You tune them to the scale of the mode, key, or raga you're in. That way they resonate to the notes you play which gives the guitar its own reverb effect.
I like it! Great idea there with the sympathetic strings. Good sound even just with plywood and passably sitar-like.Still love that moment at the concert for Bangladesh when the audience break into rapturous applause for Ravi Shankar and he says" I was just tuningup....."
One time when Ravi was playing a jet plane went overhead at an outdoor concert and the vibration from the plane was slightly higher than the tuning of the instruments. Ravi and Allah Raka quickly tuned their instruments to harmonize with the plane going over. They use the jet's sound like a Tambora. I would have like to see and hear that.
Thank you very much. I really like this instrument and find it perfect for this sort of music. The more I listen to recordings of it the more I like it. Someday I'll invest in a higher profile model with finer woods. Thanks again.
WoW! so so CoOoOoOL I love it., U play awsome all your Vids are great. I sure would like to make a electric hollow body like that what are the gauges for the simpathitic and the D bass string thanks man keep on lovin Music///
Thanks for your interest. The sympathetic strings are 008s, 009s, and 010s and the bass string is like a 65. On a bass guitar the D string is around a 60 to 65 and since I tune down to D, C#, or C, that make the gauge sensible.
I have some thoughts I would love to discuss about the ingenuity here, and whether or not there is something to be purchased. I sent a friend request with the hopes that i could message them rather than scatter them all over the commenting board.
When I traveled to India I had some lessons from someone who played an Indian bamboo flute called a bansurai (sp?)This became my favorite sounding instrument. He was amazing!!!
hey, i really don't have money to where i could buy a custom but do you think that it would be possible to make a twelve string and the overlap is a lapharp, but it extends lower
Wow the guitar and the music is incredible. I have an old Yamaha FG 140 that doesn't get used much, this has inspired me to do something like this to it. The extra strings across the sound hole is such a fantastic idea. Thanks for doing this video.
Where do you live? The problem isn't in making a guitar like this. The hassle is building one you'd be happy with not having played it before. If we ship it to you and you're dissatisfied we all have problems.I custom built one before using an inexpensive 12-string but the client lived nearby. He loved it.
I wouldn't sell my prototype Yamaha unless I had something better to replace it with.
I approach Bob Taylor with the idea at a NAMM Show but he kind of dashed the idea because of the tooling.
anyone whos interested in this stuff should try out this tuning. low to high DADF#DD (tune the F# to F for a minor)
bassically its an open D chord and then you play the high 2 D's in together. it makes for some wonderfull droneish stuff. just thought nyone interested inwhat this guys doing might like it.
i really dig that idea with the natural reverb..how did u put the stings on that body of the guitar?..and whats the tuning of the stings?
im actually indian and my grandmother is a pretty successful sitar player who studied under ravish shankar..i play the guitar and recently got into Raga and rthym music, my grandma is gunna try n hook me up with a sarangi..im excited to see if my guitar knowledge will be able to transfer..im sure for the most part they will
It is what it is. No sense in trying to create another instrument that's already in existence.
The update is I'm recording it and it sounds great!. I'm learning how to create sounds you can't get on a conventional guitar and that's the whole point of the design of this instrument.
Thank you and thanks to the guitar. I've been playing it more and more and it's got its own place in music. Sooner or later someone will produce these on a regular basis.
Great video- I keep coming back to it to get ideas for my own "Shakti" project guitar. I was wondering if the 12 sympathetic strings are chromatic (i.e. all 12 tones & semitones) or are they diatonic to the key/scale you are playing in? Also, what do you use to hole the "ball end" of the sympathetic strings in place? Did you just drill holes and pass them through, or is there any other hardware that holds them in place? Are they guitar strings, or some other instrument strings? Thanks.
Listen fool, civilization has collapsed and that's why I AM playing it. Is there one bit of an attempt to have my own fun with this thing that's says, "Hey, you could be a hero or star with that!". Not even!
Great comment and thanks for the fun of saying that.
@johnhguitar both of your comments are confusing as shit. but I dont think he was trying to offend you at all. from what I understand he was making a joke about how this instrument is insane (in a good way) and how the 60's were crazy times.
Don't look too closely at this banter. We're just throwing around words that don't add up to the fun or truth about playing music. Thanks for your comment.
Everything was eyeballed and if you watched the video I explained how crude this instrument is. Can't fool everybody but I sure tried. 'Judy Blues Eyes?' Didn't she have one brown eye too?
Just an idea here... Couldn't you tune the sympathetic strings to different chords as well? Then you could just strum a few of them with your finger and you could have a whole three or four chord progression all while playing a melody on the playing strings. Just a thought.
Love it I want one for my collection! I just purchased your book: Guitar Workout what a great tool! Love your vids and think your way cool for the guitar playing world keep it up!
What are you saying here? Am I wasting my time in searching for a different sound and instrument? Give us the reason for the comment so we can understand. Thanks
@johnhguitar I'm not saying it's a waist of an invention, it just looks really awkward and that is why i said that cause trust me I've seen things that are 10 times as weird as this. I just wouldn't find myself playing it.
Actually it's pretty easy to handle and does have an effective use. The two recordings I've made convinced myself and others who've heard it that I should persevere.
