Tenor Guitars by Steve Parks

Tenor Guitars

by

STEVE PARKS

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What a great instrument. Originally a variation on the tenor banjo, it's traditionally tuned in fifths like a mandola- CGDA (low to high), but also works well tuned DGBE like the treble strings of a guitar or my favorite- GDAE a` la octave mandolin.

My bodies are slightly larger than the Martin style small bodied tenors. It adds more warmth and bass response- a lovely sound.

Originally I designed this for GDAE tuning-an instrument with the same basic tone and range of a guitar, but plays like a mandolin. I found that octave mandos often sound a bit muddy playing a lot of fancy chord work and such for swing and blues music, and realized what I needed. After stringing one up for other popular tunings, however, it was apparent that it gives a big, warm sound all around.

Your choice of beautiful woods throughout
Arched fingerboard is standard
Adjustable neck angle
22 9/16" scale length
14 3/4" wide at lower bout

Please visit the gallery to see more pictures.

$175 for great case from Cedar Creek Custom Cases.

Here's an mp3 file of me playing "Greensleeves", first in Dm on a tenor tuned GDAE, then modulating to Gm and playing it on a fanned fret tenor. My good friend Gene Bowlen of Bearcade Music Productions recorded it for me.

To hear an mp3 clip of "Corinna,Corinna" played on a tenor guitar tuned GDAE, click here (383 KB).

To find out more about the world of the tenor guitar, check out Tenor Guitar.com!

Fanned Fret Tenor Guitar

The tenor guitar frequently has a problem. The scale length of almost 23" gives it a good guitar sound but it's quite long for the high CGDA tuning. The D and A strings are too tense- just about everyone is constantly breaking their A string.

I've applied the Novax fanned fret system to the tenor guitar to help fix this. Basically, the scale gets shorter as you get to the treble side giving all strings an appropriate length. It works great, sounds great and is actually easier to play than a more standard instrument!

"I have a collection of really fine playing tenors and Steve's fan fret tenor would be right at the top,if not the top of the bunch!!"
-jazz great Eddy Davis

Add $150 to the cost of an instrument.

	Models and Options Fancy Fancy inlay on fretboard Double ring soundhole rosette with Mother-of-Pearl or abalone Wood binding with contrasting purfling on back Back with trademark contrasting wedge in center to complement the binding Scrollwork inlay on peghead Price $2650
	Standard My most popular model Fingerboard dots Single ring soundhole rosette with Mother-ofPearl or abalone Classy wood binding Back with trademark contrasting wedge in center to complement the binding Scrollwork inlay on peghead Price: $2350 plus case
	Artist Again, this instrument plays and sounds as fine as the most expensive model just with simpler decoration. Fingerboard dots Simple soundhole rosette Contrasting ivoroid or plastic binding Bookmatched two-piece back with no center stripe Lovely, simpler peghead inlay Price: $2100 plus case