Roy Smeck on a 8 string Knutsen ?

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 1 Jan 2008 4:58 am

Look at the headstock when he changes to the Uke at 2:36, there's 4 visible tuners on one side, so, Is it an 8 or 7 string ?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oqg1-kZxHHU

What's the tuning ?

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 1 Jan 2008 10:06 am

You can never say never with Knutsen, but I'd be surprised if he made that instrument.

Max Laine · Post by **Max Laine** » 1 Jan 2008 10:13 am

Is this the same guitar?

Max Laine · Post by **Max Laine** » 1 Jan 2008 10:16 am

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 1 Jan 2008 1:34 pm

Yeah, I think that's it - it's an Octo-chorda. I think it was made by Lyon and Healy (?). I didn't realize it was played lap-style.

Jim Sallis · Post by **Jim Sallis** » 1 Jan 2008 9:33 pm

Yes, it's an octachorda, played lap style. Specially made for Roy. Invented by Sam Moore, tuned to E13. Roy didn't use it a lot, and when it was stolen in the late 20's, he never replaced it. (It turned up years later, as an article for Vintage Guitars documented.)

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 2 Jan 2008 8:46 am

Here's an article on the octo-chorda from the Harp Guitars web site.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 2 Jan 2008 9:26 am

From that site:
http://www.harpguitarmusic.com/samples/ ... ng_rag.mp3