I think the best thing to do is find the cheapest 12-string acoustic guitars and go to work. Once you have something to work with get back to me and I'll help in whatever way I can. Good luck!
You can tune it any way you want of course. I think I may have it tuned diatonically to match the scale. This way there's notes I've doubled up for more resonance.
In my opinion, the crossed resonating strings didnt add much to the sonority. It sounds pretty much like a standard guitar, al least on the video, maybe listening close to it, its different. And you crossed them above or below the other strings, i cant see. It seems like they get in the way of the strumming hand a little. You re plucking quite close to the bridge, maybe intentionally, which can kill the sound a bit.
Yeah. No, the sympathetic strings that run under the playing strings don't get in the way whatsoever. The sympathetic strings ad a little ambiance that you really only notice when your present. As far as it sounding like a regular guitar it IS a regular guitar except for the fat D bass string. It can't sound like a sitar sorry. I'm not an Indian musician who knows that music very well I'm just tinkering. As a matter of fact I got this out of a junk pile.
John: Thanks for the reply re. the 9-string. I like all your demos for guitars and amps. On Sept. 8th I took possession of the new Fender Super Sonic 22 blond amp after waiting over a month for it to arrive from the States to Long & McQuaid Music in Oshawa , Ontario.This is my first Fender that wasn't blackface and I love it. It looks beautiful and sounds great to my ears. Could you possibly get your hands on one to demo as I'd like your opinion. ? Enjoying your playing, too.
The bass string adds a dynamic that's not in a conventional tuning. My son has four speakers in his car. I told him it sounded fine. He said it didn't have enough bottom end so he put in a 10" subwoofer and 'BANG' was he right. Even at a low volume the full punchy subs make a huge difference. Same is true with the 9-string. Thanks.....
Comment removed? Why? I tuned the whole guitar to a dropped C.
The playing strings are C, F, A, E. That ends up fingering like the top four strings of a regular guitar. The other five strings I have tuned to a chord such as: C, E, G, C,
then a low C bass note using a bass D string .60. Thanks for your interest.
@johnhguitar Eh, I removed it because I didn't catch you somewhat explaining it in the video, thanks for the reply though John, it's a really cool guitar for a cool style of playing.
I loved Indian music but felt you couldn't play it with your fingers on a fretted instrument. Now I'm talking about the slurs and bends. John McLaughlin's guitar sound isn't what I relate to. I like the traditional instruments and the way some Indian players use the slide on a guitar.
After working in a shop for a number of years and staring at guitars, I thought of this tuning and stringing design and felt I could do it by modifying a 12-string rather than building from scratch. It's close....
How do you tune the sympathetic strings? Or I should say, to what, do you tune them too? or do you just get this tight enough to vibrate and the tune of the other string does the rest of the work? This really makes me want to try this on my 70's Paramount 12 string. But I just can't. I'll have to look for one that is even less high quality, before I'll feel good about experimenting on it. Thanks for the video. It was great!
Any way you want. I think in Indian music they tune to a chromatic scale to hit on every pitch. I've tried a major scale to match the major key I'm playing in. The object is to get those strings to resonate. Good luck!
@johnhguitar Thanks for the info. Also did you just cut those extra pieces of wood to shape and then glue them to the sides of the guitar? or is there more too it? Thanks again.
I used pieces of mahogony that were the same thickness as the headstock. That way the machine heads fit. I used nails on the opposite sides to attach the strings.
Thanks for your reply to my previous question- another question that came to mind is- does the position of the bass string really matter since the vibrating string length is essentially that of a "treble" guitar (approx 24-25 inches give or take a few mm) and not the long scale of a bass guitar? i.e. was there a specific reason why you chose it to be on the fifth tuning peg on the peghead and not on, say the first peghead?
Thanks for your interest. I put the bass string in the middle so I could play it as a bass string relating to the other playing strings. The top strings are tuned to a chord that I don't finger very much. The length never came into my mind except for choosing the right gage to get the correct C note without putting too much tension on the neck. I'll soon release a recording of the 'Guruda' as my wife calls it. Thanks
Great video, and very inspiring since I was considering doing something similar with my acoustic guitar so that I could attempt John McLaughlin/Shakti type stuff. I wondered about whether you needed to change the truss rod to withstand the tension of the bass string, and whether the tension of the sympathetic strings requires re-bracing the guitar so that the top doesn't cave in/ bow out.
Since it's a plywood guitar made for 12 strings and tuned down it doesn't warp the neck. The sympathetic strings are light gauge and don't seem to bend the plywood top. I listened to a recent recording I made and the instrument sounds wonderful. I'm very happy with the result. Keep in touch and let us know of your progress in this area. Thanks, John
It looks and sounds brilliant for a cheap guitar. A good quality one of these will go down really well in the guitarist community.
I only use strange tunings (mainly banjo tunings with thirds and stuff) so sympathetic strings are a good idea for me to explore so I sound less.... rubbish.
I have an epiphone ft 165 12 string and, inspired by you, i´m thinking about doing the same thing. I love the sound of the guitar and your improvisation. Do you have recordings with these guitar? I would like to get them. You are a fantastic guitar player. Congratulations
Glad you like the music and the concept. I've made two CDs that I'm happy with and I'd be happy to send them to you. Go to my website and send me your address.
