Model 18 (2017) – this one is not a precise copy of a particular guitar, but the body shape is closely based on a pattern from the 1840s that the Roudhloff brothers used for their 8- string guitar. It could equally well be used for six. I employed a version of my X-brace pattern for the top, first designed in 2009, which itself was inspired by the Roudhloff brothers’ work in their Melophonic guitar. The brothers used ladder bracing for this 8-string model, but also X-bracing.
The body is small with a length of only 444 mm, and the string length commensurately short at 600mm. The fingerboard extends over the sound hole on the treble side extending the range up to top D.
The guitar pictured, built in 2022, has a spruce top with antique figured mahogany back and sides. As you can see, the extra two strings on the bass side are free, the other six fretted as normal. This guitar is fitted with Rodgers tuning machines.
