I have always loved the massive register of the orchestra and piano and i also  love the sound of the classical guitar. These factors compelled me to investigate the possibly of a guitar that would naturally have the large register. Multi string guitars have been around for centuries and as far back as the acient Greek Lyres. The lute and the Harp guitars explore these possibilites with great succes as does the huge Theobro.

With my backgound being in bass and guitar I was not really concerned how big or small a neck and after playing 10 and 14 string guitars new that there is always a way. So I approached Andy Manson again to discuss the possibility of a guitar with over 20 strings with the neck in 3 different sections a soprano 7 string on 42cm string length, then a 7 string regular section with a low B and the an string section with regular guitar tuning 1 octave lower with 2 extra low strings both on 75cm string lentgth. This layout for me is my perfect instrument with this guitar my style is Jazzy lieder (lieder is a form of art song its most famous exponents being Shcubert,Schumann,Liszt,Wolf etc).

Andy made a draught of the guitar and it took my breath away his innovations with the behind the neck tuning for the soprano guitar was amazing.  Andy like all great craftsmen combined traditional values with cutting egde imagination. Originally the guitar was to have a traditional shape but i thought that as i would never play with my thumb over the top of the neck why not continue the body all the way to the headstock. This would improve strenth and sustain and enable a 3rd sound hole. The design is similar to a harp guitar only all the string are fretted and on one neck.(the future is all inclusive?) I have to say at this point that my the ideas for this guitar was the easy part Andy had the very difficult part of making it happen.  Before Andy went ahead with the construction we had to see if stings were available and if not could they be custom made. There was only one company to approach for this, the German string legends Hannabach. I used their strings on the classical 10 string and they are amazing they hold their tuning and are very long lasting. I contacted Mr.Hannabach and he sent over 2 sets of strings. I am taking the guitar over to Germany to fine tune the guages.

The back and sides are antique cuban mahogany. the soundboard is Alpine Spruce and western Red cedar. The fingerboard and the neck is 100 year old Brazilian Rosewood. The neck is Mahogany. It has 3 separate Fishman matrix pick ups. I feel incedibly fortunate and very gratefull to Andy and Hugh Manson for the sublime craftsmanship and their very increbible vision and patience.Evertime a open a case it takes my breath away and i am very inspired to try to do the guitars justice.