Yamaha jr2 to tenor conversion
After stupidly selling my Blueridge BT-40 a few years ago due to scale length issues, I realized I'd like to give tenor guitar another try. I didn't want to spend much $ in case I decided again that I just couldn't do it. I've seen other conversions here so I decided to try one myself, converting a cheap Yamaha JR2 (3/4 sized) that i got on Craigslist. The scale length is around 22 inches.
I used a dremel with a carbide cutoff wheel to cut through the frets and remove the outer pieces . Then I switched to a saw attachment and again used the dremel to cut the neck down to the width I wanted, then sanded it smooth. I filled in the two middle tuning machine holes, made a metal plate to cover the back of the headstock, and a new veneer for the front of the headstock.
I then installed a cheap pickup and made a new bone nut and saddle.
I know it's a total hack job as far as workmanship goes, but I didn't care as I was going for an antiquish/vintage look anyway. I tried to make it resemble an old Gibson without making a counterfeit. Therefore, I inlaid the headstock to read "Gilson" and printed a fake label stating that it is "guaranteed against being a product of Gibson. I just thought it would be kinda funny. I doubt I'll ever sell it, but if I do I will be certain to stress that it is in no way, shape, or form a Gibson product.
I've really enjoyed messing around with the build, as well as learning to play something with a longer scale than a mandolin. The folks at the open mics i go to get a real kick out of it. They tell me that the guitar sounds great, with a much bigger sound than they expected.
Attached are a stock photo of what it looked like originally and the pics since I butchered it up.
It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!
Bookmarks