Terz Guitar

[Chris Vallillo]

Hi Folks,

I just completed the restoration of this lovely Carl Fischer Terz guitar from (I assume) the turn of the century. Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard.

I'm about to string it up for the first time and can't find any reference to the string gauges I need use. Since it's short scale, but tuned a 3rd higher, I would assume I could use standard light gauge guitar strings tuned to the appropriate pitch. I did see a Youtube post featuring a Martin Terz Guitar, but it was set up as a high string, a completely different animal.

Anyone have any experience with this? I appreciate any thoughts you might have.

[Jason Rodgers]

That looks nice. Any "before" pictures? How did you refinish it?

Sorry, no advice on the strings.

[Chris Vallillo]

Yes, here are the Ebay shots I got, although I suspect there was work done after these shots were taken, the back had been over-sprayed and so dark you couldn't see the grain, the bridge was pulling and cracked.

Lot's of cracks and splits both front and back. The back cracks had not been dealt with. The front had about 1/2 dozen splits that had been just filled with glue. I just needed to glue the back. On the front, I cleaned them out, and splinted them. The finish was quite rough with numerous gouges, countless scratches and quite a but of exposed wood near the sound hole. I drop filled that damage with superglue (LOTS of superglue!) then sanded off the overspray on the back and lightly sanded the top then french polished over the original finish on the front, back and headstock. I left the sides in original condition.

No worries on the strings. I also posted on Mandolin Cafe and got some good advice there.

[David Bingham]

Is your guitar braced for steel strings? I am a fan of the Martin Size 5 Terz guitars and it wasn't until some time around the late 1920's that they started bracing them for steel strings. For Terz tuning with steel strings they recommend custom light MSP 4050 strings, which is kind of between a light and extra light. Even with the short scale, when you tune it three half steps high you end up with very nearly the same tension as a comparably strung Dread so I would be very careful. If yours is truly turn of the century then I would think it to be designed for gut strings and I know nothing about them. Even if it appears braced for steel, considering the age and splits I'd be wary of stringing it with anything heavier than silk and steel until I saw how it handled the tension.

[Chris Vallillo]

The guitar is ladder braced with somewhat substantial braces.

I'm currently tuning it to standard pitch. I did have it tuned up the third, but found that the sound was not as rich as standard tuning. I'd go with a much lighter set if I tried tuning it higher.

Re date, After a quick internet search, I'm seeing similar guitars that seem to date to the 20's era. The radiused fingerboard suggests a later build than turn of the century.