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  #1  
Old 02-17-2017, 12:50 AM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default NK Forster tenor build thread

I have been a lurker on build threads for a long time, but this time I have a guitar to tell you about!

My musical interests began with the fiddle, and I eventually got hooked on guitar. Just recently, however, I became very interested in tenor guitars. They look and sound like six-string guitars, but in the right tuning, the fingerings can be similar to what I am used to on the fiddle!

I played a couple tenor guitars here and there, but nothing really stood out to me. For a while, I considered an old Martin 0-18T. Then, I happened across a few YouTube videos of NK Forster Session King Tenor Guitars. They sound like a dream. Have a listen:





After a bit of deliberation and many hours listening to various tenor guitars, I decided I would get a Forster. I emailed Nigel Forster, and he responded incredibly quickly! After a few weeks and many emails back and forth, this is what I've decided on:

Session King Tenor Guitar
24.75" scale length
Adirondack spruce top
mahogany back and sides
ebony fretboard
sunburst finish

I just sent in my deposit, and Nigel promises to send pictures of my guitar as it's being built, so check back here often for a cool build! I can't wait.

Last edited by fiddlekid; 02-18-2017 at 12:28 PM. Reason: Fixed YouTube link
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  #2  
Old 02-17-2017, 06:44 AM
Auld Reekie Auld Reekie is offline
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You wont be disappointed. I have two of Nigels guitars and nothing compares to his work. Added bonus is thet he is a great guy to deal with. Anticipate greatness!
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NK Forster Model G in Brazilian/Bearclaw European Spruce
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Old 02-17-2017, 12:15 PM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Auld Reekie View Post
You wont be disappointed. I have two of Nigels guitars and nothing compares to his work. Added bonus is thet he is a great guy to deal with. Anticipate greatness!
Good to hear, thanks!
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Old 02-18-2017, 04:01 AM
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cigarfan cigarfan is offline
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Congrats on the build. I'll be checking in to see how it's going.

The secret to YouTube links is to eliminate the http stuff and just leave that last "strange" looking identifier. Edit your original post and you can see what I did.
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Old 02-18-2017, 12:29 PM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cigarfan View Post
The secret to YouTube links is to eliminate the http stuff and just leave that last "strange" looking identifier. Edit your original post and you can see what I did.
Oh, excellent. Thank you so much.
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  #6  
Old 06-02-2017, 05:24 AM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default first build update

I've started to receive updates regarding my NK Forster tenor guitar! Enjoy these photos sent to me by Nigel:

The first images Nigel sent me are of the side lamination process. The sides are laminated to a thickness of 8mm, which greatly stiffens the wood. While this process makes the wood heavy, Nigel argues that this modification greatly enhances the performance of the soundboard. The yellow tape is a trick Nigel picked up from watching the production of car dashboards--it helps control the flow of the glue between the wood layers.








Next, Nigel worked on joining the back and top of the guitar. Here's the mahogany back...





...and the spruce top.



Once the top was joined, the sound hole and rosette were created.






I'll be posting some progress photos of the neck soon, but enjoy these pictures for now! I'm starting to get very excited!
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  #7  
Old 06-04-2017, 04:31 PM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #2

Some photos of the early stages of the neck and headstock:







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Old 06-05-2017, 08:04 PM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #3

Here are some more photos from Nigel! Looks like some ribbing being put on the back and then some assembly of the back, top, and sides that were shown in a previous post:









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Old 06-16-2017, 11:32 AM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #4 -- neck carving

Here are the newest photos of my NK Forster tenor guitar showing the neck carving process:











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  #10  
Old 06-17-2017, 07:09 AM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #5 - sunburst!

Nigel just sent me these photos of the sunburnt finish he just completed. Gosh, it looks fantastic!











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Old 06-17-2017, 01:31 PM
GeoffStGermaine GeoffStGermaine is offline
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Wow, very nice looking tenor!

The tape trick with the sides is cool! Gonna have to try that one.
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  #12  
Old 06-18-2017, 05:24 AM
steveh steveh is offline
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I have a Forster session king and the sunburst finish is one of the things I like most about it; it's just so cool.

Cheers,
Steve
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  #13  
Old 10-11-2017, 07:59 AM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #6 - almost there...

Holy moly. Look what came back from the spray shop. The tenor is almost ready, and I am unbelievably excited!!!



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  #14  
Old 10-15-2017, 03:25 PM
fiddlekid fiddlekid is offline
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Default update #7 - the bridge

Photos just in from Nigel... the bridge has been glued on!



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