Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all. Anyone knows something about the Brasilian country guitar - Viola Caipira? Where can I find plans/drawings to build one? Thank you.

Might be difficult to find a plan. But success should come with enough research.
Years ago before plans were available and info not so plentiful.

I built several not exact but very close(G) copies, an LP jr DC Spec. flying V and a moderne'
using pictures from Guitar Player Magazine

You could design your own from pictures.

Scaling up from pics is relatively easy as the string length for the Viola Caipira is given as 580mm.

Using a good high res pic you can use the frets as reference to get almost every measurement on it.
or if you redraw the pic in outline with graphics software.
Then you could take a stick file to the local printer and have the thing printed in black and white at full scale
using just the string length to go by.
Then the measurements would all be 1-1.

Various Strings are available for the viola Caipira online.
These can help determine the interior structure;
Calculate the tension using one of the many tension calc's
and brace the top accordingly.

Guessing, they are probably ladder or maybe fanned braced but it shouldn't
make any difference cross or ladder, as long as it works.

Bracing found in the Andean Bandola, Venezuelan Cuatro, Mexican Requinto
and the Colombian Tiple instruments is a modified fan but variations abound I'm sure.

You might think of it as between a 12 string and a 6 string
and try using a modern cross method for strength.

As a project designing does make for more work
but it can be fun too. And much may be learned.

good luck in your search for a plan

_________________
You just pick up a chord, go twang, and you're got music. -Sid Vicious

No plans, but a picture on this site. http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.co ... merica.htm

You might have to learn some Portugese
Search for Planta viola Caipira

https://www.google.ca/search?q=viola+ca ... la+caipira
Here are 2 plans
http://www.ferramentasparaluthier.com.b ... ipira.html
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB- ... brasil-_JM

Good Luck!

You might also try shooting Bob Cumpiano an email (Yes - that Cumpiano.).

He is an enthusiast of Puerto Rican cuatros. He also knows lots of folks which build oddball sort of ethnic instruments like this.

Thanks