Less Tall Octave Guitar!

pinefd · 01-25-2008, 10:22 PM

By now, you’re probably all familiar with my Less Tall guitars; and if not, below are some links to some previous threads in which these little guitars are highlighted.

The latest chapter in the Less Tall saga began this past November. I was debating what project I wanted to take on next, and was thinking I’d like to make something bigger and fully functional/playable this time, but still not full-size. Then, out of the blue, I was contacted by Matte Henderson, a great guitarist who, as luck would have it, lives just 20 minutes from me. He had heard of my work, and was looking for someone to build him a Les Paul style octave guitar, for use on-stage, and in the studio. The timing was perfect, and so was the project. Thus was born the Less Tall Octave guitar.

In two months time, we went from concept, to (almost) playable guitar. I say almost, because I’m still waiting for some hardware, including the pickup. Otherwise, the construction is completed on the prototype except for the MOP headstock logo, which just arrived today, and which I’ll be installing next week. The guitar features a Honduras mahogany back and neck (long tenon, of course), figured maple cap and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard (with modified Buzzy inlays).

And, for those of you who may not be familiar with what an octave guitar is, it’s a smallish guitar with a short fret scale (in my case approx. 14 ¾ inches) and a normal width fingerboard, that’s tuned one full octave higher than a normal guitar.

pinefd · 01-25-2008, 10:22 PM

Here are photos showing day one of construction, followed by a couple of photos showing the guitar in its’ current state. I hope you like it!

Here are the links to the previous Less Tall threads:

Less Tall gets Johnsonized!
Less Tall Porn!
Baby Duane is Finished!

Frank

diceman · 01-25-2008, 10:31 PM

Outstanding! I'd love to see a shot of it next to one of your Less Talls or a full sized LP to better see the scale. Great work!

pinefd · 01-25-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

Outstanding! I'd love to see a shot of it next to one of your Less Talls or a full sized LP to better see the scale. Great work!

Thanks Diceman! How 'bout one of each type of photo?

diceman · 01-25-2008, 10:44 PM

Your little guitars are among the most amazing things I've seen in the guitar world - they just blow me away! Both of my boys have little Epiphone LP PeeWees - so I can imagine the scale now (as they seem to be the same size as your LT Octave judging from the pictures). I can only imagine how cool the carved top beauties you put together must be!

***FLICKOFLASH*** · 01-26-2008, 02:42 PM

Less Tall Guitars

Axeman16 · 01-26-2008, 04:10 PM

thats sweet! cant wait to see what the finish looks like. what guage strings are on that baby then?

pinefd · 01-26-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

Your little guitars are among the most amazing things I've seen in the guitar world - they just blow me away! Both of my boys have little Epiphone LP PeeWees - so I can imagine the scale now (as they seem to be the same size as your LT Octave judging from the pictures). I can only imagine how cool the carved top beauties you put together must be!

Thanks again, diceman! This guitar is a little chunkier, but shorter than the PeeWee. The fret scale on the PeeWee is probably the same as the black one shown below, and that one is 19 inches (compared to 14 3/4 inches on the octave guitar).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axeman16

thats sweet! cant wait to see what the finish looks like. what guage strings are on that baby then?

I can't wait to see the finish too! Good question regarding string gauge...it takes .008 - .038. I would bet much heavier gauge than that, and you'd have a hard time tuning it up an octave, and you'd risk snapping the neck.

Frank

pinefd · 01-26-2008, 10:26 PM

By the way, in case anyone's interested, check out LT Octave #2 and #3 after one full day of construction:

DucRyder · 01-27-2008, 09:19 PM

Sweet

Mr Bones · 01-27-2008, 09:44 PM

wow, love that flame on #2!

pinefd · 01-27-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DucRyder

Sweet

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmguitars

wow, love that flame on #2!

Thanks guys!

And Nick, yes I love it too...I'll be keeping that one for myself! I've had that wood in the basement for a couple of years now, and just decided to resaw it the other day. And boy, was I pleasantly surprised to see how it came out!

Here's another shot of #1 I took today after making a new pickguard for it out of some Allparts material I got. I think the new one looks a little yellowish, but nice.

Oh, and in case anyone's wondering what's going on the headstock (this week) in addition to the "Less Tall" script:

pinefd · 01-28-2008, 09:29 PM

Today was a slow day around here since both kids were home sick from school. So instead of working in my workshop, I worked on Photoshop instead. Here's just a little glimpse of what the guitar could look like once painted. The color, however, is very much subject to change. Boy, I love Photoshop!

