Progress on a Couple of Tenors

Tenor Guitar and Tenor Ukulele that is..

Things seem to be going good, I've got most of the body parts for both thicknessed all that is left is the tenor guitar top once the rosette is installed. The top and back for the Uke are braced and I guess I should think about bending the sides.

All in all going pretty good.

Tenor guitar top with rosette cut and ready to install

Tenor Uke back

Tenor Uke Top

Waiting for sides

Top with the Rosette

Simple rosette design for a small body

Sound Sample Walnut & Bearclaw Sitka Celtic Tenor

Rick was kind enough to send me a link to another recording he made on the tenor guitar I made for him.

Great playing and a great composition.

https://soundcloud.com/rickwaugh/cerulean-solo-tenor-1

It Might Not Look Like Much

BUT it is a big part of the Tenor Guitar I'm building.

It is actually the neck block designed to have a plate under the fingerboard extension which will allow the neck to be easily removed with only 3 bolts.. Similar to a previous design used by Taylor Guitars and by several other builders like Trevor Gore.

I'm also working on thicknessing the various parts likes sides and back for the Tenor & Uke.

Ready to Start Building

So I have all the bits an pieces ready to start building. A Zircote & Ancient Sitka Tenor guitar and a Maple, Spruce & Walnut Tenor Ukulele..

Should be fun projects, I'm thinking the tenor guitar will be my personal guitar.

This will be my first Ukulele build, in some ways simpler than a guitar but it is a new process as well.

Summer is Almost Done

Yes I know, but it is true....

Although I have not been doing any building I have got a lots done beside the list of around the house projects, I built a side bender for a Tenor Uke which I will be hopefully using shortly, as well as the inside forms for it and a bending for for the next Tenor Guitar I'll also be starting shortly, I finished upgrading my neck tenon jig and built a little rotating sander for truing up sides.

I built a rotating table for my side bender and Worksharp sharpening system.

I've also started making a new top for my first MandoCello.. and I've got this little side project I'm playing with.. Oh and I seem to have acquired a new scroll saw....

Some Jigs

Worksharp on top

Side Bender on top

Side project, 1/2 size violin repair.. 

GAL Convention & Next Instruments

I was lucky enough to go the the Guild of American Luthier's convention in Tacoma last week. A great event  with lots of good information exchanged and some good music as well.. I also came back with a bit more wood :-)

Summer is a bit too busy and humid for guitar building but I have been working on a number of new jigs & tools and I'll get them posted here sometime in the near future.

Summer is also a good time to sort out the next instrument designs and get all the moulds etc for them built.. This falls projects so far look like a Tenor ukulele build of all Canadian woods and a new Tenor Guitar for me.. Rick's Tenor turned out so well I'm going to make another for myself that hopefully will turn out as good and end up being my sort of go to instrument.. Of course I should just replicate the design I used for Rick but there is no fun in that so I'll be doing a scaled down version of a Gibson LO body. I used the LO body shape for the Mandocello but this one will be about 0.88% of that size and 21.375" scale length again. probably and arm bevel as well but no need for fan frets.

I've been debating the wood as well but it is looking like it will be Zircote & Ancient Sitka Spruce (3000 year old spruce from a bog in Alaska), so it will be a dark looking guitar..

I now officially have more wood than I know what to do with, well not really i know what to do with it I just need time to do it :-)

Some Gal Photos:

Harry Fleishman bass

One of Jeffrey Yong's guitars violates a lot of rules about guitar building but sounds GREAT

Retopped Ovation By Kinnard Guitars with Larry Robinson rosette

Howard Repogle's Ukes

Some more Harry Fleishman guitars

Palour Guitar Finally Done!

That took a while and a wee bit of cursing but done and sounds great..

Wenge Back & Sides
Sinker Western Red Cedar from the Queen Charlotte Island
Narra Neck
Paua Shell trim
Finished with Royal Lac Shellac
24.5" Scale