The primary direction for the next set is a request I have for a “long neck” tenor. A standard tenor body with a 19 inch scale length neck instead of the customary 17 in tenor scale. The longer scale gives a little more room between the frets (requested by a guitar player) and the higher string tension is supposed to add more volume and brilliance. I have been referring to this long neck tenor as an “XL tenor”.
I am build an XL tenor on commission, and also one for myself to have around and see what it is like. To round out the set, I am also building a standard tenor with sycamore back and sides since I really like sycamore, but I no longer have any around, they are all sold.
On the sycamore standard tenor I am using curved laminated ‘fulcate’ bracing I have begun to experiment with. This is on a spruce top. I have made the top extra thin as a bit of an experiment. .075 inches thick.
The XL tenors will have a ‘X’ style bracing. I recently used this on a standard tenor (copied from a Kala ukulele I repaired, put a new top on it) with very good results. The X bracing should be pretty sturdy too, and I am thinking of the extra string tension from the longer 19 inch scale. This is on a redwood top.