@sevieht We converted another cheaper guitar for a shop customer but no top quality model with hard woods has been made yet. Thanks for your interest.
The Sympathetic string idea has been around a long time. The strings resonate to the tones they're tuned to giving the instrument its own reverb. I wouldn't call them droning strings like you have in an open tuning.
For being a guitar that was so bad that it was gonna be thrown away, this thing is beyond amazing. Sounds phenomenal for being "cheaper wood". Excellent idea here, and great job creating this work of art. I want one now :)
I love this guitar! I've always wanted to have a Sitar but the ones i've found are really expensive, do you have any tips or schematics for making this guitar?
That has to be one of the most amazing guitars Ive ever heard. I can tell you if that guitar was on the market I'd buy it in a heart beat. It just sounds beautiful and would accompany my style of play very well. Here's hoping it catches on. Also awsome playing.
Yes! This design is great for mood-setting tone. The second we hear it making its own reverb it inspires the music you wish to play. When you sit over it you really can hear it. It's great for the player whose' is up close to the strings. Those strings don't get in the way of your picking. Thanks for your interest....
Excellent question. Nylon guitars aren't built with the same strength as steel string guitars but that doesn't mean you can't experiment with a lower tuning that doesn't put too much tension on the body. I think I could make a version of this out of any guitar as long as I'm careful with the tuning and string gauge I choose. Good luck trying and keep those questions coming. It would be great to hear about your progress. Sincerely...
It's just that I like playing nylon a lot better than steel, I'm more used to it and a little into Spanish guitar. There are cheap nylon's I could experiment with, I just need to build up the devices you built as tensors for the vertical strings if you will... I'll keep you up if i start working on that, right now I'm taking frets out of an old guitar just to test it out, but after that I'll start on.
I don't think these .008, .009, .010. strings, the way their tuned, put that much pressure on the body really. You think somebody might manufacture a design like this someday? I hope they consult me because I'll be the first in line for a quality version of this!
Many thanks for the comment! I just recorded two CD programs featuring this instrument and it sounds great! It's music I'm very proud of.
I stopped Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars at a guitar trade show and he said, "To set up tooling for a new model like that would be very costly." I don't feel at all concerned about this guitar ever being mass produced. If someone thinks there's a market they better find people to play and promote it that makes it possible to sell.
From what Ive seen on your video, you demonstrate perfectly well what is possible, and if it can be expanded upon, so much the better. The market, if it is to be found, would more than likely grow from middle eastern/southern asian countries. There are a lot of people in those parts playing sitar like instruments. Im sure there is a potential there. Beautiful sound on those major chords. Thanks
Well done, what a great idea. Harry Manx plays something similar called a Monah Veena.
You've inspired me to try and build one for myself. I wonder how a 12 string electric with piezo pickups under the sympathetic string bridges would sound?
When you say 12-string electric does that mean a solid-body guitar? You probably have a pickup on board an acoustic right? Thanks for the comment and good luck with the project(s). Keep us posted on your progress...John
Wow that is so awesome! You can hear a little of the sympathetic strings, but I imagine they sound killer in real life. Being a lover of all things reverb, this really has my curiosity piqued. Awesome sound there at the end, too.
Yeah. I've been recording it with Indian percussion and it's great when you are listening up close. I do ad reverb on the recording and that sort of washes over the natural reverb. Thanks for the comment...
I love the 'indian' vibrato you have developed-shake the sting-sounds authentic..it is amazing how transporting the minor melodies are-kinda transcendent man...:-)
What a great idea! Nice to see some new stuff John.
The nine playing strings from 1-high to 9-low are as follows; 1=.012 2=.015 3= w.23 4=w.33 these are the playing strings. The chord strings are as follows; 5=.60 low(c) 6=.010 7= .w18 8=.w23 9=.30
Remember, I have the instrument tuned to C
C E G (hiC) (lowC) C F A D
You might want to experiment and try your own tuning?
Good luck and keep me posted. I'll try and help you finish up.
so do you tune the sympathetic strings at all?
topdog2328 1 month ago
You tune them to the scale of the mode, key, or raga you're in. That way they resonate to the notes you play which gives the guitar its own reverb effect.
Thanks for your interest.
johnhguitar 1 month ago
emotional guitarist.....loved it yarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
aahmed47 3 months ago
Didn't know that story- masterful musicians indeed, so aware of every sound around them! Thanks for sharing that.
Hyrax56 5 months ago
I like it! Great idea there with the sympathetic strings. Good sound even just with plywood and passably sitar-like.Still love that moment at the concert for Bangladesh when the audience break into rapturous applause for Ravi Shankar and he says" I was just tuningup....."
Hyrax56 5 months ago
One time when Ravi was playing a jet plane went overhead at an outdoor concert and the vibration from the plane was slightly higher than the tuning of the instruments. Ravi and Allah Raka quickly tuned their instruments to harmonize with the plane going over. They use the jet's sound like a Tambora. I would have like to see and hear that.
