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Hi everyone, I was looking for plans for a Tenor Guitar that I could use with a student for his first build and wasn't able to find what we were after so I decided to draw up some plans of my own. As I have received so much help from this forum I thought I'd share them. I'm happy to hear suggestions of how they can be improved. The current build is about half way through and looking and sounding good so far. I'll post pics when it is finished.

The plan is in PDF format and is at actual size. I printed it out at an Officeworks (large stationery chain in Australia) for a couple of dollars.

Thanks,

Martin

http://martintaylorguitars.com.au/plans/MTG_Tenor.pdf

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Nicely done, I may use that. Assuming I may use that...

Why is the body shape two lines?

Yo, fool... because he be from down under and has probably had a few to many stubbies.

YO, Martin me mate.

me really don't got nuthin against stubbies except that one of your red headed countrymen who wears and drinks em stubbies came up hear, stole my daughter and took her down to kangaroo land. Ya well he was at least nice enough to bread her a couple of times...which is great..but me gonna be danged if me gonna go down under to see me grand kids, ya hearin the words me laying down on yer head dude?

Please post a sound file when that student of your gets it finished.

Oh and if you see a red headed bloke with two kids and a knock down dead gorgeous wife that speaks Canadian ... tell her to come on home.

thanks.
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Hi, sorry, the body shape is 2 lines because one is the actual shape (the inside line) and the other is the rough cut shape allowance while applying bracing etc. I usually allow approx 20mm excess that gets trimmed off once the top and back are glued to the sides. Hope that makes sense.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

And Padma, I'm sure I will bump into your offspring, I mean Australia isn't that big a place.....

Also for the further education of the wider world, stubbies are 2 things in Oz. One is the conveniently shaped and sized aforementioned beer bottle, the other is an item of clothing. I'll let you guess what type.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Thanks for posting that.
Just at a glance, the X braces look really beefy at 8mm x 18mm for such a small guitar?
I've used (spruce) 18mm x 7.5mm scalloped braces on an OM and 18mm x 6mm tapered on an SJ, and both were overbraced.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hi Colin, yeah, we'll see how it goes. May be overbraced but the box is sounding pretty good so far. I'd prefer to be a little over than a little under for a first build by my student anyway. We'll see if we can get a recording done when it is finished. I'll probably build one for myself too and see how I go with the bracing. Also, these measurements are more indicative of what I start with, not the finished size. I should measure the finished braces more accurately for the plans.

Thanks for your input. Hopefully we'll end up with a plan that anyone can use.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Thanks for sharing that Martin.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

Martin, I'll echo Joe's comment. Thanks! - please post some pictures when your student's build is complete.

Hi all, I thought I'd post some pics of this build.

Back and sides: Tasmanian Blackwood
Top: Reclaimed Western Red Cedar
Neck: Recycled Western Red Cedar
Fretboard and bridge: Australian Gidgee

Joining the Blackwood back pieces


Cutting the sides


Bending the sides


Sides in the forms


Back bracing done


Nice subtle rosette of Blackwood


Soundboard bracing done


Hand shaping the neck with a spokeshave


Fitting the bridge


Ready for Oiling


First coat of oil goes on

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

That oil sure pops the wood.
Nice looking build.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Finally finished! She looks great and sounds sweet. Will get some recordings up soon.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Very nice! What kind of oil?


Ray

Hi Ray,

6 coats of Rustin's Danish Oil and then 2 coats of U-Beaut Wax polish. Gives a lovely natural semi-gloss finish.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

For those wanting a video/sound sample, this is a very short iPhone vid. Already starting to open up a bit.

http://martintaylorguitars.com.au/video/tenor_sample.mp4

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au