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

[Glen H]

Have you tried Bill at [e-mail]?  I think he would be glad to hear of your interest.

[Bart van Weperen]

Thanks a lot, Glen!

I'll give that e-mail adress a trial.

 

Bart

[Bart van Weperen]

hmm... "Trial" should be "try"...

[John]

I converted a 3/4 size guitar for a guy a couple of years ago. Some of the Cuban ones that I've seen are converted nylon string guitars, they use a tailpiece to reroute the string tension and change the spacing. I read once that the tres took the place of the piano in the traveling bands.

[Ned Knepp]

If you don't mind, let us know what you find out. 

I did some research into Cautro and Tres instruments several months ago because a friend of my daughter is wanting to get involved in them.  I found almost nothing on Cuban Tres. About the most I could figure out is that they are very much like a narrow shouldered classical guitar with the strings paired up. (duh!) I saw at least one site where people were using converted guitars. I THINK the strings are steel so I suppose the bracing should be more robust than a classical guitar.  The end product of my search is that I have mostly conjecture. American's don't go to cuba much but I understand that the rest of the world isn't so sticky about visiting cuba as a resort area. Maybe one of them has come across this instrument in the flesh?

 There's a thought. You could always buy one ( and blow any chance at making any money) and  take it apart to see how it's built.

[Bart van Weperen]

Everyone thanks for the input so far!

 

Glen; I received this link on Tres Cubana info:

http://www.cuatro-pr.org/node/85

John: I too have seen Tres’ with a tailpiece. But I also read

this:  http://www.luthierforum.com/index.php?/topic/3583-on-the-cuban-tres/

I seccond your findings on the Tres and the piano…"…difference with the Spanish guitar is the way they are played: the chords are played one by one in rithmic, often syncopic, motives, like a piano (it’s not by coincidence that the role that the Tres played in the Cuban Son was teken over in the later Salsa)"

(source:

http://www.tres-cubano.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=54 too bad it’s in Dutch!)

The Tres also playes a dominant role in the less known Cuban style "Changuï"

Anyway: thanks for the photo’s!

 

Ned,

As you see: I’m trying to feedback… You are right in poiting out that "American’s don’t go to Cuba much…" I almost forgot that… I think it’s me being european.

Your advise to buy a Tres is verry sound indeed! Too bad I cannot find any Tres’ here at all… I did find a website of someone (also in the Netherlands) who states that he builds "Tres’" I contacted him, but after I wrote him I wanted to built one myself the sound of non-response is almost deaffening.

I’ll keep on looking for info and I’ll als ask my "cliënt" how the (beep) he ever came up with the idea of wanting to have a Tres. He must have some knowlidge on them…

[Bart van Weperen]

I just found out that there is more info on the Spanish pages of http://www.cuatro-pr.org/node/85 than on the English pages. The Spanish pages offer a PDF-file on Tres Chords and a PDF-file on-what t(o my non-Spanish-reading eye) seems to be "Builders info". I can see info on wood used, scale-length etc.

[Ned Knepp]

Burt,

 I found that a luthier in California makes a "Tresillo" which looks just like the usual Cuban Tres.

http://www.candelas.com/tresillo.php

 

There isn't any real information about the construction but maybe you can email them and get some questions answered. 

I also found that Martin makes a tres guitar; http://www.martinguitar.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&a...  but it doesn't look much like a Cuban Tres.

[Bart van Weperen]

Hi Ned,

 

Thanks for your time and effort, but could you please call me "Bart" next time? (No offence taken!)

I think I have found "building-info", though I have to translate it from Spanish. It can be found in 1 of the pdf-files on the Spanish page on the "node/85" page as linked above. The other PDF has some chords...

Also: Todd Mylet (also member of Fretsnet) is looking through his blueprints for the plans he has for a Tres Cubano...

 

By now there are different sources of Tres info, and I first need to get that organised before I go asking arround any further. I'll keep your candelas.com hint in mind. Searching through YouTube I found a video on (by) Leandro Rojas, a Cuban Tres Cubano builder. I found out he also has a shop in Miami, so he might speak English...

 

I'll keep you posted!

[Ned Knepp]

Sorry about the instant name change Bart. I just wasn't paying attention to what I was typing. 

It sounds like you have a handle on it now. If you find plans that you can share, I would appreciate seeing them or knowing where I might get them too. I doubt that I will be doing anything soon but someday, I may actually get around to making one.

[Tim Mace]

what are some common tunings for Tres'

[Bart van Weperen]

Hi Tim,

 

For info on common tunings of Tres', please take a look at http://www.cuatro-pr.org/node/85 on the bottom half of that page you"ll find the answers you are looking for.

Go to the Spanish page to find a PDF-file with chords.

 

Best of luck!