Thanks for the friendly comments.
johnhguitar 5 months ago
very creative..
eviltreebranch 5 months ago
best 9 string guitar ever! this sounds beautifull, instead of the electric 9 string guitars wo sound like shit
dealerbinq 5 months ago
When he says custom, he means custom aha
DistortedBrain 5 months ago
outstanding in so many ways!!! Cheers.
readingtrees 5 months ago
Awesome. I think if I ever find a guitar I think I'll try that.
q28s1 5 months ago
It's the first time I listen to one of these "extrange guitars" with extra strings around them, that actually sounds good. You're a good player
MartinArgg 5 months ago
Thank you very much. I really like this instrument and find it perfect for this sort of music. The more I listen to recordings of it the more I like it. Someday I'll invest in a higher profile model with finer woods. Thanks again.
johnhguitar 5 months ago
WoW! so so CoOoOoOL I love it., U play awsome all your Vids are great. I sure would like to make a electric hollow body like that what are the gauges for the simpathitic and the D bass string thanks man keep on lovin Music///
guitarpoetone1 6 months ago
Thanks for your interest. The sympathetic strings are 008s, 009s, and 010s and the bass string is like a 65. On a bass guitar the D string is around a 60 to 65 and since I tune down to D, C#, or C, that make the gauge sensible.
johnhguitar 6 months ago
The playing here is inspiring.
I have some thoughts I would love to discuss about the ingenuity here, and whether or not there is something to be purchased. I sent a friend request with the hopes that i could message them rather than scatter them all over the commenting board.
ngholden 6 months ago
That guitar sounds amazing!
huffington 6 months ago
fucking fags eat my shit you cock scabs
JimmyxBuffet 6 months ago
We have America for a reason. I'm guessing you're British. Am I right?
johnhguitar 6 months ago
@johnhguitar No I'm actually from Russia.
JimmyxBuffet 6 months ago
Cool! I've seen a jazz video filmed in Russia and the people really seemed to love the music. Perhaps more than here in the USA?
johnhguitar 6 months ago
@johnhguitar Sorry sir, have a nice day. I play the flute.
JimmyxBuffet 6 months ago
When I traveled to India I had some lessons from someone who played an Indian bamboo flute called a bansurai (sp?)This became my favorite sounding instrument. He was amazing!!!
Best wishes.....John
johnhguitar 6 months ago
hey, i really don't have money to where i could buy a custom but do you think that it would be possible to make a twelve string and the overlap is a lapharp, but it extends lower
666ShahMat666 6 months ago
With a decent workshop and solid ideas anything is possible. Go for it and don't expect too much at first but don't give up till you're happy.
johnhguitar 6 months ago
Wow the guitar and the music is incredible. I have an old Yamaha FG 140 that doesn't get used much, this has inspired me to do something like this to it. The extra strings across the sound hole is such a fantastic idea. Thanks for doing this video.
whitestripebuzz 7 months ago
how much would u charge for that guitar or one just like it?
kjelvik117 7 months ago
Where do you live? The problem isn't in making a guitar like this. The hassle is building one you'd be happy with not having played it before. If we ship it to you and you're dissatisfied we all have problems.I custom built one before using an inexpensive 12-string but the client lived nearby. He loved it.
I wouldn't sell my prototype Yamaha unless I had something better to replace it with.
I approach Bob Taylor with the idea at a NAMM Show but he kind of dashed the idea because of the tooling.
johnhguitar 7 months ago
the first riff reminds me of mastodon
proggod876 7 months ago
anyone whos interested in this stuff should try out this tuning. low to high DADF#DD (tune the F# to F for a minor)
bassically its an open D chord and then you play the high 2 D's in together. it makes for some wonderfull droneish stuff. just thought nyone interested inwhat this guys doing might like it.
tucker441 7 months ago
i really dig that idea with the natural reverb..how did u put the stings on that body of the guitar?..and whats the tuning of the stings?
im actually indian and my grandmother is a pretty successful sitar player who studied under ravish shankar..i play the guitar and recently got into Raga and rthym music, my grandma is gunna try n hook me up with a sarangi..im excited to see if my guitar knowledge will be able to transfer..im sure for the most part they will
tanvo93 8 months ago
This is really cool! Do you have any recordings you made with this guitar? Also, did anything end up happening in terms of producing more of them?
Metaphysicalvoyager 8 months ago
You said it's a prototype, any update on this?
Part of the sitar sound is the flatter bridge which gives the buzz sound, you could replace the bidge with a peice of metal or hard wood.
spoddie 8 months ago
It is what it is. No sense in trying to create another instrument that's already in existence.
The update is I'm recording it and it sounds great!. I'm learning how to create sounds you can't get on a conventional guitar and that's the whole point of the design of this instrument.
Thanks for your interest.
johnhguitar 8 months ago
i just like to say what a great sound !!mw
mini0705 8 months ago
Thank you and thanks to the guitar. I've been playing it more and more and it's got its own place in music. Sooner or later someone will produce these on a regular basis.
Thanks again.....
johnhguitar 8 months ago
tabs? lol
PMurfy21 8 months ago
Dayum sonnnnnnnnnnnnn! D:
Ollieaxman 8 months ago
Great video- I keep coming back to it to get ideas for my own "Shakti" project guitar. I was wondering if the 12 sympathetic strings are chromatic (i.e. all 12 tones & semitones) or are they diatonic to the key/scale you are playing in? Also, what do you use to hole the "ball end" of the sympathetic strings in place? Did you just drill holes and pass them through, or is there any other hardware that holds them in place? Are they guitar strings, or some other instrument strings? Thanks.
lydianfreak 8 months ago
sweet guitar :)
kitkatkmma123 9 months ago
Some spider is living in Your guitar man! and more seriously, very nice instrument You have there :)
uprightbassmatt 9 months ago
Thats amazing. Seriously this has got to be the best modification i have ever seen on a guitar. I want one soooooooooo badly!!
