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  #1  
Old 07-26-2014, 07:21 AM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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Default Anyone play a Terz Guitar

Martin made them over the years. Got me curious?
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  #2  
Old 07-26-2014, 08:17 AM
ocarolan ocarolan is offline
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I don't have a purpose designed Terz guitar, but I keep my Fylde Ariel tuned that way, GCFBbDG. The scale length is 629mm and I use 11-47 Newtone Heritage low tension strings. No adjustments were necessary when I first did this, the guitar previously having been in standard tuning with Newtone Masterclass 12-54 strings.

I love the way the guitar sounds and feels as a Terz. It is a very responsive guitar to begin with, but seems to sing even more sweetly at this pitch. The sound and feel are completely different from when the guitar was at standard pitch with a capo on the 3rd fret. And, with a neck/body join at the 12th fret, I can capo up to quite high pitches - fret 7 in this tuning being equivalent to fret 10 at standard tuning.

This gives the resonant benefit of still having relatively long string length when compared with the same pitch on a "normal" guitar.

I use the guitar a lot, especially in band situations with capo at fret 2 or 4, instead of a standard tuned guitar with capo at fret 5 or 7, and the result is very pleasing indeed to my ears anyway.

Here's a sample with the guitar capoed at fret 4 -




Keith

Last edited by ocarolan; 07-26-2014 at 08:26 AM. Reason: typo
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  #3  
Old 07-26-2014, 09:29 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Tried terz and didn't like it - I find quart tuning (ADGCEA) more useful when playing with others in terms of chord shapes and transposition. I presently have two instruments set up this way (Martin LXM strung with D'Addario XL110W 10-46 electric strings, and Deering Boston 19-fret tenor banjo strung 10-13-17-26) and as Keith says the sound and feel are totally different - even with the lunchcounter construction, there's a shimmer to the notes that just isn't there when capoing a standard-tuned instrument; the real winner here, however, is the banjo - I had it in three different tunings previously (standard tenor, Irish, and Chicago), and after switching to GCEA I've never looked back. If you have a tenor banjo and you've never tried it, I recommend it highly: makes a great lead instrument since it covers much the same range as mandolin/fiddle, and adds a crispness and sparkle to Irish music that GCAE tuning can't touch - heck, when I don't have my 5-string I even fingerpick mine...
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Old 07-26-2014, 10:39 AM
Wistah Wistah is offline
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I have a Breedlove mini travel guitar in Terz tuning. I like it that way. I play in an acoustic duo and find having different size / shape guitars makes for a nice talking point with the audience.
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Old 07-26-2014, 11:17 AM
jpd jpd is offline
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"This gives the resonant benefit of still having relatively long string length when compared with the same pitch on a "normal" guitar"





Keith........bell like shimmer to the tone......sounds terrific!
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Old 07-26-2014, 11:25 AM
drive-south drive-south is offline
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I own 3 Tacoma Papoose guitars which are essentially Terz guitars. Love them and would really love a 12 string Terz.

Joe Viellette makes great Terz guitars but pricey.
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Old 07-26-2014, 11:50 AM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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After years of me badgering him, Roy McAlister built me a terz guitar. It was a magnificent instrument, but I found the G to G tuning less practical for playing with others than the A to A requinto tuning that my Papoose is tuned to.

With the A to A requinto tuning, a G formation gives you a C natural chord, a C formation gives you an F natural chord, a D formation gives you a G natural chord, and an A minor formation gives you a D minor natural chord. But with the G to G terz tuning a G formation gives you a Bb natural chord, a C formation gives you an Eb natural chord, a D formation gives you an F natural chord, and an A minor formation gives you a C minor natural chord.

Which is fine, but doesn't transfer as easily. The one guy I've ever seen who jammed effectively with a Martin terz tuned his 5-18 to the A to A requinto tuning.

The only other problem I had with my McAlister terz was that it was such an exquisite jewel of an instrument that I was very hesitant to just grab it and take it anywhere the way I do my Papoose.

Anyway, I do like terz guitars, but if I was to get another I'd string it with lighter strings and put it into the requinto tuning and keep it there.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller
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Old 07-31-2014, 05:17 AM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
After years of me badgering him, Roy McAlister built me a terz guitar. It was a magnificent instrument, but I found the G to G tuning less practical for playing with others than the A to A requinto tuning that my Papoose is tuned to.

With the A to A requinto tuning, a G formation gives you a C natural chord, a C formation gives you an F natural chord, a D formation gives you a G natural chord, and an A minor formation gives you a D minor natural chord. But with the G to G terz tuning a G formation gives you a Bb natural chord, a C formation gives you an Eb natural chord, a D formation gives you an F natural chord, and an A minor formation gives you a C minor natural chord.

Which is fine, but doesn't transfer as easily. The one guy I've ever seen who jammed effectively with a Martin terz tuned his 5-18 to the A to A requinto tuning.

The only other problem I had with my McAlister terz was that it was such an exquisite jewel of an instrument that I was very hesitant to just grab it and take it anywhere the way I do my Papoose.

Anyway, I do like terz guitars, but if I was to get another I'd string it with lighter strings and put it into the requinto tuning and keep it there.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller
isn't a simple answer to your A tuning issue is to capo the Terz on the first fret in situations where you need to play with others? Steve
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  #9  
Old 07-31-2014, 05:35 AM
ocarolan ocarolan is offline
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Actually Terz tuning with no capo is ideal for playing in Bb, Eb etc, whether with others or not !

Keith
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Old 07-31-2014, 08:01 AM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ocarolan View Post
Actually Terz tuning with no capo is ideal for playing in Bb, Eb etc, whether with others or not !

Keith
But I see what Wade is saying. the key of A would be a little easier to play with other players, given my talent level anyway. lol
steve
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  #11  
Old 07-31-2014, 09:25 AM
Tadpole Tadpole is offline
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I had a Martin 5-15. I liked it and thought it sounded great- even in standard tuning. I did find it a little uncomfortable to hold but probably would feel better with one now that I have more experience.
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