My "Summer" 8 String Project finally done

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 24 Oct 2015 1:42 pm

Just thought I would share with you all some pics of my new 8 string. Many influences here. The basic body shape is obviously inspired by the National New Yorker, raised body panels are a bit of a nod to the Rick Panda, but really inspired by some of Tom Pettingill's jaw dropping woodwork. Sho-Bud style printed fretboard (thanks, Mr. Boards) with plexiglass overlay, and Jason Lollar's Gibson Grande Console pickup. Sorry Fender, I ran out of real estate - but the knobs are Telecaster style.
It's all Maple on Walnut. Brass nut and bridge - two & three eighths inches at the nut. Going with A6 (and A13) tuning. Many lessons learned, and a ton of fun building this. No sound sample yet - got a tiny bit of tweaking to do on the electronics.

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 24 Oct 2015 1:47 pm

Forgot to mention . . . 23" scale.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 25 Oct 2015 6:28 am

That looks great David! Well thought out and nicely executed

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 25 Oct 2015 7:41 am

I thought it looked a little short.

Nice work! I hope you make some good music with it.

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 25 Oct 2015 9:59 am

Thanks guys. Yes, it does look a little "squat" in these pictures. Hopefully I'm a better player than photographer. It's also a little wider in the body than most. Maybe next time (ya, right) I will go with a trimmer look.

Daniel Nehring · Post by **Daniel Nehring** » 25 Oct 2015 10:34 am

Nice looking guitar.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Oct 2015 11:00 am

Very nice! I can certainly see the Pettingill-inspiration in that.

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 26 Oct 2015 12:31 am

Nice job, David. Good way to spend the summer. Have fun playing it.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 26 Oct 2015 3:55 am

Very nice work! I admire all of you who undertake building your own instruments from scratch.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 26 Oct 2015 6:09 am

WOW.....really beautiful work. Just curious, but how many man-hours were involved in building your steel?

Kudos......I could never do anything like that.

Ditto to what Mike Neer said too.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 26 Oct 2015 6:29 am

beautiful guitar. congrats!!!

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 26 Oct 2015 3:22 pm

Stephen A. - Ya, man-hours . . . I had the best of intentions about keeping track of that, and forgot almost immediately. A lot of time was spent on paper before saw touched wood, but I can't imagine I spent less than 50 hours on it. Measure twice, look at it for 10 minutes, measure again, deep breath, cut.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 26 Oct 2015 3:42 pm

Very nice looking guitar, David. I love the art deco flavor. I definately see some of Tom's influence.

Larry G. Allen · Post by **Larry G. Allen** » 27 Oct 2015 7:36 am

Wonderfully done , I can see the inspiration also, but we all absorb ideas all around us. Its a great nod to a great builder, and you made it your own. Keep up the good work !

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 27 Oct 2015 8:06 am

Is it just me or the hobbyist luthiers on here kick ass.

COME TO THE UK PLEEEEEASE we don't have any/many options.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 28 Oct 2015 8:11 am

That's a very creative lap build congrats on supper build.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 28 Oct 2015 8:12 am

That's a very creative lap build congrats on supper build.