Sep-20-2005, 11:02am
Why does everyone want to complicate this?
Get your mini-guitar. Take off the low E-string. Remove the bridge saddle and the machine head for that string to eliminate rattle. Leave the extra empty space on the bass side as it is - it will allow you to do low push bends on your lowest string. #Now re-tune the instrument G-D-A-E-b or G-D-A-E-a - you'll need to change some of the gauges. You can use these as a suggestion for gauges and adjust to your own preferences: .048G - .036D - .022A or .024A -.014E - 0.10 (a or b).
The usual 19" mini-guitar scale length will give you better tone but increase the stretches. You can capo up a fret or two to shorten the scale (keep the GDAE tuning at the capoed position) or install a new nut, but I wouldn't go much shorter than 17".
If the string spacing is too close/tight, woul can shift some of the string slots over to the bass side (equal spacing).
Look people, it's just a tuning!. #You can do the same thing with a Strat or SG or any regular electric guitar if the longer scale doesn't bother you.
Call it an electric tenor guitar, or make up some bs about using "Keith Richards tuning" or "Ry Cooder tuning". Don't even bring up the "M" word! You'll most likely be automatically pigeonholed into the "Rocky Top" yee-haw function. Electric players (rock, blues, etc) can be just as closeminded as any hard core Scruggs banjoist when it comes to anything deviating from the "normal" instrumentation.
I wrote an article in Mandocrucian's Digest #13 on mini-guitar conversions. Back issues are still available for $3.00 plus postage. (See catalog link below)
Niles Hokkanen
Bookmarks