Tonnie's 7 string ASAS. This is a first for me - an ASAS Semi but with 7 Strings. Tonnie plays jazz with a low A string and wanted a guitar with the archtop looks with less feedback potential so the semi was the obvious way to go as construction allows for high volume playing yet adds a touch of the 'woodiness' that comes from a hollow body. Tonnie had lots of other ideas. The ebony floating bridge contains RMC piezo saddles that are connected to a RMC Polydrive 1 which creates MIDI signals which are routed out via a 13 way DIN socket to drive a Roland guitar synth. This works for the normal E to E strings only but all seven strings have piezo output which can be used alone or in combination with the magnetic pickups. The circuitry requires a 9 volt battery that is fitted into the back of the guitar. The wood for the top, back and sides is fine figured maple from Croatia hand carved from solid, the neck is a laminate of flamed maples and the fingerboard is ebony. To minimise reflection of light Tonnie wanted a silk finish and the colour was chosen to be similar to instruments of the violin family. The ebony tailpiece, scratchplate and knobs continue this theme. The fretwire is made from treated nickel silver that is gold coloured and chosen by Tonnie. I had never seen this before. |