Genius
gaz470 10 months ago
if you made this during the 60s, civilization would collapse, as everybody would be too high playing one of these.
imakedookie 10 months ago 9
Listen fool, civilization has collapsed and that's why I AM playing it. Is there one bit of an attempt to have my own fun with this thing that's says, "Hey, you could be a hero or star with that!". Not even!
Great comment and thanks for the fun of saying that.
johnhguitar 10 months ago 5
@johnhguitar both of your comments are confusing as shit. but I dont think he was trying to offend you at all. from what I understand he was making a joke about how this instrument is insane (in a good way) and how the 60's were crazy times.
chad174670 8 months ago
Don't look too closely at this banter. We're just throwing around words that don't add up to the fun or truth about playing music. Thanks for your comment.
johnhguitar 8 months ago
My 6 string is now very jealous.
chiffmonkey 10 months ago
ok wtf is that?
babbersabber 11 months ago
whats up with that shirt?
neuregel 11 months ago
this is amazing!
meansounds 11 months ago
I wonder how "Judy Blue Eyes" would sound on that kind of setup. Awesome invention, now can we have the specs? :o)
1badfinger 11 months ago
Everything was eyeballed and if you watched the video I explained how crude this instrument is. Can't fool everybody but I sure tried.
johnhguitar 11 months ago
Everything was eyeballed and if you watched the video I explained how crude this instrument is. Can't fool everybody but I sure tried. 'Judy Blues Eyes?' Didn't she have one brown eye too?
johnhguitar 11 months ago
Nvm. thought the video was shorter and just got to him explaining it. Nvm my double post!
MrStratocasterguy 11 months ago
Im guessing the strings over the strings are to add resonance, right? Only thing i can think of if ya dont play them... Just wonderin. Thx!
MrStratocasterguy 11 months ago
Just an idea here... Couldn't you tune the sympathetic strings to different chords as well? Then you could just strum a few of them with your finger and you could have a whole three or four chord progression all while playing a melody on the playing strings. Just a thought.
duffmasterofpuppets 11 months ago
Genius way to revive a guitar. it sounds really nice too.
luisnico7 1 year ago
This looks great
mynameismaitiu 1 year ago
i hate yamaha but it looks cool!
zantoine 1 year ago
It is guys like you that internet should not be banned..thanks
dudarstmein 1 year ago
Love it I want one for my collection! I just purchased your book: Guitar Workout what a great tool! Love your vids and think your way cool for the guitar playing world keep it up!
Muiretta 1 year ago
Thanks ever so much! Practice away!
johnhguitar 1 year ago
Nice Invention mate - and some inspiring ideas you've shared here.
Thanks !
BrikSwoony 1 year ago
Ha! And I felt resourceful when I broke a string and used alternative tunings to keep from buying new strings!
JaredSmallwood 1 year ago
the only thing is it looks like youre hitting those bottom tuners so i would imagine it goes out of tune frequently.
PennybagDarrell 1 year ago
Not at all. I don't hit those tuners. In truth any guitar starts going out of tune the second you start playing it.
johnhguitar 1 year ago 7
I WANT ONE!
dlmahtani7 1 year ago
ummmm can i have a go??
Zorlak108 1 year ago
WICKED INVENTION.
SlapThaBass 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It's incredible that you just went for it... an amazing investment I say. You've just widened the horizon to me... Thanks for posting.
YukioGL 1 year ago
It's incredible that you just went for it... an amazing investment I say. It's totally widened the horizon to me. Thanks for posting.
YukioGL 1 year ago
great invention john. i must make one of these now. how long did it take you to make one of these?
yhcnoR 1 year ago
A few days on and off. You have to let the glue dry.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
Now that is pretty cool!
FLIGHTCOMPANY 1 year ago
The shit they come up with now-a-days...
traviscky2012 1 year ago
What are you saying here? Am I wasting my time in searching for a different sound and instrument? Give us the reason for the comment so we can understand. Thanks
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar I'm not saying it's a waist of an invention, it just looks really awkward and that is why i said that cause trust me I've seen things that are 10 times as weird as this. I just wouldn't find myself playing it.
traviscky2012 1 year ago
Actually it's pretty easy to handle and does have an effective use. The two recordings I've made convinced myself and others who've heard it that I should persevere.
Thanks for the friendly reply.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar No problem
traviscky2012 1 year ago
thats fucking crazy!! is this some sort of custom design or is this something i can find in a guitar store?
chordize 1 year ago
Not totally an original concept but a custom one-of-kind guitar setup by me none the less.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
This is one of the most beautiful instruments i have ever had the pleasure of hearing.
I am actually really intrigued by this and would love to make one of my own,
any advice?
Amazing work and playing.
Thank you for sharing.
maintheradio 1 year ago
Thanks for the friendly comments.
