10 String Harp Guitar
These
kinds
of
10-string
instruments
were
common
in
central
Europe
in
the
mid
19th
Century
and
were
played
by
many
top
musicians
of
that
period
such
as
Johann
Kaspar
Mertz
(1806-1856)
and
Ferdinando
Carulli
(1770-1841).
When
they
published
their
music
at
the
time,
it
was
only
ever
arranged
for
6-string
guitar.
The
ten
string
guitar
was
made
more
popular
with
thanks
to
Russian
noble
man
Nicholas
Makaroff
(Makarov)
(1810-
1890),
who
organized
a
competition
for
10-string
guitars
to
be
made
and
music
written
for
them.
The
competition
took
place
in
Brussels
in
1856.
At
the
time
they
had
nylon
strings
with
four
of
the
ten
strings
as
floating
bass
strings
tuned
ABCD.
There
was
also
usually
a
support
arm
for
the
extra
strings. The instrument developed extra bass strings in the late 19th Century and became known as contra bass guitars or Kontragitarre
This
instrument
I
started
to
make
150
years
after
Makaroff's
event
and
is
a
more
modern
approach
with
steel
strings.
The
bridge
is
in
the
middle
of
the
lower
bout
for
better
bass
response
and
thus
the
neck
is
off
set,
which
allows
the
bass
to
resonate
more.
I
used
carbon
fibre
rods
in
the
neck
for
strength
and
to
prevent
the
neck
from
warping
or
twisting.
This
instrument
should
not
be
confused
with
the
20th
century
10-string
Spanish
guitar,
which
was
developed
by
José
Ramirez
III
(1922-1995)
and
Narciso
Yepes
(1927-1997).
The
four
extra
strings
were
originally
just
sympathetic
as
Ramierz III says in his book "
Things About The Guitar
". Modern players sometimes pluck and fret these extra strings like a normal guitar.
•
Soundboard:
European spruce
•
Back & Sides:
Indian Rosewood
•
Neck:
Mahogany
•
Fingerboard:
Ebony
•
Bridge:
Indian Rosewood
•
Rosette:
Mother of Pearl
•
Bindings:
Madagascar rosewood
•
Tuners:
Gotoh and Schaller
•
Finish:
French polish
•
Body Join:
12th fret (22 frets)
•
Nut width:
46mm (1.81")
•
Scale Length:
648mm (25.5")
•
Lower bout:
381mm (15")
•
Body depth:
115mm (4.5")
•
Body length:
495mm (19.5")
•
Cutaway:
Compound Florentine
© Copyright 2003-2025 Stephen Sedgwick