Converting Archtop Guitar to OM

**multidon** · Jul-11-2012, 9:58pm

I have a Godin 5th Avenue archtop that I don't play much and I have been toying with the idea of converting it to an octave mandolin. What all is involved? All I can think of is cut a new nut, fit and slot a new bridge, and replace the tailpiece. Is that it, besides then stringing it appropriately? The nut and bridge don't bother me, I've done that type of work before. But where would one acquire a new trapeze tailpiece that takes 8 strings instead of 6? Would this be a good instrument for this type of conversion? For those unfamiliar with the instrument, it is made of 3 ply cherry laminate, back, sides, and top. It has your typical Godin/Seagull/et al. quality.

**the padma** · Jul-11-2012, 10:38pm

Even though its ply and has an arch in it to boot, the extra strings may be a tad to much tension which may result in neck or top plate distortion. The truss rod should take care of the neck but the plate is another story. But hey its only a 1k guitar. Suggest you go with extra light strings.

Lots of luthier supply places and ebay have tail pieces that are easily modified for 8 strings or you could simply make one.... ain't rocket science.

blessings
duh Padma

**Bill Snyder** · Jul-11-2012, 11:03pm

Don you would also need to plug and re-drill the peghead for eight strings.

**Grommet** · Jul-12-2012, 12:20am

Some would also slim the neck width a bit as well, but I've heard of that step being omitted sometimes.

Scott

**Paul Hostetter** · Jul-12-2012, 12:45am

This business of converting so-so guitars to octave mandolins or mandocellos has been discussed to an extreme in the past, check the archives. It involves a number of compromises that will make you value instruments deliberately built to serve a particular purpose.

**multidon** · Jul-12-2012, 8:33am

Thank you all for your responses. Having considered what was said here, and thinking about all the other things that didn't pop into my head right away, like slimming the neck, plugging and re-drilling the peghead, and all the compromises, I believe I am going to de-rail this project before it starts. Like Paul points out with his very wise response, the best instruments indeed are those that do exactly what they were originally designed to do. If I decide I want an OM, I should just buy one. It's just that this archtop isn't getting much play. Maybe I'll just sell it and use the money towards a proper OM. That way it can be "converted" without any sawdust or cursing!

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-13-2012, 7:32am

Originally Posted by multidon

Thank you all for your responses. Having considered what was said here, and thinking about all the other things that didn't pop into my head right away, like slimming the neck, plugging and re-drilling the peghead, and all the compromises, I believe I am going to de-rail this project before it starts. Like Paul points out with his very wise response, the best instruments indeed are those that do exactly what they were originally designed to do. If I decide I want an OM, I should just buy one. It's just that this archtop isn't getting much play. Maybe I'll just sell it and use the money towards a proper OM. That way it can be "converted" without any sawdust or cursing!

Probably a good decision in this case. Most of the conversions from guitars are to mandocellos because until recently they were hard to find -- but more and more makers are adding mandocellos to their product lines so the temptation attempt a 6 string to 8 string conversion is reduced. From experience I can tell you these conversions are always more work than you anticipate and there are a lot of compromises & trade-offs to be considered. For octaves there is a relatively huge selection of great purpose-made instruments so conversions are pretty much not necessary except for some particular/unusual feature that the player might want.

**Marty Jacobson** · Jul-13-2012, 8:25am

Having converted a very nice (but not valuable) 1937 Slingerland archtop guitar to a mandocello, I can say it is a fun project. And it's a really cool sounding 'cello.

But as Paul and others have said, it's not the best way to get a great instrument. It's the best way to get something... but mine is more of a conversation piece than anything else. It does sound great with its carved spruce top, and hey, it was only $200 and needed a neck reset anyway. But I wouldn't go near an already-functional instrument for the purposes of converting it.