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Requinto guitar design
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=37567		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  PeterF [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Requinto guitar design
I've been thinking about my second build, and I would like to make a steel string requinto guitar (5 semi-tones higher than standard). Unfortunately there is hardly any information about them on the web. Would you use standard x bracing? The string tension would be the same as a standard guitar but over a shorter distance - does this mean you can't scale down the size of the braces and need a truss rod?
Also, how big should the body be to get decent volume? idunno


Peter
Author:  James Ringelspaugh [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Requinto guitar design
I've built a requinto but for nylon strings so I built with fan bracing. You are right to let tension dictate the bracing. For a smaller guitar with the same tension you can lighten up just a bit but not very much. If I were to build a steel string version I might keep the bracing close to the same size as a normal guitar but only use one finger brace per side and a single lower transverse brace. The top can be slightly thinner but again not by much; I might reduce by a max of 10% if at all.

I believe a standard requinto (for Mexican Mariachi) is about 1-1/4" more narrow at the lower bout, and about 2" shorter from heel to butt than a standard classical guitar, but they are about the same depth; I would likely use the same difference. Of course this is JMO and I have limited experience but using these guidelines made a pretty nice sounding instrument for me.
Author:  SteveT [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Requinto guitar design
GAL has a plan:

Plan #54 Mexican Requinto
$18 members / $25 nonmembers
Drawn by Fred Casey. One sheet 24" x 42". Article and reduced plan appears in American Lutherie #89.

It's fan braced, so I assume the design is for nylon strings.
Author:  PeterF [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Requinto guitar design
Thanks for the info. I'll look into it.
How about using a truss rod? Could I just put a carbon rod in instead?
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