Custom or Built-to-order Tenor Guitars

[mds725]

I'm an ukulele player who, about a year ago, bought a Blueridge BR-40T tenor guitar that was tuned DGBE (like a baritone ukulele). I'm now considering buying a custom or built-to-order tenor guitar, but it seems, from the websites of luthiers I've found through internet searches, that luthiers tend to make either ukuleles, six-string and twelve-string guitars, or both, but not tenor guitars. Can anyone recommend a luthier with experience building tenor guitars? Thanks in advance!

[mikealpine]

I don't know anyone specifically doing that, but Chris Ensor says on his site that he's open to new ideas. And I don't know how different a Tenor is from a Parlor, but I just had a guitar completed by Joel Stehr that is fantastic, and he has a parlor version.

[HHP]

Depends on what you want but Martin does custom orders on tenors. They recently did a run of 0-18T's.

[drive-south]

Mandolin Cafe has a sub forum on tenors.
www.mandolincafe.com

[jwieties]

Hey MDS.
Highly recommend David Newton. He just built me a tenor uke, but he is a gitar builder first and for most. He recently built a beautiful tenor guitar. Scroll down this link to see it. His prices are extremely reasonable considering the quality and tone!
http://davidnewtonguitars.squarespace.com/guitars/

[Larry Pattis]

Rebecca Urlacher builds a mighty fine tenor guitar, and she has some soundclips on the page I linked to...look to the lower left, for the tenor guitar links.

Highly recommended.

[drcmusic7]

I would recommend Indian Hill guitars - www.indianhillguitars.com. Mike is a sponsor here too.

Kindly,
Danny

[IndianHillMike]

Thanks for mentioning me Danny; I do build the occasional tenor guitar and have always wondered why they're not more popular! Such a great sound and can really provide a unique voice when you're playing in a group. I also find there's also a lot more freedom in wood selection when you're working with a small shape. For anyone who is curious I have my most recent tenor (built for last year's Montreal show) at Dream Guitars.

Mike

[BBWW]

I highly recommend Jayson Bowerman. He designed the Breedlove Revival Tenor. On his own now he is builder GREAT guitar at a modest price.

https://www.facebook.com/BowermanCustomGuitars?fref=ts

[mds725]

Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't realized how much more expensive a custom tenor guitar is than a custom ukulele! I'll be looking at all the luthiers you've been nice enough to recommend. Thanks again!

[Peter Forward]

Don't forget Fletcher Instruments (Jamie Dougan). Tenors are what he does.

http://fletcherinstruments.com/

[Dave in Tejas]

Here's a Tenor I built for Bruce.

[KevinLPederson]

You could talk to Richard Vance Clark from Boone, IA. I don't know if he actually does this type of guitar, but he does good quality work. You'd have to talk to him, I'm just throwing his name out there.

Have a nice day.

Kevin.

[philjs]

Russel Crosby (Nova Scotia) makes both 4- and 8-string tenor guitars. I own an 8-string and it is a lovely instrument with a big sound. Of course, I tune mine like an octave mandolin (GDAE or thereabouts) and call it a "bouzar," but it works equally well in tenor tuning (CGDA) or in "high guitar" tuning (DGBE).

Phil

[Clydeslide]

Pretty old thread, but if you are still looking:

http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/index.p.../tenor-guitar/