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My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=42439		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Sankey Guitars [ Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Hi everyone,
Thought you might be interested in this latest one. It was a challenge to make, and I wasn't sure if it would work. I had never seen a multiscale guitar with a tremolo before. It turned out my worries were unfounded- it works very well indeed.
The difference in length between the hight e to the low B is only 1", with the perpendicular fret at the 12th, so it isn't too extreme. That was about the limit of the hardware anyway. The bridge, and the individual locking nut units are made by a small italian company called "technology for musicians", or T4M[http://www.technologyformusicians.com/?lingua=2]. It's nicely machined and plated, and has a great range of adjustment. I'm pleased with the way it works, with one exception: the tremolo pivots on an axle made of a set screw- no knife-edge, no ball bearings... even with careful alignment and judicious greasing it doesn't return to pitch as well as I'd like. Not bad, but should be better. I'll be using their fixed-bridge stuff again for sure though.
I don't pretend to understand all the physics of string stretching, but somehow the trem works even better than a regular one- the string drop in pitch together almost in unison. Not as good as a trans-trem, but sort of. And because the bass strings are further back from the pivot point, when you drop the pitch, it raises them up higher so they don't rattle against the fretboard, even when they're quite slack. Pretty cool.
The rest of the guitar was pretty involved too: the neck is laminated from three pieces of padouk and two of walnut; the body has a core of really light clear spruce (found in the 2x10 rack of the local home improvement warehosue store!) laminate with two thin layers of padouk, and bookmatched, quartersawn african ebony on the outside.
The pickups are Lace Alumitone Deathbars, running through two push-pull pots so the pickups can be switched out of phase, or split. Despite the name, the pickups have a really versatile tone; it can do a pretty good Peter Green impersonation with the right amp model.
Enough chit-chat- now I will attempt to attach some photos:
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Fri Jan 10, 2014 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Lot of Wow :!: :!: factor going on there, Mike! Neat concept and execution, and that neck is stunning!
Thanks for sharing. :)

Alex
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Too cool for school.
Very well done - I like it!
Author:  Colin North [ Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Likey! Nicely put together and well cool.
Author:  B. Howard [ Sat Jan 11, 2014 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Sweet!
Author:  mkellyvrod [ Sat Jan 11, 2014 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Wow!! the nice tonewood colors, and impressive looking high tech hardware are really eye catchers.
Author:  nickton [ Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
I like the clear spruce body. Also the lace alumitone deathbars or whatever/ Great name.
Author:  Johny [ Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Amazing job. I really like the lines and the overall design of this thing.
Author:  TonyKarol [ Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
I like it too .. very clean looking, lovely lines .. question though .. is it because of the up-pull for the trem that you couldn't leave the top and laminate come around the back of the bridge (or just you wanted that particular look) .. It would be interesting to see the lines uninterrupted around the back, but maybe its not possible with that bridge, especially the way the low string micro adjust sticks out .. either way, its still very cool.
Author:  Sankey Guitars [ Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Thanks guys. Tony, you're right about the bit behind the bridge. It would have been nice to let the lines of the ebony flow. The up-pull doesn't go too far (only a few degrees, or you'll snap the e string) but to adjust the tuning you need to be able to get your fingers all the way around the knurled part. Most headless guitars have a full-depth cutaway in that spot, but really all you need is a pocket like I used.
Author:  Kamusur [ Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Very nice, well done indeed. Hope it plays and sounds well too.

Steve
Author:  Joel Barbeau [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Very cool, I really like the color scheme! I've been tempted to build a headless guitar for a bit now, something in the style of Strandberg or DeLap with a fixed bridge. Is there anything I should be aware of that's any different from a 'normal' electric guitar (besides the lack of head and special bridge with tuners on it, obviously) ?
Author:  Sankey Guitars [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
If you're designing a headless guitar you have to to keep in mind the change in balance point. That mostly means that the strap buttons have to be positioned differently. Plus, since your guitar is going to look pretty unusual to begin with, you might as well go all in and create a really original shape.
Author:  dzsmith [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Elegant without the bling.
I like everything thing on this guitar.
Great design and skill!
Author:  Joel Barbeau [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My latest: headless, 7-string, multiscale AND tremolo
Sankey Guitars wrote:
If you're designing a headless guitar you have to to keep in mind the change in balance point. That mostly means that the strap buttons have to be positioned differently. Plus, since your guitar is going to look pretty unusual to begin with, you might as well go all in and create a really original shape.


Thanks for the tip, I hadn't thought about the balance and the strap at all.
I don't know about making a crazy shape, but I have my eyes on a redwood burl that would make a pretty original top!
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