Sedgwick
© Copyright 2003-2017 Stephen Sedgwick
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
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. Another web site about multi string guitars is Cathedral
Guitars.
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. Another web site about multi string guitars is Cathedral
Guitars.
•
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
•
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
Guitars
Sedgwick
Guitars
© Copyright 2003-2017 Stephen Sedgwick
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
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. Another web site about multi string guitars is Cathedral
Guitars.
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. Another web site about multi string guitars is Cathedral
Guitars.
