Huon Pine Terz

[Bob Connor]

Thought I'd try something a little different with some plans that I got of a Martin size 5 (Terz).

Back and sides are Huon Pine as are the kerfed linings and back braces. Top is going to be King Billy and the bindings will be Tiger Myrtle.

I've made a neck from Huon as well. The centre laminations are Blackwood and Tiger Myrtle.

It'll be interesting to see how Huon goes as a back and side wood. If it doesn't sound too good at least it'll smell nice.

[Kim Strode]

I'll be watching this thread with great interest Bob. I've built several guitars with Huon Pine soundboards with varying degrees of success. Huon Pine has always been one of my favourite timbers and I'd never thought of using it for back and sides. For a novice like me can you please explain how this Martin Size 5 (Terz) style guitar differs from other acoustic guitars.

[Dominic]

Hey Bob, I made a guitar for mate out of bits of wood he sent me and the back was some lovely super tight grained quartered Huon (the sides were different). The Huon back sounded flat when tapped as a free plate but that was one of the sweetest sounding guitars I have made. I am sure yours will turn out lovely. Such unique timber, there won't be many of these around. Beautiful to work as well. I kept a bowl of the shavings to scent the house.

I have some more of this stuff he sent and will make a whole guitar from it at some stage.
Dom

[pat foster]

I love those little guits! I keep one on a stand next to the couch. Easy to slouch and play.

Pat

[matthew]

Interested As you'll recall i have some Huon double bass sides and back cut up and ready to go. And the KBP top. How's it working as a neck? stiff enough? I was thinking of laminating a harder centre strip.

If mine ever gets made we'll have to unite these two for a concert.

MT

[Bob Connor]

I haven't started carving the neck yet Matthew but given that the nut is where the third fret is in a normal neck it should be OK.

I have laminated some Tiger Myrtle and Blackwood on either side of some Satin Box as a centre strip so this should stiffen it up enough.

I've got a mandolin truss rod that'll be going in it as well.

Kim - a size five is like a 3/4 size guitar. most people take one look and say "Oh, a kids instrument"
Martin still make a Marty Robbins model..

You can get an idea of the size at the start of this clip when the bloke with the dreadnought ambles by.


youtu.be/

Regards

[kiwinoz62]

Hi Bob,
Looks good so far.
I always wondered what size guitar Marty Robbins played in that Youtube clip as one day I thought I will build one.

[Lillian]

Here's another.


youtu.be/

[DarwinStrings]

I wonder how many true blue terz guitars there are in the world. What dimension does that plan give for the E to E or is it G to G string at the nut Bob?

Jim

[Bob Connor]

This is how big the neck is compared to a normal 14 fret acoustic neck.

And another pic

[Allen]

The plan calls for 43 mm width at the nut Jim. I make mine 44 though.

[Kamusur]

God I love laminated necks no matter what size!!

Steve

[Bob Connor]

I have heard complaints from people who have owned the Martin Terz that the neck is too narrow at the nut so I'll be widening it as well.

The original Martin spec was 1-5/8''.

[Bob Connor]

youtu.be/

[J.F. Custom]

What is the scale length Bob or Allen?

Jeremy.

[Bob Connor]

The Martin scale is 21.4"

I can get fairly close to that using a Stewmac 25.4 fret template starting at the third fret.

These are the full Martin specs:

MODEL Size 5 Mini Martin
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: Size 5/Terz 12-Fret
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: Style 45
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Standard ''X''
TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 1/4''
BACK MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
BACK PURFLING: HD Zig-Zag
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
ENDPIECE: Grained Ivoroid
ENDPIECE INLAY: Black/White Boltaron
BINDING: Grained Ivoroid
TOP INLAY STYLE: Fine Herringbone
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: Black/White Boltaron
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
NECK SHAPE: Slight V
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Diamond/SquareTaper
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Large Old Style
HEELCAP: Grained Ivoroid
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 21.4''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 12
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 18
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-5/8''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/16''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Diamonds & Squares - Long Pattern
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss w/ Vintage Toner
FINISH NECK: Satin
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
BRIDGE STYLE: Size 5 w/ Long Saddle
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-1/8''
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Bone
TUNING MACHINES: Waverly Nickel w/ Butterbean Knobs
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin Studio Performance Custom Light Gauge Phosphor Bronze (MSP 4050)
BRIDGE & END PINS: White w/ Tortoise Colored Dots
PICKGUARD: none
CASE: 318DB Geib style
INTERIOR LABEL: Signed by CFM IV & Dick Boak
ELECTRONICS: Optional
OTHER OPTIONS: Available left-handed at no additional charge
OTHER COMMENTS: All prices & specifications are subject to change without notice.

[J.F. Custom]

Thanks Bob.

I thought, by the pictures, it looked quite close to my short scale octave mando/bouzouki (which is ~ 22" scale).

Might just add one of these to the 'to do' list.

I've also got a couple of chunks of huon I'd been debating how to put to best use, one of which is heavily bearclaw figured. I'd shortlisted this one for a few ukes due to its size, but haven't settled on it...

Jeremy.