I think the best thing to do is find the cheapest 12-string acoustic guitars and go to work. Once you have something to work with get back to me and I'll help in whatever way I can. Good luck!
johnhguitar 1 year ago
Send me your mailing address and send you some recordings of the instrument.
Do it through my website at johnhguitar.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
That's awesome! Are the 12 sympathetic strings tuned chromaticly to resonate for every note? I'm inspired to possibly try this.
thecoldnovrain89 1 year ago
You can tune it any way you want of course. I think I may have it tuned diatonically to match the scale. This way there's notes I've doubled up for more resonance.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
either way, that is really soothing sounding. thanks.
woodLG 1 year ago
In my opinion, the crossed resonating strings didnt add much to the sonority. It sounds pretty much like a standard guitar, al least on the video, maybe listening close to it, its different. And you crossed them above or below the other strings, i cant see. It seems like they get in the way of the strumming hand a little. You re plucking quite close to the bridge, maybe intentionally, which can kill the sound a bit.
212somebody 1 year ago
Yeah. No, the sympathetic strings that run under the playing strings don't get in the way whatsoever. The sympathetic strings ad a little ambiance that you really only notice when your present. As far as it sounding like a regular guitar it IS a regular guitar except for the fat D bass string. It can't sound like a sitar sorry. I'm not an Indian musician who knows that music very well I'm just tinkering. As a matter of fact I got this out of a junk pile.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
this sounds like a sitar.
Maxpound 1 year ago
John: Thanks for the reply re. the 9-string. I like all your demos for guitars and amps. On Sept. 8th I took possession of the new Fender Super Sonic 22 blond amp after waiting over a month for it to arrive from the States to Long & McQuaid Music in Oshawa , Ontario.This is my first Fender that wasn't blackface and I love it. It looks beautiful and sounds great to my ears. Could you possibly get your hands on one to demo as I'd like your opinion. ? Enjoying your playing, too.
Ken, Toronto
dreadnought45 1 year ago
OK OK Good idea. I'll find one......Thanks for the friendly comments.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
John: You say it's just a plywood guitar and there's nothing special about it, but when you play full chords it sounds great.
Ken, Toronto
dreadnought45 1 year ago
The bass string adds a dynamic that's not in a conventional tuning. My son has four speakers in his car. I told him it sounded fine. He said it didn't have enough bottom end so he put in a 10" subwoofer and 'BANG' was he right. Even at a low volume the full punchy subs make a huge difference. Same is true with the 9-string. Thanks.....
johnhguitar 1 year ago
You are a genius. What a wonderful instrument!!!!
ninetymilesaway 1 year ago
you gotta let that ragga drop
hanghang71 1 year ago
Wish I could make one of those =(
KillTheLeader66 1 year ago
Comment removed
Neclipse666 1 year ago
Comment removed? Why? I tuned the whole guitar to a dropped C.
The playing strings are C, F, A, E. That ends up fingering like the top four strings of a regular guitar. The other five strings I have tuned to a chord such as: C, E, G, C,
then a low C bass note using a bass D string .60. Thanks for your interest.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar Eh, I removed it because I didn't catch you somewhat explaining it in the video, thanks for the reply though John, it's a really cool guitar for a cool style of playing.
Neclipse666 1 year ago
how in the hell did you think of this?
Sweenzz 1 year ago
I loved Indian music but felt you couldn't play it with your fingers on a fretted instrument. Now I'm talking about the slurs and bends. John McLaughlin's guitar sound isn't what I relate to. I like the traditional instruments and the way some Indian players use the slide on a guitar.
After working in a shop for a number of years and staring at guitars, I thought of this tuning and stringing design and felt I could do it by modifying a 12-string rather than building from scratch. It's close....
johnhguitar 1 year ago
BTW, you sound and kind of look like Ian Mackaye. Just an observation.
twoboots4you 1 year ago
Is Ian handsome?
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar I don't know. You can look him up on here (youtube) He's a musician. Your voice was the main trigger for me though.
twoboots4you 1 year ago
How do you tune the sympathetic strings? Or I should say, to what, do you tune them too? or do you just get this tight enough to vibrate and the tune of the other string does the rest of the work? This really makes me want to try this on my 70's Paramount 12 string. But I just can't. I'll have to look for one that is even less high quality, before I'll feel good about experimenting on it. Thanks for the video. It was great!
twoboots4you 1 year ago
Any way you want. I think in Indian music they tune to a chromatic scale to hit on every pitch. I've tried a major scale to match the major key I'm playing in. The object is to get those strings to resonate. Good luck!
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar Thanks for the info. Also did you just cut those extra pieces of wood to shape and then glue them to the sides of the guitar? or is there more too it? Thanks again.
twoboots4you 1 year ago
I used pieces of mahogony that were the same thickness as the headstock. That way the machine heads fit. I used nails on the opposite sides to attach the strings.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
Hi John:
Thanks for your reply to my previous question- another question that came to mind is- does the position of the bass string really matter since the vibrating string length is essentially that of a "treble" guitar (approx 24-25 inches give or take a few mm) and not the long scale of a bass guitar? i.e. was there a specific reason why you chose it to be on the fifth tuning peg on the peghead and not on, say the first peghead?
lydianfreak 1 year ago
Thanks for your interest. I put the bass string in the middle so I could play it as a bass string relating to the other playing strings. The top strings are tuned to a chord that I don't finger very much. The length never came into my mind except for choosing the right gage to get the correct C note without putting too much tension on the neck. I'll soon release a recording of the 'Guruda' as my wife calls it. Thanks
johnhguitar 1 year ago
man that is such a sweet instroment, Great job john!!
