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I was doing a Google search for adjustable necks and came across this web site. Anyone heard one of these guitars? What do you make of this concept?

lateral compression soundboard

If you click on "introduction" it looks like one of those posts is in the way of that guys arm.

Anyhow, not that the language was particularly demeaning, but I do find it amusing that whenever someone brings a "new" innovation to light they seem to insinuate that the existing design is just a mess of poorly designed stupidity.

That system doesn't seem too much different than an archtop. It appears to have the same kind of bridge movement without the pulling. Its a different monster all together.

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Kevin Ko uses a cantilevered tailpiece design (patented) to accomplish a similar objective - nylon or steel string.

Yea, I thought it looked awkward to play too. I'm not championing the idea. It's just interesting to see all the ways there are to skin the cat.

Ah the wonders of ad hype.

If it's any good that design will take over the world in about 15 years. Luthiers aren't fools.

Okay I'll contact him if you want to play it, it'll cost you the price of shipping. Who wants in? I'd for one like to play the thing and give it a listen!

I've played one Bruce and I kept catching my shirt buttons on the strings!

It sounded OK but nothing special, certainly no better than any other custom guitar I've played, including my own. I do like the idea of splitting the saddle and bridge pin part of the bridge, but I think the full compression part of the design need to be proven. His neck design is probably more interesting than the tops.

But then again, as my wife tells me, I'm usually wrong.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Um, not that I'm an expert or anything, but looking at this thing reminds me of a saying in boat building and hull design "If it looks right, it probably is".

The opposite must be equally true.

The conventional wisdom about having a tailpiece on a flattop is that it doesn't put enough downforce on the bridge, and the strings can't rotate the bridge. If that's true, then these guitars would have some of those problems.

Hmmm. This is a little different than a tailpiece which transfers much of the tension to the rim. I never thought about shirt buttons, makes sense Colin.

Okay, what's the deal with the neck? I missed that.

The neck is adjustable, Bruce. But it only adjusts in the up and down plane. I would think that you would also need to be able to adjust the angle, but I could be wrong...

As far as the bridge, take a look at Alvarez-Yari and I'll think you'll see some similarities. However, the Alverez bridge IS glued down. If bridge has to easily move to correct the intonation, and especially frequently, I'd worry about the guitar in the first place.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I saw one of these guitars advertised on ebay before Christmas and I checked out the website. I thought the neck and the bridge were very interesting, especially from an repair/setup stand point. I think the spread out strings are a little too strange for the buying public. They would get in the way of playing, wouldn't they?

A decade or more ago, luthier Steve Grimes and inventor/builder Ned Steinberger patented a lateral-compression system that did use a tailpiece. It looks like Babicz is trying to not infringe on their design.

The concept differs from a standard bridge and/or tailpiece design in that you're getting virtually the same force on the top as a "normal" bridge--it's just side-to-side instead of down or up. That seems to be the theory, anyway.

How's it sound? Well, I got to briefly try a Grimes flattop with that design several years ago at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI. It had the biggest-sounding bass and the longest sustain this side of a Kasha/Schneider. Very unlike any other steel-string I've ever played (and in a good way!).

So, why haven't you heard of this before? Grimes and Steinberger sold the rights to their design to Gibson--thinking it would be made available to the larger public at a more affordable price than Grimes could provide from his small shop. Instead, Gibson just sat on it. I believe you can still special-order one of these from Mr. Grimes, but, of course, at his (deservedly) premium price.

Lutherie is not just a job--it's an adventure!

By the way, angle-adjustable necks go back to the 19th century!

Carlton

I've never had a chance to play one so thanks for your review. I'm just not sure about the neck and floating bridge. I know adjustable necks have been around a long time. But, with the inclusion of Cumpiano neck joint, adjustable truss rods and carbon fiber reinforcements, I don't know if they are really necessary for long term stability and intonation. I guess its just another way of going about it. To each his own.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA