Tuesday 11th December '07

We begin the day with the completion of the Vox project.. the tuners are installed with the aluminium spacer that was made yesterday

and everything is looking nice and original..

it's amazing looking at these old things.. this has roller saddles to help stay in tune.. just like the best of modern trem systems!!

The strings are installed and the bridge cover put back in place..

and here you see everything that this beast is capable of!

Very very cool!

On to the design session.. this will be an 8 string touch-guitar tuned from low B flat to high G.. three semi-tones higher than your normal guitars high e! 

and the sun comes out for a few minutes.. though Erik says that it is still colder than Debmark is right now!!!

second stage.. the upper horn is dead and gone!

and eventually here we are.. the long lower horn is where the sttrap buttin will be placed.. this will keep the touch guitar in the correct playing position

8 string headstocks are not very easy.. but this works quite well..

an hour away is my favourite place.. a specialist timber yard

where we choose a lovely chunk of Padouk.. the touch guitar will be made out of one solid piece to increase sustain, tone and Kudos!

My friend (another baldie!) rips off the unwanted end on this true beast of a saw..

and we go back to work... Erik's Ovation needs setting up to cope better with NST..

after lowering the saddle the nut is cut a bit more and a great action is the result

the strap needs a button...

though Gaffa tape is cool, it's not very pretty..?

with the low action a few frets need lowering and polishing but the guitar is a different beast by the time we finish..

and here is Erik dreaming that he's holding his new touch guitar already! .. soon..

All my best,

Ben