Mattguitarman1234 1 year ago
Hi:
Great video, and very inspiring since I was considering doing something similar with my acoustic guitar so that I could attempt John McLaughlin/Shakti type stuff. I wondered about whether you needed to change the truss rod to withstand the tension of the bass string, and whether the tension of the sympathetic strings requires re-bracing the guitar so that the top doesn't cave in/ bow out.
lydianfreak 1 year ago
Since it's a plywood guitar made for 12 strings and tuned down it doesn't warp the neck. The sympathetic strings are light gauge and don't seem to bend the plywood top. I listened to a recent recording I made and the instrument sounds wonderful. I'm very happy with the result. Keep in touch and let us know of your progress in this area. Thanks, John
johnhguitar 1 year ago
sounds awesome.!
diswa22 1 year ago
its an odd guitar but cool
kyzrvlhlm1995 1 year ago
What you're playing here reminds me of Shakti from the late '70's.
JGPorcello 1 year ago
mm that fret buzz sounds AMAZIG
ibanezxiphos700 1 year ago
nice one dude. This reminds me of the indian sitar. Really nice. I like indian music
SICKyHEAD 1 year ago
i love it, thanks!
Silencer84 1 year ago
It looks and sounds brilliant for a cheap guitar. A good quality one of these will go down really well in the guitarist community.
I only use strange tunings (mainly banjo tunings with thirds and stuff) so sympathetic strings are a good idea for me to explore so I sound less.... rubbish.
Thanks for the inspiration :D
sammywombarra 1 year ago
I have an epiphone ft 165 12 string and, inspired by you, i´m thinking about doing the same thing. I love the sound of the guitar and your improvisation. Do you have recordings with these guitar? I would like to get them. You are a fantastic guitar player. Congratulations
manuelpedrosd 1 year ago
Glad you like the music and the concept. I've made two CDs that I'm happy with and I'd be happy to send them to you. Go to my website and send me your address.
Thanks, John
johnhguitar 1 year ago
Love it.
freenamdar 1 year ago
you should make a guitar with sympathetic strings i've always wondered what one would sound like.
y3k23k 1 year ago
thats the best homemade guitar ive ever seen
sevieht 1 year ago
@sevieht Thanks for the comment.
Using that guitar I've made some recordings I'm very happy with.
The guitar sounds great in the studio.
Thanks again,
John
johnhguitar 1 year ago
@johnhguitar
its cool man, your vids are great...
did your guitar maker friends make that hardwood version yet?
would love to see a review of it
thanks
sevieht 1 year ago
@sevieht We converted another cheaper guitar for a shop customer but no top quality model with hard woods has been made yet. Thanks for your interest.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
i love how melodic it is
baconstealer1 1 year ago
um, not bad. just not for me
Glockenator 1 year ago
I meant to type "Sympathetic" on that post. Spelling error. -LOL
GDguitarplayer 1 year ago
The Sympathetic string idea has been around a long time. The strings resonate to the tones they're tuned to giving the instrument its own reverb. I wouldn't call them droning strings like you have in an open tuning.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
ahh sypethetic strings. are they the same idea as droning strings?
GDguitarplayer 1 year ago
That one Bass string is certainly a cable! I like it; very sitar-ish.
GDguitarplayer 1 year ago
how did you mount those head-stocks on the side of the body?
jamesallan7005 1 year ago
For being a guitar that was so bad that it was gonna be thrown away, this thing is beyond amazing. Sounds phenomenal for being "cheaper wood". Excellent idea here, and great job creating this work of art. I want one now :)
geetarplayer38 1 year ago
I really like it. Nice work.
HarpDogAustralia 1 year ago
I love this guitar! I've always wanted to have a Sitar but the ones i've found are really expensive, do you have any tips or schematics for making this guitar?
SirAaronEdward 1 year ago
never heard of the Sympathetic strings before. Very interesting
GOGMOTIS 2 years ago
can someone explain me how it works? thx
christiaan28285 2 years ago
I thought I explained it on the video? Please give me a clearer more specific question that's not so random.
Thanks for your interest.
johnhguitar 2 years ago
sounds like the soul has gone, replaced by a twang
sibbald 2 years ago
The soul has gone. The guitar just plays itself.
johnhguitar 1 year ago
wow thats cool
skaterzakk 2 years ago
W O W ! =^_^=
cargolot 2 years ago
I'm speechless...
This is a truly amazing guitar!!
joshinvents 2 years ago
Thank s for your interest. I've made some new recordings that I'm very proud of. The guitar sounds wonderful in the studio.....Thanks again....
johnhguitar 2 years ago
That has to be one of the most amazing guitars Ive ever heard. I can tell you if that guitar was on the market I'd buy it in a heart beat. It just sounds beautiful and would accompany my style of play very well. Here's hoping it catches on. Also awsome playing.
Josh6263 2 years ago
Thank you ever so much. I just recorded two CDs I'm very proud of. The instrument sounds great in the studio.
Thanks again......
johnhguitar 2 years ago
I want that guitar!
