New 8 String

[Tom Drinkwater]

This is a new guitar that I am working on. This particular one is a prototype made of poplar with a bubinga fretboard. 30" scale. Routed for an EMG 45 active bass pickup. String spacing is like a classical guitar to facilitate tapping and fingerstyle. The same width neck can fit 9 strings comfortably with a tad narrower spacing like a strat.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto2.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto3.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto4.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto5.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto6.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/backdrop01/proto7.jpg

Once this is done I'll be making the non prototype for a customer in Colorado. After that I plan on doing a 9 or 10 string version with an acoustic transducer and very possibly a nylon string version if I can get strings and tension ironed out.

[Tom Drinkwater]

I almost forgot, the body style is based on the Mustang shape and the headstock is just something that I came up with last minute. The body was contoured by hand with rasps, chisels, sandpaper and lots of sweat. It is incredibly light weight because of the poplar. The body of the customers guitar will be slightly fatter to accomodate a push/pull tone pot that accompanies an EMG 45DCTW coiling splitting pickup. It will be tuned in 4ths starting at low E like a normal bass.

[TheEclectic]

Very nice looking instrument. The body looks much better on a tap instrument than on the Mustang (which was one of my first guitars - I wish I still had it). You have rounded the sides very well - makes me want to run my hands over the contors.

I also like that there are no laminates. I much prefer to see solid wood on an instrument.

Being a bit of a classical guitarist, I also like the classical guitar spacing. When I start building I will also use that spacing. I know it makes the reach a bit tougher, but alot of my problems are from accidently exciting adjacent strings (I have the same problem with electric guitars).

A nylon version with RMC or Ghost pickups would be great. Very high tension nylon strings do very well for triggering midi. The triggering of my Godin Grand Concert SA is one of the things that make it my favorite guitar.

I have thought of using nylon on my customized Megatar outfitted with two Ghost Hexpander systems, but I do not know where to get strings long enough to fit the instrument.

I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[jamsire]

Originally posted by TheEclectic
I have thought of using nylon on my customized Megatar outfitted with two Ghost Hexpander systems, but I do not know where to get strings long enough to fit the instrument.

I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

I agree that the instrument looks awesome.

I have baritones with wide necks that are quite excellent to play.

With regards to long nylon strings - try D'Addario - it's what they do best - customize.

Aranjuez makes 10-string classical sets in modern tunings, and they accommodate long necks.

[Tom Drinkwater]

Thank you guys for the kind words. This guitar was something that I had lurking in the back of my mind for a while and lucklily someone else had a very similiar vision and wanted one built.
Thanks for the tip on nylon strings. I was checking out D'Addarios website and looking at their string tension guide last night. I use the Pro Arte Composites on my Alvarez and love them so I thought that I should check them out. I will probably call them and tell them what I am looking for. I'll also check out Aranjuez, thanks again for the feedback. I'll post more as it nears completion.