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Thread: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

  1. #26
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Over the last few days, I have cut all the fret slots, shaped the fretboard, glued it down to the neck:

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    Last night I used a forstner bit and some scraps of Ebony to make the dot markers. Hammered in the frets and I have to say that I am very pleased with it!

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    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
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    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  3. #27
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Looks great! Good job!

    Since this was a classical guitar, are you going to be using nylon strings?
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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  5. #28
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Quote Originally Posted by Dusepo View Post
    Looks great! Good job!

    Since this was a classical guitar, are you going to be using nylon strings?
    Thanks! Yes that's the plan. In fact I just received the strings I ordered from Just Strings.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

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  7. #29
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Looking great!

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  9. #30
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    So I finished a little side project making a counter top for my in-laws and got back to the CTG (Classical Tenor Guitar) yesterday and so far I've:

    Leveled and crowned (& polishes) the frets
    Cut and fitted the nut and nut slots
    Made a new bridge (walnut) and fit the saddle.

    All I have a pic of at this point is the bridge

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    Tonight I hope to set the intonation

    By the way, I totally overlooked the segment of the stewmac fret calculator that says:

    "The most accurate way to lay out your scale is making all measurements from the nut (using the "fret to fret" distance only to confirm your layout). Laying out frets only by measuring fret to fret will compound error. For example, if you're laying out frets by marking with a scribe and your accuracy is ± (plus or minus) 0.020", you could be off by as much as 1/4" at the 12th fret."

    So the scale length has turned out to be more like 21.5" rather than 22"

    Rookie mistake, but I think it's still going to work out fine.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

  10. #31
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    I've worked out intonation using a trick I saw online (clamping on a temporary tailpiece) and started finishing... excited to see how it turns out!

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    I'm surprised at how much the Waterlox has ambers the top. It looks almost the same color as the mahogany back, sides and neck.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

  11. #32
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Glued the bridge on and strung it up yesterday. ... All done!

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    Its very resonant, dark and warm. Being used to Mando's it feels way too big, but I'm getting used to it.

    Once I feel like I can play something worth hearing I'll post a video.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

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  13. #33
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Now that I'm stuck inside and working from home (right next to my shop), I got down a scrap Hondo 23" scale steel string guitar with a classical headstock and started thinking again about this project. Mine is ladder braced, and was a tailpiece guitar from the start, so most of my work would be on the neck. I wondered how your tenor is holding up these past three months? Are you ready to share a video sample with us?

    One other question I had was about the headstock. You plugged the slots near the top holes, but the headstock still looks a little big for the neck to me. I've thought about just cutting the headstock down to just the center strip and then glueing ears on. I could then add a veneer and shape it to be a bit smaller. I have some old 1960s Harmony banjo/tenor guitar tuners I was planning to use, so I want to switch to a paddle-style headstock instead of the classical. I guess alternatively I could fill the headstock slots and then shape the headstock smaller, which would keep the outer bits of the original headstock.

    Tenor guitar owners: what's the average length/width of your tenor headstocks?

  14. #34
    Registered User belbein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    TL;DR so maybe this was covered. Why not a 6 string tenor? F C G D A E? Don't have to replace bridge, do have to recut nut, don't have to trim neck, nobody will ask to borrow your guitar. All wins.

  15. #35
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Quote Originally Posted by belbein View Post
    TL;DR so maybe this was covered. Why not a 6 string tenor? F C G D A E? Don't have to replace bridge, do have to recut nut, don't have to trim neck, nobody will ask to borrow your guitar. All wins.
    Well, the first answer for me is that I never thought of it! Second answer is that I'm so used to mandolins that a 6-string neck feels very chunky to me a lot of the time. But it would be a great way to try out tenor tuning. (Too late for my donor guitar: I cut the neck down last night.)

  16. #36
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Quote Originally Posted by mreidsma View Post
    Tenor guitar owners: what's the average length/width of your tenor headstocks?
    Of the various vintage I've had half of the "full size" 15-16" wide bodied have had "full sized" headstock. The ones with smaller heastock tend to be narrower than shorter compared to their six string counterparts.

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  18. #37
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Classical Guitar to Tenor conversion questions

    Well, inspired by Spencer, I knocked together a little tenor conversion from a 23" guitar that I had in my "parts bin." I decided to do it only with stuff I had around the shop, so I used a leftover piece of brass to make a tailpiece, refretted with fretwire I already had in stock, and used my plug cutter to make maple dot inlays for the dyed mahogany fretboard. It got torn up a bit on the top where the fretboard was thinned, but overall I think it turned out okay. I cut my headstock shorter than Spencer's because I didn't have any fancy wood laying around, just chalkboard paint!

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    My donor guitar is ladder braced and has a steel rod in the "Spanish cedar" neck, so I went with steel, 32w, 24w, 13, 9 for CGDA. Sounds okay! Once I figure out how to play it a little better I'll post a sound video.

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