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The Barnwood "Mountain Tenor" Guitar - Built by Shane Speal from a C. B. Gitty kit

I just strung this guitar up this morning and it was love at first strum. The instrument is a C. B. Gitty Mountain Tenor Kit ($99 w/free shipping in US). Before I get into details, here's the demo I just filmed.

The kit arrives "in the white" (unfinished) which allows you to paint, stain and customize.

For the sides, back and neck, I used some English Chestnut stain I had from a hardwood floor project from many years ago. The face of the guitar is actually a photograph of the side of a barn that was printed directly on the wood with a UV printer. I then took my woodburning pen and enhanced the nail holes and some of the lines. It gave a great 3D look.

It's a very easy kit to build. I used my router to round the back of the neck, although you could use files or sandpaper. A good supply of clamps help, but I'm sure you could get away with a big bag of rubber bands.

Usually, Gitty sends me a prototype kit for me to try out, customize and then ship back to him in New Hampshire. This one will be an exception. I'm keeping it and he can't have it back!

Mountain Tenor Kit - $99 at CBGitty.com

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Permalink Reply by Bill on June 2, 2019 at 4:46am

Sounds great to my ears!
What makes it a Tenor guitar, as opposed to standard (haha) CBG?
Can you guess what the string spacing would be on the 4-stringer?
Signed,
Fatfingered Bill

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 2, 2019 at 8:11am

Tenor Guitars were manufactured 4 string guitars in scale length of 23", 24" and some 25". They have a lot in common with Bouzouki's, Mandola's and Mandochello's with the difference being tunings.

CBG's could be made in any scale length by mostly poor people that couldn't afford to by a guitar and almost always found to be 3 string guitars. Mostly tuned to omit the 3rd note for simplicity. Now days many people build them for fun or in honor of the people of the past.