I have been working on this since Lockdown. lots of cutting and sanding and gluing and screwing and swearing and some bleeding and that was just making the body and I'm a little out of it as I type this because of the amount of clear gloss I sprayed on it. The neck, yes I bought a Strat copy neck, but I fitted it for a length of thread for the nut and a string bar to hold everything in place.
I have cut many holes in the top of the box for acoustics and in some of them I have mounted a recessed jack plate and a Telecaster neck pickup, which works perfect for this build. the bridge is a brass hinge and an old bolt I took an angle grinder to (the sparks made me catch on fire, twice). I went with a chrome and black theme for all the hardware, I'm particularly proud of the machine heads.
Now the strings are a unique feature; I purchased a set of Ernie Ball 12 Strings and a loose 14 gauge, I took the two 8 gauges, the 10's and the 14's and strung them to this unholy creation in courses and tuned them to DDAADD. I was going for Dulcimer in terms of stringing, tuning and sound and even considered pulling a couple of the frets from the neck to get the full effect and the diatonic fretting, but decided against it.
Overall I got the effect I wanted, the threaded bolts I used for the bridge and nut have allowed it to work perfectly and the sound is beautiful; very resonant and vibrant. of all my builds, this is the one I'm most proud of because despite the lack of planning and the amount of work I put in, it has come out exactly the way I wanted.
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Updates people, been playing this thing for a week now and I'm loving it. The sound is very vibrant, very resonant and the theory about setting the bridge piece and the tailpiece about a greater distance than normal to increase sustain is so true because the sustain is beautiful, although that might be because of the coursed strings. learning to play this thing is proving to be interesting as its not like anything else I've built or played, but learning to play something you've built is half the fun. I have found that strumming the DD and DD strings open whilst fretting the AA up and down the neck is having the best effect.
Also, I think I have found an instrument similar enough to this thing to call it something. it is most similar to that of a Tricordo or 3 course Bouzouki and Baglamas Greek instruments are most similar as they both feature the DAD tuning and coursed strings. I shall name this thing something Greek as tribute.
Hi JP, here is how I overcame the lack of bushing in an earlier build with the same shape head. A hardwood peghead overlay with the correct size holes in it.
Taff
interesting, might have to give that a go.
Hi, I haven't got a name, but that is a nice solid build. Pick is right about those style of hinges giving way at the knuckles, they stretch open. The ones I noticed it happening to were those with three knuckles. Looks like yours may be ok as it has four. But as mentioned keep an eye on it.
Also, if you don't mind me saying, it would be a good move to put bushings around the tuner posts, to prevent problems there at a later date. I've seen posts lean foreword and in time break off at the cog. If they are fully enclosed type it my not be an issue.
Taff
the bushings were an issue, I couldn't get any big enough to fit these holes and the ones that came with the neck went with the machine heads, I'll keep an eye on the hinge, just in case, but considered the light string gauges I've used (8s, 10s and 14's) and the fact that I have tuned them low, I'm quite sure it will survive, but thank you.
Also in theory if I pulled a couple of the frets to make it Diatonic, would that make it an actual Dulcimer esque guitar or would it still remain nameless?
I recon if you pulled the proper frets out , that would make it a "double course Dulcimer ".
But taint nuttin wrong with a "course with no name" ;-)
I'd call it "course knot " ;-)
ps . with the tension of 6 strings , I'd keep an eye on that brass tail anchor . I've heard horror stories of them stretching and snapping apart on 3 stringers before.
I like! That thing looks like it could survive an impact from a fast moving truck. Would love to hear it! I love the three pairs of strings. Cool build!
it spent a week getting glued and clamped and weighs a ton, it could survive a lot, although I doubt the hinges on the lid could survive much. No sound bite I'm afraid, but I assure that it sounds like a 6 string Dulcimer, although I suppose its more like a strumstick dulcimer.
The stringing I spent some time thinking about, I originally was going to go for a heavier GGDDGG set, but I am in the mood for higher sounds and tones, more ice picky. I made use of the other EEAADD and loose e strings from the set for a few other coursed string projects though. my GGDD Strummer is quite good