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Building a Tenor Guitar

107K views 53 replies 16 participants last post by  rlp 
#1 ·
Selecting the Plans

Follow along as I build a tenor guitar. Blueprints for this guitar are available at Elderly Instruments. A tenor guitar is a small 4 string guitar tuned in 5ths like a violin or mandolin. Search YouTube for "tenor guitars" to see what one looks and sounds like. In this video I review two different plans for tenor guitars and select the wood for the back and sides.

 
#12 ·
Dimensioning the Tenor Guitar Back and Sides

Follow along as I build a tenor guitar. In part 4 you will see how the back and sides are dimensioned and brought to the final thickness - from a plank of roughsawn walnut to the 0.80" thick back and sides.

 
#13 ·
I'm realing enjoying this video blog, Randy. Thanks for sharing. So far I think I've got the skill to do it….. We'll see once you get to the neck and fret work, etc if I've got what it takes. Haha. Thanks for taking the time to make this for us
 
#20 ·
Another way to cut rosettes like this is with an adjustable hole cutter for a drill press. The tip cuts a circle. You can reverse it and adjust the diameter to cut an inside circle. The result is a wood ring like the one you did. After you can sharp the other end of the cutter to a flat chisel (about a 45 degree angle), remove it and reinsert it up side down. It cuts a 1/4 inch swath in your guitar top to the depth you want. Readjust the diameter and cut another swath until you get a width that the rosette fits in. It really does a nice clean job with minimal effort.

Enjoying following your blog btw. I love how luthiers have multiple types of techniques to accomplish the same outcome.

 
#44 ·
Many thanks again for another episode Randy. I'm interested in the way you glued them in. I've never seen them glued in with the 'cut' side of the kerfing strips towards the guitar sides. But then I don't suppose I've seen too many! It might well be commonplace. Is there a reason for doing them that way?
 
#48 ·
Another enjoyable video Randall.

On a totally different subject, your voice has always reminded me of somebody, and perhaps your intro music strengthens the association somehow. When I was watching this episode it clicked who your voice reminds me of - Tom Bodett, probably best known for his voicing of the Motel 6 radio commercials where he always ends with, "I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for ya." This is meant as a compliment BTW.

Anyway, thought you might get a kick out of that.
 
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