Oh man, this is something that I've been interested in for a long time. The biggest problem would be if you wanted a low B string that projected or not. Jack Read said that he could make me an acoustic 6 string if I wanted it primarily to use electrified. www.readcustom.com.
Someone on TB has one, I saw it in a post once. I will see if I can remember where I saw it. The only other one I have ever seen is in the Steve Bailey Instructional video.
Richard Lindsey (from NY) has a Shuker-Lamaq 6string ABG: Very tasty. Alternatively, I use a 5 string tuned E-A-D-G-C. Gives me the nice top end but without the B which doesn't really cut it unplugged anyway. I can recommend TI Acousticore 6 string sets though. BEEOOTIFUL.
AS mentioned before, I think a TB member got one a while back - all I remember is that he's from Georgia, FWIW. Steve Bailey's ABG in his video was a Larrivee.
I've got an Athlete AX-6 ABG. It's pretty cool. I still flip flop with selling it, but now that I've finally found some strings that I like on it (TI Jazz Rounds), I might keep it around for a while. They are certainly few and far between, I agree. The low B sounds okay unplugged, but sounds just fine when it's plugged in. I just used it at a jazz gig here that was recorded. I can't wait to get the cds back from that gig once they mix it down. Athlete no longer exists, and I don't think there are any production 6 string ABGs. None that I know of, anyway. Oh, Roland Guerin (New Orleans based jazz cat who plays with the Marsalis family) has one, too. And, he's much better on his than I am on mine.
Sure thing, 'Zilla. I don't have any on my webspace right now, but I found this one that I sent as an attachment to TB. And, here's the insane flamed maple on the back:
Are they available??? Anyone know a manufacturer that currently makes them? Who.. What.. Where.. When.. How much..
Somebody rang? They sure don't seem to be that common, do they? Mine was made by Jon Shuker and Antonio Lamaq in England. Jon's site is www.shukerguitars.co.uk. However, he doesn't make the ABGs any more. He's now sticking to BGs, EUBs, and Rob Allen-like isntruments, and Antonio Lamaq (who also goes by Marc) is doing ABGs, as well as his own line of concert classicals. Marc has been moving around a bit, and I don't think he's got a website working yet. You could try e-mailing him at guitarbloke@lineone.net. Tell him I sent you. I don't know what his current prices are, but a rough guess would be that a 6-string ABG might be anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000. But that's only a guess. Besides bassmonkeee's maker, whose name escapes me, the only other 6 string ABG maker I can think of is Harvey Leach (www.leachguitars.com). He makes both flattop and archtop ABGs. His site doesn't say much if anything about 6 string ABGs AFAICS, but I e-mailed him once a year or two ago and he said he could do it. His flattop ABGs start at $5,300 (for a 4), and his archtop ABGs start at $10,000. I think his waiting list is pretty long, too. Oh wait, I thought of another one. I e-mailed a guy named Ross Teigen about this a couple years ago, and IIRC he thought he could do me one for about $3000. Haven't spoken to him since and dunno if he's even still doing this, since the website seems not to have been revised in a while. Anyway, the website is www.teigenguitars.com (look in the "Custom Examples" section).
I appreciate the info Richard. [size=huge]WAAAAAAY[/size] out of the price range I was looking at, but thanks!!
I was just about to post that Shakur was the only person that I was aware of who was making them, but, alas, Richard had to come and pee on your cake. Or, something.... Mine is an Athlete, but they aren't around anymore, either.
I know a guy from Montréal how's currently making one, it's Pierre Laporte... the same dude how's building my long overdue 7 string! The guy is very cool, he's work is great, but he's over booked. He primarily makes acoustic guitar which are as good if not better then the Larrivé guitars. I haven't ask about price, but I'd guess around 3500 to 4000 can$ should be a good ballpark figure. PL
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