Rope
Fret Board - Ebony with 12" radius
Bridge - Gidgee
Head Plates - Unknown Burl
Finish - Mirotone Satin over Bote Cote Epoxy
Strings - D'Addario
Tuned to GCEA

Looks like another great effort from you Allen. Wayne

Very nice Allen. How does it sound??

Can't play even a simple scale on it cause it's strung lefty. But the notes are loud and the sustain is huge. I'm going to try the other set of strings I brought in for it to see if there is any difference with a subtle change in tension.

That looks fantastic Al but I wasn't expecting something from you...... with no Rosette

Drop Dead Gorgeous! Love the body shape, the 14 fret join, giving the neck a long scale look. The makore is beautiful and the rope binding sets it all off. Not using a rosette the perfect minimalism in this context. And especially how it all works together, very, very nice.

How did you make/install the rope binding? Individual bits set in place one at a time? It look wide, is the interior lining extra thick to accept? Very cool!

BTW, what is the scale length?

I didn't put a rosette in this one because I thought it might clash with the rope binding, and the design brief was for a simple vintage vibe. As close as I could get while still bringing in my look.

Scale length is 22".

Rope binding I've had built to my specs from Gurian Instruments in Seattle. Far too much time wasted to make up something like this. They can be a bugger to bend though. Especially on that upper bout.

Allen wrote:I didn't put a rosette in this one because I thought it might clash with the rope binding, and the design brief was for a simple vintage vibe. As close as I could get while still bringing in my look.

It certainly works

Scale length is 22".

Okay, so the instrument is smaller than I imagined, looks bigger.

Rope binding I've had built to my specs from Gurian Instruments in Seattle. Far too much time wasted to make up something like this. They can be a bugger to bend though. Especially on that upper bout.

Yes, I know them and have purchased bindings from them in the past, still working off my recent batch. (aside, I worked for Michael Gurian in his New Hampshire guitar shop ~ 1971). Is it like other rope bindings then, what look like large blocks of wood are actually built up with thin veneers? It looks more substantial than other rope bindings I have seen and can imagine it would be tough to bend. Nice job! Would you mind telling me the dimensions of the binding so I can put it in perspective, the size of the instrument is throwing me off.

The tiles themselves are 3.2mm x 3.2mm before they are rounded over. There is a veneer on either side of them to help hold them together while bending. One side is Koa, the other is black veneer. Pick the side you want to keep for a fine accent line.

I just use my usual kerf lining sized for ukes and mandolins. Much smaller than that for guitars.

Allen wrote:The tiles themselves are 3.2mm x 3.2mm before they are rounded over.

There is a veneer on either side of them to help hold them together while bending. One side is Koa, the other is black veneer. Pick the side you want to keep for a fine accent line.

I just use my usual kerf lining sized for ukes and mandolins. Much smaller than that for guitars.

Okay, thanks. Now I see, I was picturing the binding more like 6mm x 6mm in section, I keep seeing the instrument as being guitar sized.

Another beauty. Clean, neat and perfect, as usual.....

thanks fella's. Nick, did you finish your's yet?

Up to fretting and finishing, but a couple others have gotten in the way. Won't be long now....Mine has a tail and floating bridge, so it'll be a first for me in more than one way. Used a dowel and epoxy neck joint, just because. I did finish a dread and a tele thinline style this week.....