Frank

Mr Bones · 01-28-2008, 09:34 PM

haha, you need to do a better job of virtually scraping the binding!!!

pinefd · 01-28-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmguitars

haha, you need to do a better job of virtually scraping the binding!!!

You noticed!

Yea, the whole picture got pixelated too much. Even the strings are zig-zaggy.

pinefd · 02-22-2008, 11:53 PM

Just a little update for the one or two of you out there who may care. I've made a lot of progress on my octave guitars #2 and 3 since my last post. I need to finish up the fingerboards (which should happen next week), install the headstock logos, drill and install the hardware and electronics, along with some other finishing touches. Then I strip all the hardware back off (as I did in #1 shown with the two others in the second photo below), and then I'm ready to finish them.

Here are #2 and 3:

And here are #1, 2 and 3:

Frank

lp59aholicDon · 02-22-2008, 11:55 PM

Damn Frank Even put long tenon necks in these, TOO Cool man! Cant wait to see the finished goodies

pinefd · 02-22-2008, 11:58 PM

Oh, and BTW, here's a photo of the installed headstock logo on #1:

Frank

lp59aholicDon · 02-23-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

Oh, and BTW, here's a photo of the installed headstock logo on #1:

Frank

" Gigsum" Thats cool Frank ! Gigsum, GitSum !

pinefd · 02-23-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Damn Frank Even put long tenon necks in these, TOO Cool man! Cant wait to see the finished goodies

Why, of course, Don! They are built to vintage specs in every way...except size and proportion (and the fact that they're missing a pickup, the knobs and pots associated with that pickup and the selector switch).

Roman Rist · 02-23-2008, 12:05 AM

Frank, you are truly an Artist!

pinefd · 02-23-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFR

Frank, you are truly an Artist!

Thanks Roman! That means a lot coming from you.

BTW, I figured I'd move the discussion of these little guys off your thread, and back onto mine where it belongs.

Roman Rist · 02-23-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefd

Thanks Roman! That means a lot coming from you.

BTW, I figured I'd move the discussion of these little guys off your thread, and back onto mine where it belongs.

pinefd · 03-06-2008, 07:54 PM

After about 5 1/2 weeks of work, I'm closing in on completing LT Octave #2 and 3. Just need to do some gluing up, and final shaping of a couple of things, and then it's on to finishing! Here's a progress photo as of today, showing #1, 2 and 3:

Frank

61LPSG · 03-06-2008, 10:03 PM

Geeze I love your porn Frank, beautiful workmanship, and that top on #1 is sublime.

Alec
P.S. Thanks to you, Greg, and Roman I've got the bug. Started to clear some of my "stuff" out of the garage to make room to build.( the Wife calls it my S*#t pile) Gonna start with something easier like a Tele-ish style.

01-25-2008, 10:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Less Tall Octave Guitar! By now, you’re probably all familiar with my Less Tall guitars; and if not, below are some links to some previous threads in which these little guitars are highlighted. The latest chapter in the Less Tall saga began this past November. I was debating what project I wanted to take on next, and was thinking I’d like to make something bigger and fully functional/playable this time, but still not full-size. Then, out of the blue, I was contacted by Matte Henderson, a great guitarist who, as luck would have it, lives just 20 minutes from me. He had heard of my work, and was looking for someone to build him a Les Paul style octave guitar, for use on-stage, and in the studio. The timing was perfect, and so was the project. Thus was born the Less Tall Octave guitar. In two months time, we went from concept, to (almost) playable guitar. I say almost, because I’m still waiting for some hardware, including the pickup. Otherwise, the construction is completed on the prototype except for the MOP headstock logo, which just arrived today, and which I’ll be installing next week. The guitar features a Honduras mahogany back and neck (long tenon, of course), figured maple cap and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard (with modified Buzzy inlays). And, for those of you who may not be familiar with what an octave guitar is, it’s a smallish guitar with a short fret scale (in my case approx. 14 ¾ inches) and a normal width fingerboard, that’s tuned one full octave higher than a normal guitar.

