I picked up my new LfdM 19" super tenor from Luis about one week ago and have been playing it every day since, below are the details
*Tenor body increased depth to 3-1/4"
*19 inch scale length, joins at 15th fret
*non-cutaway, round sound hole
*Side sound port
*Arm rest
*Radiused macassar ebony fretboard
*Spanish cedar neck
*Sinker cedar top
*White/Red/Black purfing
*Curly myrtle back and sides
*Red maple bindings through out
*Slothead with Gotoh stealth tuners
*Custom shaped bridge (smiley)
*Zero fret, bone nut and saddle
*Water based lacquer finish
*Brazilian rosewood used for arm rest, bridge, rosette and headstock overlay.
Most of you followed my build in progress thread so know the details behind this but a quick recap. One year ago I played the first tenor Luis made with a sinker cedar top (first time I had heard of this wood) and was captivated. We had talked about doing a 19" tenor designed for B or Bb tuning and I loved the sound of that sinker cedar so a plan was hatched. Luis decided to increase body depth by 1/4" to take advantage of the longer scale length. We used my headstock shape, designed for my baritone and the stealth tuners allowing a thinner lighter headstock.
I have always thought Luis's bridge design was too square looking, everything else has round flowing curves. We came up with a new bridge design, I call it smiley and I like it, makes me smile Because of the scale length the bridge had to be moved back 20mm and the bracing pattern/placement modified. Luis leaves no stone unturned, he wasn't about to just slap a long neck on a standard tenor.
This instrument is light, well balanced and plays effortlessly. I don't really notice the extra length when playing. The sound has a great mix of warm resonance with crisp well defined trebles. It is loud, piles of volume but sounds great played softly. I had Luis install an LR Baggs 5.0 and it is one of the most natural sounding ukes amplified I own. I am already working up an open mic performance with it. I am thrilled with this instrument and it is different enough from my spruce rosewood macaferri style LfdM standard GCEA tenor to not be redundant.
*Tenor body increased depth to 3-1/4"
*19 inch scale length, joins at 15th fret
*non-cutaway, round sound hole
*Side sound port
*Arm rest
*Radiused macassar ebony fretboard
*Spanish cedar neck
*Sinker cedar top
*White/Red/Black purfing
*Curly myrtle back and sides
*Red maple bindings through out
*Slothead with Gotoh stealth tuners
*Custom shaped bridge (smiley)
*Zero fret, bone nut and saddle
*Water based lacquer finish
*Brazilian rosewood used for arm rest, bridge, rosette and headstock overlay.
Most of you followed my build in progress thread so know the details behind this but a quick recap. One year ago I played the first tenor Luis made with a sinker cedar top (first time I had heard of this wood) and was captivated. We had talked about doing a 19" tenor designed for B or Bb tuning and I loved the sound of that sinker cedar so a plan was hatched. Luis decided to increase body depth by 1/4" to take advantage of the longer scale length. We used my headstock shape, designed for my baritone and the stealth tuners allowing a thinner lighter headstock.
I have always thought Luis's bridge design was too square looking, everything else has round flowing curves. We came up with a new bridge design, I call it smiley and I like it, makes me smile Because of the scale length the bridge had to be moved back 20mm and the bracing pattern/placement modified. Luis leaves no stone unturned, he wasn't about to just slap a long neck on a standard tenor.
This instrument is light, well balanced and plays effortlessly. I don't really notice the extra length when playing. The sound has a great mix of warm resonance with crisp well defined trebles. It is loud, piles of volume but sounds great played softly. I had Luis install an LR Baggs 5.0 and it is one of the most natural sounding ukes amplified I own. I am already working up an open mic performance with it. I am thrilled with this instrument and it is different enough from my spruce rosewood macaferri style LfdM standard GCEA tenor to not be redundant.
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