Making A Six String Multi Scale Guitar It's Done

In this video, I will finish my 6-string, multi-scale, fan-fret, electric guitar build.
Links to my guitar plans and merchandise
www.eguitarplan...
/ highlineguitars

[@mjklein]

It looks great and the concept is very good. A body carve for access to the bottom tuners sounds like a good solution. Also when you said you could fan them out I was intrigued by how that might look. The dual tuner system makes a lot of sense for live shows as a very quick tweak could be performed with the picking hand while having the strings fretted. Doing that with tuners on the headstock requires a long reach.

[@awscustomguitars]

Your experience has been invaluable over the past couple years! Thanks! It’s helped me build a guitar so good that I gave my store bought ones away!

[@HighlineGuitars]

That is awesome to hear. Thanks for the tip and for sharing your success with us!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Magnificent instrument. I really like the color and shine of the body. Maybe someday I can buy my Grandson a masterpiece that will last beyond a lifetime. Plus we will know who created the guitar.

[@thomasbreene893]

Hi, Chris. Believe it or not, my whole foray into instrument building (ill-advised or otherwise; only time will tell) was inspired by the bridge tuner issue you mention. I had a bass way back when that was very "instrumental" (pun intended) to how I developed as a player, in terms of technique, the position of my hands, etc. It was a Washburn Bantam copy of a Steinberger, which was all the rage at the time. It was headless, obviously, had two wide soapbox pickups, and pretty much a small rectangle or slight trapezoid as a body. Anyhow, as I moved into 5-string and then 6-string basses, the form factor of my Washburn was no longer an option. Instrument makers simply don't make them (and nor do they make the 4-string versions any more, truth be told). In any case, I started to hanker for a 6-string version of that form factor: the Washburn Bantam. The only way I could get one (and this is what started to spark my interest in bass building) was to buy a kit bass and take a jigsaw to it. This I did, but then came the all-important problem of the tuners. Sorry to give so much history, but here's an idea you might consider, as opposed to angling the neck, etc. Those individual "monorail" tuners are infamously limited in terms of adjustment, especially for string height. What I ended up doing on the prototype I was working on was buying a monorail setup from Nova (I think he's a South American maker). I ran into EXACTLY the same problem and struggled with it mightily. In the end, what I opted for was hack-sawing off the part of the individual bridge pieces that include the saddle (and which do NOT have that much range of adjustment). Then, I got what basically is the "Tune-O-Matic" version of a bass bridge (the Warwick 3D bass bridge). So, the initial all-in-one bridge pieces (like the ones you used on this build) basically became JUST the tuning device: The thing that pulls or loosens the string. The "Tune-O-Matic" style bridge became how I adjusted the string height. Granted, as you mention: I needed a recess for the monorail pieces. Your fingers can't get at them otherwise. But holy cow. It made all of the difference. I made the monorail piece independent of string height. All it does is tighten or loosen the string. The Tune-O-Matic type bridge controls height (and intonation). I know we're talking about slightly different things here: I'm talking about a headless bass, where the only tuning mechanism is the monorail tighten/loosen thing. But I think that, also in the case of your multi-scale guitar, this kind of set up would solve your problems. Just my two cents! Cheers!

[@ej1_drew]

i enjoyed this entire series and will definitely be watching the v2 build :)

[@Guitar_Builder]

Congrats on finishing the build! That's incredibly light i figured that bridge would add a bit for sure.

[@y007p3]

Pretty cool. I would simply recess the bridge section. Then do a scoop behind it, like you get on many headless designs.

[@HighlineGuitars]

I did that on my headless headstock guitar build, but I didn't like the way it looked.

[@y007p3]

@ I can respect aesthetic decisions 😃

[@CharafB1]

awesome looking guitar

[@radfury23g32]

I love it! I’ve always wondered why more guitars don’t have that double tuning option. I’ve got to go back a few episodes to see what bridge saddles you used because they look solid

[@don7294]

You can make a custom pick with a hard edge or extension for adjusting the tuners. Everyone need a pick. Great job!

[@HighlineGuitars]

That's a cool idea!