ListeNROck11 2 years ago
realy cool
badbonetti 2 years ago
amazing! very inspiring
RobNextTribe 2 years ago
awesome stuff
woodros 2 years ago
that's really ingenious, those strings work as some sort of non-electric reverb right?
adrian5b 2 years ago
Yes! This design is great for mood-setting tone. The second we hear it making its own reverb it inspires the music you wish to play. When you sit over it you really can hear it. It's great for the player whose' is up close to the strings. Those strings don't get in the way of your picking. Thanks for your interest....
johnhguitar 2 years ago
I might try that with an old guitar I got, but just a couple of easy questions:
Does it work as good with nylon strings?
How do you know how tense the strings should be, would any tension make it??
adrian5b 2 years ago
Excellent question. Nylon guitars aren't built with the same strength as steel string guitars but that doesn't mean you can't experiment with a lower tuning that doesn't put too much tension on the body. I think I could make a version of this out of any guitar as long as I'm careful with the tuning and string gauge I choose. Good luck trying and keep those questions coming. It would be great to hear about your progress. Sincerely...
johnhguitar 2 years ago
It's just that I like playing nylon a lot better than steel, I'm more used to it and a little into Spanish guitar. There are cheap nylon's I could experiment with, I just need to build up the devices you built as tensors for the vertical strings if you will... I'll keep you up if i start working on that, right now I'm taking frets out of an old guitar just to test it out, but after that I'll start on.
adrian5b 2 years ago
Brilliant. Guitar body must be under some immense stress though. Extra bracing maybe if this is ever developed for sale. Thanks.
redredreddd1 2 years ago
I don't think these .008, .009, .010. strings, the way their tuned, put that much pressure on the body really. You think somebody might manufacture a design like this someday? I hope they consult me because I'll be the first in line for a quality version of this!
Many thanks for the comment! I just recorded two CD programs featuring this instrument and it sounds great! It's music I'm very proud of.
johnhguitar 2 years ago
I 'd love to see some large scale development put into such an idea. Perhaps it would be too narrow a market, but I wish you good luck with it all.
redredreddd1 2 years ago
I stopped Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars at a guitar trade show and he said, "To set up tooling for a new model like that would be very costly." I don't feel at all concerned about this guitar ever being mass produced. If someone thinks there's a market they better find people to play and promote it that makes it possible to sell.
johnhguitar 2 years ago
From what Ive seen on your video, you demonstrate perfectly well what is possible, and if it can be expanded upon, so much the better. The market, if it is to be found, would more than likely grow from middle eastern/southern asian countries. There are a lot of people in those parts playing sitar like instruments. Im sure there is a potential there. Beautiful sound on those major chords. Thanks
redredreddd1 2 years ago
Well done, what a great idea. Harry Manx plays something similar called a Monah Veena.
You've inspired me to try and build one for myself. I wonder how a 12 string electric with piezo pickups under the sympathetic string bridges would sound?
dexoray 2 years ago
When you say 12-string electric does that mean a solid-body guitar? You probably have a pickup on board an acoustic right? Thanks for the comment and good luck with the project(s). Keep us posted on your progress...John
johnhguitar 2 years ago
Wow that is so awesome! You can hear a little of the sympathetic strings, but I imagine they sound killer in real life. Being a lover of all things reverb, this really has my curiosity piqued. Awesome sound there at the end, too.
Rock On!
(Sorry if this double-posts...)
jekyll1vs1hyde 2 years ago
Yeah. I've been recording it with Indian percussion and it's great when you are listening up close. I do ad reverb on the recording and that sort of washes over the natural reverb. Thanks for the comment...
johnhguitar 2 years ago
I love the 'indian' vibrato you have developed-shake the sting-sounds authentic..it is amazing how transporting the minor melodies are-kinda transcendent man...:-)
What a great idea! Nice to see some new stuff John.
GalaxyHorse 2 years ago
Very nice guitar cool music too
Fretrifters 2 years ago
Nice...and ver interesting, an orange robe would have been appropriate....
Dorianjazzenblues 2 years ago
Do you think I have one in my closet? That can be our little secret.
johnhguitar 2 years ago
interesting guitar, john..... very good playing ;)
misentofottere 2 years ago
Give me the gauges for every string :D
i wanna build my own
iCerial 2 years ago
The nine playing strings from 1-high to 9-low are as follows; 1=.012 2=.015 3= w.23 4=w.33 these are the playing strings. The chord strings are as follows; 5=.60 low(c) 6=.010 7= .w18 8=.w23 9=.30
Remember, I have the instrument tuned to C
C E G (hiC) (lowC) C F A D
You might want to experiment and try your own tuning?
Good luck and keep me posted. I'll try and help you finish up.
johnhguitar 2 years ago
amazing !!! Great natural reverb !!
nrique84 2 years ago
That's so far beyond where I even dream to be with the guitar. Totally amazing...inspiring!
chancafer 2 years ago
I'm pretty sure i could spend hours with this thing in one key. great concept! and sounds really good for a prototype!
JAKEDRB 2 years ago
this is incredible. can't wait to see what you do with a better guitar and a little more time.
freakonaleash3112 2 years ago
This is incredible. I love the idea..
I might try something like this sometime.
caleb144 2 years ago