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It's either a little Renaissance Guitar or a 6 string Ukulele/Guitalele - call it what you will. I have a few days to decide. Might even flip a coin.

I haven't started yet! Just posting a pic of the wood that I've collected. Shane's low grade Lutz (only need one half of a book matched Top) - hence 1 piece Top, Sapele Neck off cut, thin Laburnum fretboard, couple of Spruce neck blocks and a piece of English Cherry that will be resawn to form a Back. Somewhere I have a 1" x 1" piece of Cherry that will form the Sides.
This is all pretty cheap stock, baritone Ukulele size. I doubt that the whole of the timber used for this build will exceed $40. I've solved the potentially expensive tuner problem by buying a set of wooden Pegs off the 'bay. $36 for 15 Pegs + a reamer included! I don't need the reamer and I only need 8 Pegs. Call it $15. Strings and a few more odd bits. I'll be close to the $100 mark, perhaps a touch more.

Renaissance Guitar it is.
Cherry Back/Sides have been resawn and then glued with strips of Black veneer:

This is going to be interesting.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Too funny, I looked at that photo and said "that should be interesting".

I'll look forward to seeing this one progress.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

[pulss up chair]

So what glue do you use to join the sides and veneers? Do you have problems with them wanting to delaminates when you bend?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Interested in seeing this come together. Are you using plans or making it up as you go?

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

HHG for the joints. They won't delaminate ( I hope!) providing no water is introduced. I bend using a hot iron.



I designed it but it is based on a historical instrument. I really only needed the bout and body length measurements, it's then simply a matter of drawing a fair curve and using the eye to produce something agreeable. The rest of the design is fairly straightforward.

This is going to be awesome. Have you made any Renaissance guitars before: I've only seen baroque, classical, and romantic guitars on your website. If you plan on making a Parchment and/or veneer rose, would you mind posting detailed pics of that process?

I've made only 1 Renaissance Guitar prior to this one. Unfortunately they aren't exactly big sellers, even though they can be very attractive instruments. The first was a relatively simple affair - one piece Top, one piece Back, usual one piece Sides.
I suspect this one will end up being a bit more elaborate. I haven't decided on the soundhole decoration yet. I might go with a Parchment Rose or a very simple pierced design. Much depends on whether I decide to sell it or keep it.

This is a little surprising to me: I would think that uke players would identify with the 4 courses and rather small size, but I guess not.

Ah well Uke players have their own version - the Taropatch. No doubt that very few Uke players are even aware of the Renaissance Guitar, it probably never enters their thoughts.
Very few Players of the modern Guitar will think of buying a Renaissance Guitar, although a very small minority might dabble in the Baroque Guitar or the Vihuela. You are essentially left with the few Lute Players who take an interest.

Time waits for no man. Must try and make some progress with this. The instrument has now turned into a very short scale Baroque guitar - 5 courses instead of the 4 of the renaissance Guitar.
Here's my version of the 'Carruth scraper'. Back/Sides have been planed and thicknessed: