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.
An x-ray photograph showing the interior workings of a Roudhloff Melophonic guitar, which appeared in Dr. James Westbrook’s book, “The century that shaped the guitar”, was my first introduction to the idea of using an X-brace to support the soundboard in a classical guitar. Between 2009 and 2016 I used X-bracing in a similar way to the Roudhloffs, adapting it in a variety of ways to suit my existing guitar body shapes. I found it to be a very flexible system that worked well whatever the size of the box.
So, in 2017, when I was approached to make a Roudhloff style 8-string guitar, I was keen to employ the X-brace pattern in it. It was the first time I would use it in a Roudhloff body shape. At that time I had only seen the X used in Melophonic guitars and assumed that the 8-string models were all ladder-braced. However, I learned recently that there are some original X- braced 8 -string guitars floating about too! It is also possible that they were adapted at a later date. Anyway, it means that my X – braced Roudhloff 8 string guitars are not alone in the world.
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.
