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AGP #426 - '' Git-Harp-Diddy''

AGP #426 - “Git-Harp-Diddy” - Three in One Guitar

The 3 String Fretless Neck is 648mm/25½ inches Scale, Strings are .038NW/.024NW/.017PS/ Tuned GDg.

The 6 String Harpy Type Thingy Scale Lengths vary between 655mm for the low D and 680mm for the high D, and is Tuned DGDGBD.

The Fretless 1 String Bass Scale is 685.8mm/27 inches, and is currently strung with a .072NW String, Tuned to G, but will probably be changed changed to a lighter gauge, to make it more of a Diddley Bow than a Bass.

The Box Frame is recycled 30mm Solid Radiata Pine, the Soundboard and Back are flattened recycled Galvanised Roofing Iron, the Necks are recycled Grey Ironbark, the Fretboards are recycled Spotted Gum, the Harp Headstock and the 3 String Headstock Wings are recycled Beech, all Timber was stained Dark Brown and coated with an Acrylic Clear Gloss.

The Noise is supplied by 3 Fender Jazz Bass 4 String Style Pickups, which are wired through one Master Tone Pot and three separate Volume Pots and a three way switch to the Output Jack, the wiring diagram I used was that of a 3 Humbucker Les Paul with 3 Volume Controls & Master Tone Control, I had no idea how this setup was supposed to work, or if in fact it would work, and I can assure you no one was more surprised when it did work, than me!

Will try and get a sound sample up soon, but I have no idea of what or how to play this critter successfully, will probably be a Noodling type demo!
:-)

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Comment by AGP # on May 14, 2021 at 11:00am: "Thanks Bob", Yep!, a versatile instrument, only wish the player was the same ;-D

Comment by Bob "Ambrose" Negus on May 14, 2021 at 2:11am: That's a looker! versatile playability too. Great use of recyclable material AGP.

Comment by AGP # on May 10, 2021 at 4:00pm: "Thanks Doug", I'm still learning how to drive this critter, a sound sample of some sort will happen soon. :-)

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on May 10, 2021 at 1:36pm: W O W ! ! ! What an amazing instrument. You have set the creativity bar pretty high AGP. I’m looking forward to seeing you play it. Be sure to pick a song that’s worthy!!!

Comment by AGP # on May 9, 2021 at 7:52pm: "Thanks Pick", It wasn't built for any contests, wasn't sure if it was the effort at first, but it has turned out to be fun instrument to play around with. :-)

Comment by the anonymous pick on May 9, 2021 at 3:25pm: Too bad ya missed the contest . This is da bee's knees and a bag of chips .

Comment by Uncle John on May 9, 2021 at 11:01am: Oh, I hope your bride is soon feeling better and glad she had the surgery done. Take care of her! Good info. Will watch for a sound sample.

Comment by AGP # on May 9, 2021 at 10:41am: "Thanks UJ", Yes!, definitely a different build, and it was a bit of a complicated build, when building, I did ponder the question of whether I would end up playing it in the upright position, or as a Lap Slide, but now that it's finished it's fine in the upright position, have been playing around with Leadbelly's "In The Pines" Tune, and will probably end up doing a sound sample that one.

At the moment everything is based around an open G Tuning, and with 10 Strings I was a little concerned about too much String Tension on the Necks, so all the String Gauges were selected to be low tension, the average per String is around 8.6kg / 19lbs, which is pretty low, I was worried about it being too low, but to my ears it all sounds fine, and I did think about some of the other tunings you mention, but ended up using the keep it simple stupid method to start with, and experiment later on.

Yep! a little bit longer between builds, had to wait a while for parts for this one, and the fact that the Better Half has recently undergone back surgery, has also disrupted the building side of things, but!, having said that I did manage to finish another one yesterday, and will post it a little later on in the day. :-)

Comment by AGP # on May 9, 2021 at 9:54am: "Thanks Dave!", Its got everything but someone talented enough to play it ;-D

Comment by Uncle John on May 9, 2021 at 3:28am: I saw this pic roll by on the main page and was tipped off that it was yours by the Australian flag. Otherwise, I don't think I would have guessed it was yours. Different. Complicated. Wonderful wall art. And I bet very interesting to play and play with.

I like it. I look forward to hearing you noodle on it. Seems like it would be most versatile as a lap instrument that you could also play upright too. It would take a lot of effort to bring the most out of it. If you are not entirely satisfied with the six string tuning, try this open D: DADF#AD or this open G (to chime with the 3 string open G): DGDGBD.

Have fun. Very cool. It seems you have been longer than usual between builds. I see why!