Another, What should I call this?

If it's not a guitar or a bass guitar discussion, and it's got strings, put it here.
Post Reply
User avatar
G.S. Monroe
Posts: 105
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:50 am
Location: Lakeland, Florida
Contact:

Another, What should I call this?

Post by G.S. Monroe »

What should I call this? Round #2

I'm sure we have all experimented at one time or another with "unconventional" instrument designs...
Here is one in my collection. Background... I recently built a Tiple, and was intrigued by it's 3 string course with an octave string lay out.
So in my curiosity, I built this.... it's made of cypress with chinaberry front and back panels.
It is an electric solid body instrument, with 6 strings, in 3 courses... either the more conventional 2 x 2 x 2,
or my favorite the 1 x 2 x 3 with a triple octave melody! :o
The first course is a low "D" string, the middle course is dual mid "aa"'s, and the bottom is a triple course with an octave .. "d D d".
I've tuned like the dulcimer or bouzouki, either D aa dDd, or G cc gGg.

It's got a 22 inch VSL, chromatic frets and a zero fret for a nut.

It sounds unlike anything I've heard before, but it is fun to play with a slide or by finger picking melodies.
And you can use blues bar chords. But what do I call this thing?

Image

Image
User avatar
Jon Whitney
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:04 am

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by Jon Whitney »

Battle Axe? It's pretty cool looking, what ever you call it. Can you post a sound file?
Markus Schmid
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:57 pm

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by Markus Schmid »

Shame on me I have not seen this thread earlier. Shame on me I don't visit this forum more often.
But well, here I am. Your creation caught my attention. ;)
G.S. Monroe wrote:It sounds unlike anything I've heard before, but it is fun to play with a slide or by finger picking melodies.
And you can use blues bar chords. But what do I call this thing?
Of course, there are several approaches to find a name for a new instrument. In this case here, the most relaxed approach would be a response to your statement "It sounds unlike anything I've heard before" and call it something you never have heard before, whatever this may be... :mrgreen:

Although, my personal approach would be a more serious one.
  • At a first instance I would refer to the instrument the new creation would be played like, regarding playing technique and music stile.
  • At a second instance, immediately or at the same time stringing and tuning would play an important role in finding an appropriate name.
  • As a third criterion shape and size would come into the game.
Of course, I could now make up a name for your pretty cool instrument, but in case you have not found one meanwhile by yourself, I do not feel entitled to steal you the fun of finding one! ;)
User avatar
G.S. Monroe
Posts: 105
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:50 am
Location: Lakeland, Florida
Contact:

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by G.S. Monroe »

I think I ended up calling it an electro-bouzouki.
Markus Schmid
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:57 pm

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by Markus Schmid »

At least in my ears, that sounds better than "battle axe"! :lol: ;)
User avatar
Jon Whitney
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:04 am

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by Jon Whitney »

Hey! Axe is a perfectly good synonym for any electric instrument!

Electro-bouzouki is just fine, though.
User avatar
Andrew Porter
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:49 am
Location: The Banks of Sleepy Creek, NC, USA

Re: Another, What should I call this?

Post by Andrew Porter »

A Tripe (no derogatory conotation intended).
World's Second Finest Maker of Expensive Sawdust
Post Reply

Return to “Other Stringed Instruments”