Shakti Guitar

[John Rice]

Hi Guys, I'm looking for any information on the "Shakti guitar" played by John McLaughlin in the 70's I think it was built or designed by Abraham Wechter when he worked for Gibson. It is a normal 6 string but has another set of strings under the main one's running diagionally. I have a request from a client to build one but I have never seen or heard of one until he said it. I found a video of John McLaughlin playing one on Utube but it's differcult to get a decent look at it. Any help would be appreciated. John

[Doug Shaker]

There is a photo and some discussion of it here:
http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/index.php/f ... ures/16294

[John Rice]

Thanks Doug now I know there were 7 extra strings, still a ways to go. John

[Doug Shaker]

The Guild of American Luthiers has published plans for a harp guitar. Many harp guitars have similar string sets, so those plans would give you an idea of how to add the strings, structurally. Then the main thing would be to figure out what notes the strings were meant to be tuned. Your client might know that.

[John Rice]

Thanks Doug

[Neal Carey]

John, check out this video of McLaughlin demonstrating his Shakhti guitar:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j1wq ... VazkBlm3fY

The video is *VERY* poor quality, but he talks about the scalloping of the fingerboard so that you can create microtones depending on the pressure you use on the string. The sympathetic strings are strummed during playing.

I searched a little and found this page of Shakhti specifications: http://www.facebook.com/EmArcyR/posts/184381891645941

Good luck!