5 stringed Guittern

[PhilGE]

The dream of a 5 stringed instrument tuned CGDAE is coming to fruition. Here's a photo of the sides and top as viewed from the open back. It's so wonderful to see something you've dreamed of slowly coming together. Jim Shenk of Wooden Music here in Goshen, IN is building this instrument. It will be very low-frills (Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany sides, back and neck, Rosewood fretboard, peg-head veneer, bridge). The one frill will be a sound port. Scale length will probably be 25" plus.

Jim has a knack for building beautiful sounding instruments that are very understated, but very appealing. I can wait - and I'm enjoying and trusting the process.

[groveland]

Thanks for the photo - That's great! I love the curves.

Is there a mandocello up for sale somewhere? :grin:

[Tim F Thornton]

What a great idea. I'm subscribing to this thread so I can see the progress and hopefully hear it in the end with audio or video? Have you played finished instruments like this? I haven't ever seen one. Would love to hear more about them.

[solarbean]

Looks like he has added a bridge-plate. Will this be a floating or pin-style bridge?

[PhilGE]

Yeah, I love all the curves - braces, sides, hole, etc. - too. It's got a great "organic" sense to it.

This will be pin-style bridge. Jim's calling it a "guitar" for all practical purposed, but he's modifying the braces and, of course, the neck will be more slender than a traditional guitar.

[allenhopkins]

Interested in why you chose a guitar-style body over a mandolin-style? Was it because the luthier is more used to working in that style?

[solarbean]

I have a pin-bridge Cittern from Jack Spira coming (it's enroute as I write this). I'll post pics and sound samples. It would be fun to compare notes when you get yours.

[PhilGE]

Solarbean - I have a Spira mandola. I think you'll love your instrument!

Allen - I'm not enamored of the big bodied 'cello/cittern shape - just doesn't feel good to me. I do like this guitar shape and have tried it out. So, it was an easy choice. Jim builds mandolins as well as guitars, so it wasn't too hard to select a body shape that made sense and yet would not seem too standard. This is not quite a "budget" instrument, but it's affordable in the world of hand crafted solid wood custom instruments.

[PhilGE]

Here are some photos of the "guittern" taken just a short while ago. I got to watch as Jim released the "go bars" after the back was glued up, then got to watch him release the body from the mold. Here are three shots. The first two are through the sound port into the instrument. The last is from the front with the sound port just visible. It's a delight to hear already. We had fun playing around tapping the top, listening to the slight tonal differences as we covered and uncovered the port. He'll make a cover for the port, probably out of mahogany with a cork lining. Of course it's still very rough and there's plenty of work to do. Regardless, it was a very joyful time. :)

-Phil

[Markkunkel]

It's a delight....We had fun playing around...it was a very joyful time. :) -Phil

You know, Phil, I think all of that is the point! It's a very good thing to keep "play" in front of music and musical instruments.

And this one looks beautiful and unique. Thanks for keeping us posted.

MK

[Don Grieser]

Hey Phil,

That looks like it'll be a wonderful instrument. I have fond memories of sitting around in Jim's shop and picking. Give him my greetings and keep the pictures coming.

Don

[hokelore]

Phil, do you expect that to be ready by next spring? Seems like Five-OH! always plays at your March dance. I'd like to see this when it's done. You could bring it to the dance!

Tim

[PhilGE]

Don - always good to hear from you. I'll certainly pass on greetings to Jim. Let us know if/when you'll be back in Goshen so we can give it a go again.

Tim - I'm hoping this will be done by mid-summer, so you'll definitely get to see it the next time you're up to play for Goshen's contra dance. :)

Mark - :)

[PhilGE]

Hot off Jim's iPhone, here's the latest photo. Binding being glued up. Never thought I'd be excited to watch glue dry.... :grin:

-Phil

[PhilGE]

Binding is done. Here are a few shots.

[mando.player]

Bolt on neck?

[PhilGE]

Charlie,

I believe it is bolt on, but will double check.

By the way, Jim Shenk (jim.woodenmusic@gmail.com) of Wooden Music gave permission for me to include his email address (jim.woodenmusic@gmail.com) for anyone interested. Jim's a quiet, gentle man who lets his work speak (sing?) for itself.

-Phil

[PhilGE]

Charlie, it's definitely a bolt on neck, but with a tenon joint. This allows Jim to work on trying out the neck a number of times until he's satisfied. He then bolts and glues it into place.

Just back from the shop. It's had a first coat of finish and the color of the mahogany, rosewood, and Sitka spruce are starting to pop. This won't be "eye candy" with highly figured wood or fancy finishing, but will be handsome, flowing, and well-balanced with excellent craftsmanship.

[PhilGE]

Finish on the body is now done. Here are some shots from this afternoon (thanks, Jim). Next is work on the neck and headstock.

-Phil

[solarbean]

That's some gorgeous Hog. It would be nice to see some pics of the top that reveal the grain in the spruce. ;)

[PhilGE]

Solarbean,

Not the best photo quality, but here's a close up. The Sitka Spruce top is about 50 old.

[PhilGE]

The latest photos, including one of the headstock shape. Plan is to have it complete by the end of July... :grin:

-Phil

[Ken Olmstead]

This is looking good! Great headstock shape!

[PhilGE]

Thanks, Ken. Jim and I worked on the headstock shape to accomodate five tuners. We didn't want something that looked unbalanced. We'll find out soon...

[PhilGE]

More photos from Jim: Neck in place, closer and closer to being finished. :)

[PhilGE]

It's here. It's big. It's simple and beautiful. It's got a huge, warm, full sound that fills a room easily. I feel like a kid - like I know nothing and can't yet handle it's potential. Sorry, but I really don't have any photos or sound clips. I'll try to get some during by the weekend and post them here or elsewhere. It's hard to capture this thing right now... :)

I'm really kind of dumbfounded. The sound port adds a completely different sense to the sound of the instrument in a room that's really hard to capture on a mic. It's simply big, full, clear, and delicious.

I'm also working on adjusting to playing single strings - it has a very different feel than any of my double course instruments.

-Phil

[T.J.]

So, does that mean your avatar will be changing?

Having bought two custom instruments in my lifetime, I can appreciate how cool it is to get what one wishes. That top will open up fairly quickly, and I can only imagine how great it will sound in a few weeks....

[PhilGE]

Okay, pictures are up on the "Guittern Finished!" thread.

[PhilGE]

Here's a short video of me noodling on the instrument. Not the greatest, but it gives an idea. Sorry, no rhythm playing - I'm still working on how to do that with this instrument. :) For that matter, I'm still getting used to the long scale length - so please forgive the flubs! :grin:

[Don Grieser]

That C string sounds deep and rich. Mr. Shenk got that right and all the rest of it too. What wonderful tone! It's only going to get better, too. :mandosmiley:

[Gerry Cassidy]

Here's a short video of me noodling on the instrument. Not the greatest, but it gives an idea. Sorry, no rhythm playing - I'm still working on how to do that with this instrument. :) For that matter, I'm still getting used to the long scale length - so please forgive the flubs! :grin

Phil,

Very, VERY nice! I can just imagine how it sounds in person. That one's a keeper, for sure.

[PhilGE]

Don and Gerry, thanks for the compliments. I'm slowly adjusting to it after throwing myself into some jam opportunities. Lots to learn, esp. since I'd like to try some fingerpicking (whole new world for me).

-Phil

[Tim F Thornton]

ditto on the C sounding great! Thanks for posting. Looking forward to the rhythm playing and fingerpicking. Have fun, but I don't have to tell you that!