In case you haven’t seen it already, I have written a brief history of the first EGS guitar over on...
Learn MoreAs I’m finalizing the research of a new supplier for the tremolo knife edge, I am faced with having to make a decision regarding how to deal with 7- and 8-string tremolos. I am getting quite a few requests for this, and it is a fun thing to be able to support. The issue is that the knife edge is by far the most expensive component I have, and I would ideally like to be able to use the same for all. Please let me know your thoughts – I need input on whether this is acceptable or not. Durability and action is another matter that I will obviously have to deal with. An 8-string version with the same basic setup will likely require 5 springs and may feel very...
Learn MoreThe week that passed was very exciting. First of all, there was the Scandinavian Guitar Show in Stockholm last weekend. I visited and met many good friends and made further connections. I also saw more than one ridiculously expensive guitars… Then I met up with my good friend Michele Benincaso, luthier based in Stockholm, with whom I have been collaborating for a few months. With him was Paolo Tofani and they had brought his Tri-Kanta Veena that Michele built for him. A truly amazing instrument and two amazing individuals. I encourage you to follow the links above and explore the music and history of Paolo and the Tri-Kanta! The picture shows Paolo with the Tri-Kanta. The top neck hosts 13 strings that are typically played as a “back-drop”, the middle has 8 regular guitar strings, out of which 2 are on a fretless part of the fretboard – and there are 2 additional reference strings for the “raga” (apologies if I don’t get the details 100%) that sits underneath these strings. The bottom neck has 13 additional strings that can be plucked and played in a harp manner. The guitar-like fretboard is played both conventionally and in a tapping manner. The topics of our discussions, I hope to get...
Learn MoreA picture says more than a thousand words, so here are a few: Click on the images for larger...
Learn MoreAnodized aluminium is not very conductive to electricity, which can lead to string grounding issues. It is quite easy to overcome though, and with recent and future orders, I am including the necessary materials. However, I do not want to make any assumptions on how you would prefer it to work, so I am not grinding off the anodization as described below. Step 1 – route the ground cable Drill a hole into the control cavity as usual and run a bare wire through it to the bridge. Step 2 – grind off anodization Next, grind off the anodization (using a Dremel for instance) from underneath the base plate. As well as on top of the base plate. Take care to check an approximate intonation first though. You want to make sure that the area you grind off will be completely covered by the bridge when it is mounted. The ground off portion should sit straight under the saddle. Step 3 – re-mount with the spring Lastly, insert the supplied spring into the bridge and re-mount it. The saddle will have full contact with the ground off anodization through the spring, and on to the ground wire that sits under the bridge...
Learn MoreI have put the EGS demo up on YouTube. Here are some of the vital statistics about the participants: Jonas Isaksson – main instrument is the clarinet, believe it or not. Although he prefers the violin… I, for one, am pretty impressed with his guitar skills. Nisse Blomster – jazz improvization and musical theory student from Uppsala, often appearing with the band Blue Stripe. Daniel Palmqvist – solo artist and guitarist of The Murder of My Sweet. And some vital stats about the guitar itself: Weight: 1850 grams/4 lbs Swamp ash back, stained “Ebony Black”, treated with Watco Danish Oil. Large tone cavities cut both top and bottom. Curly maple top (5 mm thickness), finished with Watch Danish Oil. Black veneer strip in centre. Three-piece wenge neck with cherry veneer strips. Ebony fretboard. Carbon fiber truss rod. Super wide/high frets 25.5″ scale length on low E, 25″ scale on high E string Strandberg EGS fixed bridges Lace Alumitone humbucker pickups 5-position pickup selector (front HB, front SC + rear SC out of phase, front HB + rear HB series, front SC + rear SC in series, rear...
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