Extended range guitar

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List of extended-range guitar players

An extended range guitar is a guitar with more than 6 strings. For certain microtonal guitars, e.g. the Kite guitar, this may not actually increase the range, because the interval between strings may be smaller than usual.

With more strings, it's important to avoid both a too-wide neck and a too-tight string spacing. The 7-string Russian guitar (now also made in Ukraine and Romania) tends to have a narrower fingerboard and a tighter spacing than a 7-string classical guitar.

General resources

Forums

• SevenString.org

Models

Sources for 7- and 8-string guitars, both acoustic and electric:

Low-end (US$200-400)

Grote (China)

7-string archtop semi-acoustic

Very favorable review that claims it's a great value for the price:

https://riverheightsmusic.com/grote-guitars-review-7-string-arch-top/

Trembita (Ukraine)

7-string steel string

https://trembita-guitars.com/index

Leo Tone (Ukraine)

7-string steel string with tight string spacing

https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Guitar-Acoustic-Classical-Cutaway/dp/B00L2K6DJY

Somewhat unfavorable review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZd1b-yJqrs

Jackson

US$200 7-string electric: https://www.jacksonguitars.com/en-US/guitars/js-series/js-series-dinky-arch-top-js22-7-dka-ht/2910132568.html

Thomann Classica

US$322 7-string nylon: https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_classica_fusion_7_string.htm

US$339 8-string nylon: https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_classica_fusion_8_string.htm

Mid-range (US$500-1200)

Ortega

7-string model:

https://reverb.com/item/65299164-family-series-pro-7-string-solid-top-nylon-classical-guitar-w-bag

Agile

various 7 and 8 strings, sold in the US by Rondo

https://reverb.com/shop/rondo-music

Ibanez (Japan)

various models

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/search/electric_guitars/list/?cf_search_strings=7&cf_search_strings=8

discontinued US$900 7-string classical: https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/G207CWC

High-end (US$1200 and up)

Ovation

Discontinued $1200 8-string steel string: musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ovation-1788tx-5-elite-tx-mid-depth-8-string-acoustic-electric-guitar

Discontinued $1600 8-string steel string: sweetwater.com/store/detail/C2088AXPSTB--ovation-exoticwoods-custom-elite-8-string-sapele-tobacco-burst

Try to get an Ovation case, as it won't fit in most other cases.

Rozini (Brazil)

7 and 8 strings

https://rozinibrazil.com/en/categoria_de_produtos/guitars/

Kremona (Bulgaria)

US$1599 7-string nylon: https://www.kremonausa.com/en/performer-series/fiesta-cw-7-kremona

Their website claims they can make any sort of custom guitar, so they might make a microtonal one?

Nut and saddle widths

Nut width #2 and saddle width are both measured from the outside edges of the two outer strings (i.e. the highest and lowest strings).

Nut gap is the average edge-to-next-edge gap (See How to make a Kite Guitar#String Spacing)

12th fret refers to 12edo frets, i.e. midway between nut and bridge.

Saddle gap is the average gap between strings, measured edge-to-edge.

	strings	type	nut width		nut width #2		nut gap		12th fret width		saddle width		saddle gap
Leo Tone L-15	7 steel	acoustic	1.9"	48.5mm	1.59"	40.5mm	0.48"	12.4mm	2.25"	57.3mm	2.37"	60.3mm	0.36"	9.1mm
Doff	7 nylon	classical	2"	51mm	1.72"	43.8mm	0.53"	13.6mm	2.24"	57.1mm	2.51"	63.8mm	0.38"	9.6mm
Eastman AR810CE	7 steel	archtop	2 1/8"	54mm	1.86"	47.5mm	0.59"	15.1mm	2.42"	61.5mm	2.39"	60.7mm	0.37"	9.4mm
Ibanez G207CWC	7 nylon	classical	2.4"	61.2mm	2.08"	52.9mm	0.65"	16.5mm	2.69"	68.5mm	2.72"	69.1mm	0.41"	10.5mm