Please don't think of these funny little guitars as being anything like an amplified acoustic instrument because they're most definitely not. They're really a small solidbody electric instrument based on guitar technology but strung and played like the instrument they're based on, whether that be a member of the mandolin family, uke family, or guitar / tenor guitar family. Some people love them, some think they're an abomination!

If you want a louder version of your acoustic sound talk to your local guitar tech about adding a piezo system to what you already have.

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Strings - general info to keep your instrument sounding great

When you change strings make sure your plain strings can't slip through the holes in the tuner posts. This diagram explains it...

Never cut or trim a string before it is installed. When you do cut it, bend it up, leave about half an inch of the string sticking up, then use some fine pliers to bend the last quarter inch or so back down towards the headstock. The string won't catch on the one next to it, it looks neater, and most importantly you won't spear yourself on the sharp cut end of the string. Once again a picture helps...

To stabilize the strings and maximize tone, tune your new strings to pitch, then stretch them by gently lifting each string at the 12th fret two or three times, then re-tune.

After playing, use a clean soft dry cloth to wipe your strings. Wiping in between the strings and fingerboard also reduces wear on your frets and fretboard. Clean strings retain their brilliance longer.

If your fretboard is looking grungy use a soft toothbrush to gently remove the gunk, especially around the frets. A few drops of fretboard dressing oil (ask at your favourite guitar shop) applied on a clean rag will bring back the lustre of the timber, then give the whole fretboard a brisk rub with the rag to buff the timber and frets.

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Action height

Because I started off as a guitar player my solidbody instruments tend to be strung with light strings and I set the action low, with the height of the lightest string around 0.015" to 0.020" at the first fret, and around 0.040" to 0.050" at the 12th fret, increasing as the diameter of the strings increases. If you're ordering a custom instrument and you'd like me to set the action higher please let me know.

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Adjusting intonation

Your instrument's intonation should be close to spot as it comes to you and shouldn't need adjustment unless you change string gauge or action height, but it's handy to know how to do it anyway...

You will need to use your guitar or chromatic tuner to fine tune your intonation.

Start by tuning your instrument to pitch, then check the heaviest string's tuning at the 12th fret.

If your tuner shows that you're sharp adjust the saddle on the bridge slightly further away from the neck.

If your tuner shows that you're flat then adjust the saddle on the bridge slightly closer to the neck.

Turn the adjustment screw one or two turns at a time, retune to pitch, and check again at the 12th fret.

Repeat this for each string, retune the whole instrument to pitch, and recheck each string at the 12th fret just to be sure.

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Protect your instrument - loop your cord through your strap
 

Notice anything about the players in all these photos? Look where the patch cord goes on its way to the jack... it's looped through the strap. If they trip or stumble, the cord will take the strain rather than damaging the instrument.

Why am I telling you this? Here's an excerpt from an email send to me by someone who bought one of my instruments. No names, no clues, he feels bad enough as it is! :-) "Well, the "instrument" (deleted to protect the identity of the owner) arrived in good shape and what a beauty! The sound is better than I had hoped for, too. A bad thing happened, tho... I'm a very careful individual but I was sitting down and when I stood up, I was unknowingly standing on the patch cord and there was no slack in the cord so it cracked the face of the "instrument", right by the jack output. My heart fell to the floor." The owner did a good repair job, but he was still concerned, so he asked me to make up a control plate from pickguard material that he could attach over the top of the controls and jack. All's well that ends well. I guess as someone who's been playing since the 70's I just assumed that everyone loops their patch cord through their strap, but I was wrong. I'd hate to see anyone else learn the hard way!

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Tenor guitar tunings

The tenor guitar is usually tuned CGDA or "Chicago tuning" DGBE, but there are lots of  alternatives:
 

Name	Pitches	Comments
Standard	CGDA	Standard tenor tuning.
Guitar ("Chicago tuning")	DGBE	Like the three highest strings of a guitar. Banjo players often call this the Chicago tuning.
Low	GDAE
Mandocello	CGDA	Fifths tuning - One octave lower than standard tuning.
Open G	DGBD	Open chord tuning - Strings tuned in an D major chord.
Plectrum guitar	CGBD	The standard tuning for plectrum guitars and plectrum banjos is also occasionally used for the tenor guitar.
Bouzouki	CFAD	One note lower than Chicago tuning. This is the most common tuning for the modern Greek bouzouki.
Guitar bass	EADG	Like the four lowest strings of a guitar.
Alto guitar	GCEA	One fourth higher than the first four strings of a guitar.
Fifths guitar	ADF#B	One fifth higher than the first four strings of a guitar. You need a fairly short scale instrument for this and be prepared for more string breaks than usual.

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Warranty information

All instruments made by Jupiter Creek Music are covered by a 10 year back to base warranty to the original owner. All other products are covered by 12 month limited warranty.

Any Jupiter Creek Music product found to be faulty will be repaired or replaced where possible. Initial shipping cost for assessment is to be paid by the purchaser, however if the goods are found to be faulty Jupiter Creek Music will pay freight back to the purchaser following repair or replacement, and refund the cost of shipping.

Any labour or parts not covered by this warranty will be charged at normal rates. Any parts faulty due to manufacturers fault will be fixed at the cost of labour and/or parts.

If the instrument or goods have been mistreated this will void the warranty.

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