Martin size 5 terz guitar

[BruceVB]

I've seen several Martin size 5 "terz" guitars for sale on Reverb and eBay, and I'm interested, but I'm wondering how I could try one in person to see if it would be something I want to buy? I live in Portland, OR.

[gr81dorn]

Originally Posted by BruceVB

I've seen several Martin size 5 "terz" guitars for sale on Reverb and eBay, and I'm interested, but I'm wondering how I could try one in person to see if it would be something I want to buy? I live in Portland, OR.

Take your smallest guitar and capo it in the 3rd fret and that will give you a good idea of the sound ;-)

The actual size and balance are awesome and so fun to play. That is hard to replicate without playing one, but you can get a reasonable facsimile of the sound by doing as I've indicated.

[BruceVB]

Do you tune yours to G? I've seen a post that suggests tuning it to A which makes for more standard chords with typical chord shapes (e.g. a G shape gives you a C chord).

Thanks,

Bruce

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by BruceVB

Do you tune yours to G? I've seen a post that suggests tuning it to A which makes for more standard chords with typical chord shapes (e.g. a G shape gives you a C chord)...

When the terz concept (along with the quart and quint, tuned up a fourth and fifth respectively) was popular in the mid-1800's, the instruments were equipped with gut strings, not steel; I'd be very careful tuning up a modern Size 5 a fourth with most readily-available acoustic sets - something like the not-too-common GHS 345 10-42 silk-&-steels (or a similarly gauged ball-end Gypsy-guitar set) might be a good starting point...