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| Fret Position Markers on a Tenor https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=48989 |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 3:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
I'm making a tenor guitar now and I'm trying to figure out where the fret position markers should go. I'm totally making this on a whim, no plans. It's a 12-fret guitar with a 23in scale. Seems there is an argument out there on the Internets about a position at the 9th vs the 10th fret but I don't really get what would be considered standard. Is this pic of an old Gibson considered standard? 
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
if it's tuned in fifths (like a mandolin) then it would have the fret marker at the 10th. |
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| Author: | Cush [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
As Steve said, if tuning in fifths is the plan then the 10th fret marker works best. I also like the traditional look so I do prefer a 10th fret marker on a tenor. |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
Is that how they were originally designed to be tuned? |
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| Author: | Cush [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
I think tuning in fifths was familiar to players back in the 1920s and 30s. Banjos and mandolins were very popular in those days and players like to stay with a tuning they are used to. I think the 9th fret marker is a nod to the popularity of the guitar today and no doubt some guitar players do prefer the mark at the 9th. It seems that a tenor guitar can be tuned in a wide variety of tunings. |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
Ok cool. I guess I need to do a bit of research. I was inspired to build one of these when I saw an Irish folk band playing at a local brewery a while back. I talked to the guy a bit after but didn't get into details. It just had a great sound and I don't have such an arrow in my personal quiver. I guess ultimately markers don't really mean a hole lot. Just like on guitar you can change tunings and or use a capo then the markers all change anyway. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Fri Feb 10, 2017 9:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fret Position Markers on a Tenor |
"Is that how they were originally designed to be tuned?" Yes, tenor guitars were built so tenor banjo players could double on guitar. Later, some guitar players started tuning them like the 4 high strings of the 6 string guitar. Short scale tenors can be tuned GDAd - a popular tuning with irish music players. |
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