Official Luthiers Forum!

I have to fess up here - I really feel he should have posted a picture of his idea and been a little more specific of the intent of the posting. I am sure most people on these boards are open to see new ideas that are being conceived out there, but if he is just shopping for investors, this may not have been the greatest place to start, or at least, not a great approach. Last I saw, most people in this room are builders that probably don't have enough time to get every one of their OWN concepts into their OWN builds (maybe that's just me? I'm not sure), let alone building a hybrid instrument that would be very difficult to market.

Here is a FINE example of seeing something that was thought up, built and a performance - all in one video... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the 27-string guitar:
http://www.wimp.com/stringguitar/

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"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Awesome vid, Virgil!
Can you imagine playing something like that?
Especially the higher autoharpy ones?

I knew a guy once. Had a patent on his guitar "design". He contacted me because he wanted someone to make his fretboards and necks, wanted to meet me in private to show me the guitar. Said he usually made people sign some kinda legal document before showing them the guitar and discussing it with them, as it was such a unique idea.
He pulled out PLYWOOD guitar. The plywood was cut into strips and glued sideways so that the laminations made stripes across the face, and the headstock had these little claw looking projections sticking straight up out of the top of the headstock and facing forward. It looked like one of those Chinese back scratchers you get at Pier One! He said the way he glued the plywood up enhanced the tone, and he decided to give the guitar a "tiger" theme because of the look.
This guy had a patent, and could have easily made a website and called it the "something something guitar project" (Tony-In-NYC needs to chime in and name it) and it would have looked legit, but it still would have been one of the ugliest, stupid-looking poorly made guitars on earth.
I have a feeling this guy is looking for people to make his BanaStar (is it pronounced "bannister"?) because he has no skill as a luthier, but I don't have a problem with that. I'd even build his acoustic prototype for him, if he paid me for it, if I didn't like it, I'd simply ask him to detach my name from it.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Hi Alan - yeah man, that was a trip! - When I was around 13 years old (Circa 1976?) I learned open D tuning on my guitar and have always been fascinated by the tones that come out of guitars as a result of that (Think Leo Kottke to Michael Hedges, etc.) I would love to give it a try (If someone else tunes it - I thought my sitar was a biotch to tune - YIKES!) - I have also been thinking of my own oddly strung, multiple stringed instrument but will have to wait to learn how to build acoustics first. My sister sent me this vid a couple weeks ago and I found it to be pretty dang amazing!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

I would need to put some thought into naming the laminated laminate guitar. Maybe "The Worst Idea Ever?"

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Think about it, and include the "claw" backscratcher headstock somehow. This thing was horrible looking! What's also funny is the guy told me he was planning on marketing it to millionaires for $20,000 as a "work of art" type thingy. He thought it would become like an iconic fad status symbol, and once one guy got one, all his buddies would have to have one in their collection as well, just to keep up with the fashion.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Yeah, I remember the first time I got drunk!

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

This has been a most amusing thread. Keep up the good work guys.

I'd personally rather have a saz/trombone/chapman stick. More versatility.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

Please note: This thread has caused our builders 17.5 hours in production losses. To make up for lost time (& money) please use plywood for all future builds this week. OK, meeting's over, back on your heads.

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

If you think this thread is funny, you should check out the Schenk guitars thread. Side splitting hilarity ensued on an epic level. It's some of my best work.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I agree. I had no idea you were THAT funny. Now I expect it from you every thread, every time.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Well, ya coulda gave a link to it ya know! (insert "sheesh" here)

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

Virgil,
You are right. A link would have been good. However, I was posting from my phone at the time and copy/ paste on my cell is not my strong suit. I am now on a real computer so here is a link:
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=33336

GW,
If I were to maintain that level of humor in every thread, I would bleed out of my eyes and so would many other people. It would be irresponsible of me to inflict that kind of pain on so many people. Plus, it's really, really hard to maintain that kind of funny all of the time. Like, really SUPER hard. I'm not saying I can't do it, I am just saying it's really hard and very dangerous. I am doing a public service to myself and others by being totally boring sometimes. For example, the thread I authored on my potato mashing technique. Totally boring and yet, life saving in it's boring-ness by preventing people from bleeding to death from their eyes. See how I help? You're welcome.

Tony

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Thanks Tony, I actually got off my lazy arse and used the "Search" function. I know how draining comedy can be - I did it professionally for over 7 years(And quit my day job) most of it goes unrewarded, especially when presented to the lower regions of the brain chain, like the graphic I made especially for this thread that basically went unnoticed, unappreciated (where's the love people?).

You see my friend, we could have made a great team, I could have actually made some visual aids for your last thread, demonstrating your ported guitar, but hey, we are on to bigger and better things now.

Do you think we scared off the original poster yet?

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

I'm pretty sure he was gone after his second post.
I can't believe you didnt see the Schenk thread!! I could have used some visual aids!!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I'm so funny, I hardly ever ventured out of the Elec. Guitar and Bass Forum section - insecurity issues me thinks. LMAO - besides, that board gives warnings about offensive language this one doesn't so I get to swear all day here:

Well sis on you pister, you ain't so mucken fuch! Go in your own jerkyard and back off you bun-of-a-sitch!

See? I'm still here!
I have not been banished. This is the "Say Anything You Want Without Getting Booted" forum! No "WARNING" labels

You try:

_________________
"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar