My New B&W D8

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 9 Jun 2005 5:02 pm

This is a pic of my new design D8 acoustic steel. The strings just went on it last night and is settling in real fine. Great sustain with no dead spots and ample volume
for practice and experimentation.

I plan to order a Scatten Design pickup which will attach to the soundboard from the underside of the guitar. I will then do some sound clips.

The fret boards were produced by Marrs Music.
They look watery in the pic but that is reflection or my camera?
The top of the guitar is pine and the two bridges go 2 1/2 " deep to a trapped soundboard which services both necks.

The name sign was produced by James Brown,
former student and good friend.

I am using E7th tuning on the top and am trying B11th. for the first time on the bottom.

Are there any Hawaiian arrangements available
for B11th Tablature or Music? HSGA,members or anyone.

Here's the link to the pic: http://members.cox.net/loveridehd/FORUMPICNewGitJune05.jpg

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 9 Jun 2005 8:08 pm

That's very tidy and yet elegant looking. Nice job.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 10 Jun 2005 12:00 am

Excellent Roy

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 10 Jun 2005 4:36 am

Roy, that's a wonderful instrument and I'm sure you're proud, as you should be.

Please, stay away from that folige in the background. There's something omminous lurking back there. It gives me the heebie jeebies. We don't you to become plant food!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 Jun 2005 5:30 am

Cool; it even has a place to put a beer can...

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 10 Jun 2005 6:57 am

Thanks all!
I think I'm safe Howard and don't worry,
my Tiki is friendly.
Good idea Jim. I will try it soon.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 10 Jun 2005 7:28 am

Roy.
Nice instrument.

Can't really tell for sure, but that looks like a pinblock for tuning and attaching the strings at the nut end!? If it is a pin block set up can you elaborate on why you chose this set up for an instrument whose strings are so readily tuned and changed rather than instruments like autoharps and pianos whose string are not tuned or changed so often.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 10 Jun 2005 7:28 am

Looks very good. Is the string spacing the same at the bridge and nut? Anxious to hear it, hope you keep your picks out of that hole.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Sierra Session D-10
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 10 Jun 2005 7:37 am

my Tiki is friendly

Yeah, they all start out that way....

Can't wait to hear your wonderful music on this one.
<pre>do I hear Troublant Bolero in the background?......</pre>

George Manno · Post by **George Manno** » 10 Jun 2005 7:42 am

Nice lawn!

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 10 Jun 2005 9:11 am

That's cool, Roy! What's the volume like? I'm guessing it probably puts out quite a bit. I like the D8 stand-up steel combined with the Wiessenborn kind of thing.

Cool...

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 10 Jun 2005 10:04 am

Bill: Those are Auto Harp pins set in birch blocks. They take up very little space which cuts the length and the weight factors. I tweak the tunings at every sitting with the
Auto Harp wrench. Very solid! Works well.

H.Tate: The string spacing at the nut is
2 1/4 and 2 1/2 at the bridge. I can expand or reduce the width at the string anchor points behind the bridge.
Todd: The volume is fine and the tone is good. I can probably enhance both by using a thinner sound board under the pine top? Perhaps aluminum? It is also a simple matter to add a tension screw. Those steps are in the future.
I am looking forward to recording in the present state when I get my PU.
[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 10 June 2005 at 11:05 AM.]

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 10 Jun 2005 11:04 am

Excellent, Roy. I can't wait to hear a tune.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 10 Jun 2005 2:12 pm

I thought so on the pinblock. Did you consider drilling an angle hole for the pin as do autoharps and other pin block instruments. I see that yours are straight up and down.

What kind of wood is the top and how thick is it?

Very nice instrument.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 10 Jun 2005 2:51 pm

Bill,
I never considered putting the pins in at an
angle. I see the logic in that but just never thought of it even though I have been around several auto harps in the past.
I had the pine board grouted and inserted the
blocks which are aged Birch. The drill holes are a "mite" smaller than the diameter of the pins so it is a tight fit to nullify sliping when tuning the strings up. The birch insert is 1/2".
It was a fun project and it gives me two more tunings that I have quick access to
for teaching, recording or just foolin'.
Thanks for you interest and comments Bill.

Roy [This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 10 June 2005 at 03:52 PM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 10 Jun 2005 3:42 pm

Great looking project Roy!

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 10 Jun 2005 4:46 pm

Very cool design! Did you ever think of using a spruce top for more acoustic sound?

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 10 Jun 2005 5:58 pm

Hello Dan,
The top is not the soundboard. The bridges
descend through "slots" down through the top
to the soundboard which is underneath.
The pine top is 5/8" and although softwood it adds strenght to this design. It's purpose is not to vibrate but to hold everything together,,,,and it does as examplified by the fact that the instrument holds the tunings and there is not one dead spot on either neck up and down the fret boards.
What I have done here is a rough prototype.
An idea! It is nowhere's near what it could be. If the concept were persued by people more qualified than me I think it would work big time.
All the best,

Roy

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 12 Jun 2005 2:34 am

The following link has a sound clip of my
guitar which was mike recorded . I use E7th on the White Neck and B11th on the Black.
This is no Fender, Ricky etc but will serve my purpose brilliantly.
The PU I am ordering is made by Schatten
Design, Kitchener, Ont ($109 + Can) and they
are renouned for retaining true acoustical sound.
Here is the link to "Reminising Strings" http://members.cox.net/loveridehd/ReminisingStrings.mp3

Larry W. Jones · Post by **Larry W. Jones** » 12 Jun 2005 2:44 am

Roy, you made that creation come alive! I reminisced all the way to Hawaii. Very island-ish indeed! Great job.

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<marquee direction="up" scrolldelay="400"> <center>It ain't got that FEELIN' if it ain't got that STEELIN'!</center></marquee>

Steve Pierce · Post by **Steve Pierce** » 12 Jun 2005 8:54 am

Sounds great Roy!

You could have fooled me into thinking it was an electric. It has great sustain! Nice tone, nice playing.

It is loud enough to keep up with an acoustic band, or would it need a little help from a pickup?

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Steve Pierce

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 12 Jun 2005 9:37 am

Thanks Steve.
It needs a pick-up for a band setting and
it would help for recording also. The above clip was done with the mike a few inchs from the sound hole. The chance of pick and bar noise that way is very prevalent as you can hear. The PU will by pass those problems and the sound will not be so "raw".
I don't think I mentioned above but this instrument weighs about 7 pounds and cost me
about $100. Over $60 of that was for the
fret boards. The pick-up I am ordering will
cost about $125 Canadian. Crazy!

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 12 Jun 2005 4:57 pm

That's really a great sounding rig Roy.

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 12 Jun 2005 8:27 pm

The seperation and balance of the individual string tones are remarkable. Absolutely no mud. Crystal clean. You've created a winning machine here, Roy. Congratulations! I hope the pickup does it justice.

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 12 Jun 2005 8:30 pm