(click to see large detail photos)

This guitar is a copy of a 10 string instrument originally made in 1862. I was fortunate to document and draw this wonderful guitar, with a 6 string guitar by Scherzer dated 1864, with the kind permission of Matanya Ophee. Later I was asked to do some restoration work on this guitar, that revealed more details to me.

The guitar has a twin neck with 6 strings on the fretted fingerboard at a 64cm string length with a 24 fret range. The 4 open bass strings run over the other neck. The 2 necks are veneered in ebony and join at the same heel. This then fixes to the body via the adjustable neck system common to Viennese guitars of this period. The top is spruce, with a transverse bar pattern. The back and sides are laminates of maple and rio rosewood. It has simple rossette and edging. Another interesting feature is the iron bar that runs the length of the body, inside. This relieves the tension passed on to the top by this design. It also has a second back which shields the guitar from the players body, stopping any possible damping effects.

The guitar is heavy. It is also big by 19th century standards and it sounds amazing.

(click to see large photos of all the details)

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