[@awscustomguitars]

Thanks for sharing what turned out less than ideal. It helps my ego as a hobbyist. What are your thoughts on shims? I shimmed a $20 first act strat and it turned out great but I can see how a shim might take away some pride from an artesian build since it seems like the easiest way out of an oversight/mistake.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Shims are great as long as the run the full length of the pocket. Sometimes, guys will put a strip of wood at the back of the pocket to lift the heel and angle the neck. This can cause the end of the neck to deform into a subtle upward ramp aka a "ski jump."

[@oldbonesbushcraftrodjackso474]

Absolutely Gorgeous head stock is beautiful .

[@veguitars]

Hi Chris, thank you for your honest review of your own work. Do you intend to turn this series into a KZbin playlist? It would help us viewers to come back to certain steps of this build at a later time. Also what do you do with your non-commissioned builds? Unless you have space enough to make your own build museum :-) Thank you again for all the extra work you put in your channel to help us learn. Cheers V

[@HighlineGuitars]

At the end of the video is a link to the playlist.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Can’t wait to see the results of your hard work. Thanks Chris.

[@kkrekula]

Yes it seems kind of redundant to have normal tuners ans also have a fine tuning at the bridge. Seeing the quality work you put down in your guitars I am sure it would be a joy to play it! :)

[@StealthParrot]

Yes, I agree with this, I don't see the point without a locking nut. I do like the way the bridge tuners look.

[@HandlebarWorkshops]

A very interesting idea, but since it is a prototype, what do you do with it? Strip the parts and toss the body and neck?

[@StealthParrot]

I've never played a fan fret guitar, I have to think it would take some getting used to. Looks fabulous though!

[@scottakam]

Looks nice. I don't know if I like the tuners on both ends. Feels like it might be a "man with 2 watches" situation.

[@DC9V]

Personally, I'd prefer a raised pocket over an angled neck. But I also think that it would be best to carve-out the area behind the bridge. Have you also thought about making a shallow pocket for the bridge?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@DC9V I recessed the bridges on my headless headstock guitar. I didn’t like the look. Nor do I like a neck that sits high out of the body.

[@DC9V]

⁠@@HighlineGuitars Ah, I haven't watched a lot of your older videos, yet. Will certainly do! What option are you leaning towards? Can the nut be lowered?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@DC9V if I build another, I’ll angle the neck.

[@thomasbreene893]

Thanks! Hi, Chris. Sent a question via email instead of leaving it here. Looking forward to your response! Cheers!

[@HighlineGuitars]

Done!

[@robfranssenmusic]

Wow nice work

[@anorak211]

Hi how long has it taken to complete, how many hours?

[@Jbustosalazar]

Lovely!!!!

[@ltgray2780]

Beautiful build, but some technical issues. The bridge tuners, even with a body route, are too close, and nullify the purpose of having them. Perhaps the top wheel fine tuners would be better. That was a lot of work to find out any problems. Kudos sir, on all of your fine work.

[@virginmothers7104]

Gibson uses a fine-tuning tailpiece on some guitars, TP-6. It's overpriced, but there may be copies. I think the originals were made by Schaller. The adjustment thumbwheels face up.

[@Furtheronmusic]

Not convinced about the fine tuner idea. In the past Gibson had the tp6 tailpiece for similar idea but many dumped it for a regular tailpiece. I don't see the advantage if you have quality tuners. As you say they have to be quick and easy as needing a tool on stage is a non starter.

[@larrymannino]

... nevertheless it's a beauty...

[@Tboyhoot777]

too bad those finetuners don't hang over the end of the guitar. Flying v would definitely work out better with a few mods.

[@BillyTheKidsGhost]

I started testing for buzz with chords because I felt that playing one note at a time would make you strike the string harder, creating a buzz. It makes for a better playing instrument. The only thing that can become a problem is the lack of neck angle, which can create an incurable buzz, no matter how naturally you play. This is the action set to 2mm on the low E. Although you have a lot of play, you can work with the neck angle up to 2,5 cm neck-to-body angle (which is a lot).

[@Tboyhoot777]

I carry a screwdriver EVERYTIME I walk out on stage!!! But I drop my guitar EVERYTIME I take the screwdriver out of my pocket! lol?

[@RisingTideSoundWorks]

Who mixed his guitar playing? Yeesh. Horrible tone and playability. I might be playing this through 5$ Bluetooth headphones, but that's no excuse. Lol I've been waiting for this build to finish. Looks great. Thank you for the honesty on the bridge and neck. Individual string bridges are tough the first time around if you don't get the correct depth the first time.