Add String - 7 string conversion

[drathbun]

I just received my Add String 7 string converter kit. It is made in Holland. Here is the website:

 

Add String

 

With this kit you can add the octave G string to a six string guitar just like Martin did with the Martin D-7 Roger McGuinn model. McGuinn actually asked Martin to make this model for him so he would not have to tour with two acoustics. He could travel with just one guitar.

 

I think I'm going to install it on my Gibson Songwriter. It is completely reversible except for the extra nut slot you have to cut for the 7th string. It also comes with a sound hole appliance that allows you to push the octave G out of the way so you can play your six string as normal.

 

Here is Roger with his D-7:

 

Here is the Add String kit:

 

 

The kit contains:

 

Tuner (clamps on headstock)

Bridge ball-end clip for standard pin bridges

Bridge ball-end clip for Ovation style bridges

Nut slot spacer guide

Nut file .009

Sound hole appliance

009 plain steel string

[BigKahune]

.

Interesting gizmo.

 

I'm looking forward to a review and a sounds clip. . B)

 

 

.

[drathbun]

Well it was a breeze to install with a few interesting twists.

 

The tuner clamps on to the headstock of the guitar. However, I was expecting, like any device that would clamp to the surface of my guitar, the surface would be well protected. There is a rubber pad on the clamp part but nothing on the upper "feet" or "arms" and nothing on the face that would take the most stress when the string is pulling on the tuner. It is bare painted metal. I'll have none of that, so I put some felt pads on those surfaces:

 

 

Clamping the tuner to the headstock was now not an issue.

 

 

Next, you thread a .009 string through the plastic clip and snap it behind your bridge pins to hold the octave G string. So far so good.

 

 

Now a tricky part. You have to file a new slot in the nut to accept the .009 string. The kit comes with a spacer that clips to the G and B strings and a nut file that you press against the spacer to get the right distance for the slot. If you've never filed a nut slot before, this might be daunting. I think many guitarists might shy away from this part and get a guitar tech to do it. Fortunately, I've filed many a nut slot and have a full set of nut files, so this was not new to me. The key is to protect your headstock with tape (a credit card works nicely here too) and cut the new slot with the file tilted slightly towards the headstock. You only file deep enough to allow the string to sit in the slot with the top of the string slightly protruding over the nut.

 

 

The last piece is a soundhole fitting with a button on it. This slides on to the top of the soundhole and allows you to push the octave G under the button to get it out of the way when you want to simply play 6 string. This piece is made of plastic with clips. There was no way it would fit out of the box, unless you guitar top is 1/16" thick. I had to take needle nose pliers and carefully pry the plastic clips apart to be wide enough to slide on to the top without scratching it. Fortunately, the plastic is slightly rubberized and flexible. I had visions of it snapping like a twig when I was adjusting it. After some careful positioning, it fit on to the Songwriter. The point at the end of the fret board on some Gibsons like my Songwriter prevents the device from sliding fully into place but it still works.

 

I'll do some sound clips and post them. Very interesting!

 

[duluthdan]

this I gotta hear...

[milod]

Actually the first I saw of a 7-string in this configuration was John Koerner's.

 

But I've a hunch he got the idea too from such as Big Joe Williams' 9-string.

 

It's really a lot easier on an archtop - and also then can be used electric whether originally supplied that way or not. I did it back in the mid '60s myself and used it for everything from the sorts of stuff here to rock lead guitar.

 

m

 

here's what Koerner was doing in the early/mid '60s with one.

 

 

or more fun

 

[milod]

One more...

 

Maybe a bit more obvious with the octaved string.

 

m

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0Vzj6Ane0