01-25-2008, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Here are photos showing day one of construction, followed by a couple of photos showing the guitar in its’ current state. I hope you like it! Here are the links to the previous Less Tall threads: Less Tall gets Johnsonized! Less Tall Porn! Baby Duane is Finished! Frank

01-25-2008, 10:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,045 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Outstanding! I'd love to see a shot of it next to one of your Less Talls or a full sized LP to better see the scale. Great work! __________________ 1969 Gibson Deluxe / 08 Gibson R8 / Epi Elitists: Standard & Custom / Epi Custom & Studio Goth - '65 Fender Jaguar My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

01-25-2008, 10:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,045 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Your little guitars are among the most amazing things I've seen in the guitar world - they just blow me away! Both of my boys have little Epiphone LP PeeWees - so I can imagine the scale now (as they seem to be the same size as your LT Octave judging from the pictures). I can only imagine how cool the carved top beauties you put together must be! __________________ 1969 Gibson Deluxe / 08 Gibson R8 / Epi Elitists: Standard & Custom / Epi Custom & Studio Goth - '65 Fender Jaguar My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

01-26-2008, 02:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
*FLICKOFLASH* GLOBAL EMO MOD Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hagerstown,MD USA Posts: 9,377 Thanks: 18 Thanked 98 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Less Tall Guitars __________________ http://www.marshallforum.com/ http://www.geartalk.com/forums/index.php http://www.gpickups.com/forum/ http://www.sevenstring.org/

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01-26-2008, 04:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Axeman16 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,996 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! thats sweet! cant wait to see what the finish looks like. what guage strings are on that baby then?

01-26-2008, 10:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! By the way, in case anyone's interested, check out LT Octave #2 and #3 after one full day of construction:

01-27-2008, 09:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
DucRyder Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Sweet

01-27-2008, 09:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mr Bones V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 225 Parsons Street Posts: 754 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! wow, love that flame on #2!

01-28-2008, 09:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Today was a slow day around here since both kids were home sick from school. So instead of working in my workshop, I worked on Photoshop instead. Here's just a little glimpse of what the guitar could look like once painted. The color, however, is very much subject to change. Boy, I love Photoshop! Frank

01-28-2008, 09:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mr Bones V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 225 Parsons Street Posts: 754 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! haha, you need to do a better job of virtually scraping the binding!!!

02-22-2008, 11:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Just a little update for the one or two of you out there who may care. I've made a lot of progress on my octave guitars #2 and 3 since my last post. I need to finish up the fingerboards (which should happen next week), install the headstock logos, drill and install the hardware and electronics, along with some other finishing touches. Then I strip all the hardware back off (as I did in #1 shown with the two others in the second photo below), and then I'm ready to finish them. Here are #2 and 3: And here are #1, 2 and 3: Frank __________________ Check out my website at: www.lesstallguitars.com And check out some of my personal gear at: Historic Les Paul Database

02-22-2008, 11:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
lp59aholicDon Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Carolina in the Mountains Posts: 5,223 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Damn Frank Even put long tenon necks in these, TOO Cool man! Cant wait to see the finished goodies

02-22-2008, 11:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Oh, and BTW, here's a photo of the installed headstock logo on #1: Frank __________________ Check out my website at: www.lesstallguitars.com And check out some of my personal gear at: Historic Les Paul Database

02-23-2008, 12:05 AM	#21 (permalink)
Roman Rist Master Luthier V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: LA Posts: 2,791 Thanks: 0 Thanked 28 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Frank, you are truly an Artist! __________________ Factories build guitars for profit, Luthiers build them for players http://www.ristguitars.com/ http://www.myspace.com/ristguitars www.wbpickups.com www.bcrmusic.com http://www.vintagerestorations.net/ http://www.maxguitars.com/pages/649910/index.htm

03-06-2008, 07:54 PM	#24 (permalink)
pinefd V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,028 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! After about 5 1/2 weeks of work, I'm closing in on completing LT Octave #2 and 3. Just need to do some gluing up, and final shaping of a couple of things, and then it's on to finishing! Here's a progress photo as of today, showing #1, 2 and 3: Frank __________________ Check out my website at: www.lesstallguitars.com And check out some of my personal gear at: Historic Les Paul Database

03-06-2008, 10:03 PM	#25 (permalink)
61LPSG Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In the shadow of TMI Posts: 633 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Less Tall Octave Guitar! Geeze I love your porn Frank, beautiful workmanship, and that top on #1 is sublime. Alec P.S. Thanks to you, Greg, and Roman I've got the bug. Started to clear some of my "stuff" out of the garage to make room to build.( the Wife calls it my S*#t pile) Gonna start with something easier like a Tele-ish style. __________________ Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt...