info on Cuban Tres'

[Bart van Weperen]

Hi to all,

I’m wondering if anyone here on frets.net has experience building and/ of repairing Cuban Tres’. (after all: these are fretted instruments...)

I had never even heard of these instruments and it’s hard for me to find info on them. (Too bad I’m not able to read Spanish.   -French, German, Engilsh and Dutch are no problem-)

The only info I found so far is how tres’ are usualy tuned, some you-tube chanels where tres’ are being played and a lot of pictures. I’ve also read that W. Cumpiano has built one (but I cannot contact him).

I know that the body (almost a ¾ guitar-body) meets the neck at the 10th fret and that is it...

As I was asked to build a Cuban Tres I need (a lot) more info, especially on the traditional Cuban Tres’. What materials and bracings are "usual" and what form is concidered "traditional"?

Any help/ info is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Bart

[LARRY KLOSE]

There's 3 Tres Cubano's for sale and some other info here:

http://www.fernandezmusic.com/TresCubano.html

Fernandez is both an importer and retailer with a lot of experience.  An email inquiry might bring more info... .

Larry

[Bart van Weperen]

Despite of all your efforts to get me the info I couldn't find myself, I haven't gotten any further on the "theoretical path" conserning Très'.

But on the other hand I did start building "something" that I would start calling a "Très" as soon as it's finished.

The shape of this Tres is based on some old pictures/ drawings and then my client had an idea...

So, here is what the sides look like by now:

 

To give you some idea of the real dimensions I'll also post this pic...

These sides are Madagascar Rosewood, about 2,5 mm ( 0,1 inch) thick and the "radical" curve has a 6 cm (2.36 inch) diameter.

More when this project is finished.

 

Bart

[Ned Knepp]

 I'm interested in how this comes out so thinks for keeping us posted. Looks like an interesting design, Bart. The "radical" curve looks brutal to bend. Have you worked up any drawings for this design?

[Bart van Weperen]

As a mater of fact I did make drawings for this design... Too bad I drew them on sheets of mdf... I will transfer them to graph paper later on (and post it here) for ease of copying.

The curves were a pain... I had planned them even tighter but I stopped in fear of the wood breaking/ tearing up. That much for the mold I made, now this has become a "freehand" project.

[Ned Knepp]

I would be interested in seeing what you have in mind. I have a friend that's interested in a cuban Tres' and it got me started looking at them too. It would probably be best if she just bought one since I already have enough projects for a while and I'm not very fast at getting them finished but I'm still interested.

I don't think I have the bending skills to do what you did on the upper bout. It would be less wear and tear on my psyche if I just broke them over my knee first thing and had done with it. ;)