NGD: another Forshage Orion

octatonic

About a month ago I took deliver of my second Forshage Orion headless guitar.
This one wasn't made for me- I bought off the peg and unplayed- Mrs Oct collected it from Texas when she was there on business.
I chose well, it is very nice to play, feels the same as my hollow body but a bit weightier sounding, especially when gained up.

Probably not for everyone here (or anyone) but I love Chris' guitars, he makes some of the best handmade guitars I've ever played.

Spec:

Top Wood: Burled Maple
Body Wood: Mahogany  
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Neck Profile: "Slim C"  .847" @ 1st fret .892" @ 12th fret
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro, Maple Binding
Scale Length: 24.9"
Radius: 10″-14″
Frets: Jumbo Stainless, 6105
Inlays: Luminlay Glow in the Dark Dots
Nut: Bone, 1 11/16"
Tuners: ABM Headless
Bridge:  Tunematic
Pickguard: No Pickguard
Pickups: Lollar "High Wind" Imperials  
Controls: 3-way switch, volume and tone, push pull for series/parallel
Finish: Satin Nitro Lacquer  
Weight: 6lbs 7oz

Sesh

Must've been really nice before it melted.

munckee

My brain read NCD another Ford Orion!

Philly_Q

I keep reading it as Onion.

octatonic

Wait until you have to pronounce 'Forshage'.
It isn't the way you think it is pronounced.
It isn't even the second way you think it is pronounced.

Kittyfrisk

I realise that the guitar is probably a marvel of ergonomics, beautifully executed in great wood with precision & skill.
But all I can see is Murun Buchstansangur (80's thing, you had to be there).

Wonky

I'd love one of them.  Looks like a stunner to me.  Well done sir

Winny_Pooh

Quality

earwighoney

octatonic said:

About a month ago I took deliver of my second Forshage Orion headless guitar.
This one wasn't made for me- I bought off the peg and unplayed- Mrs Oct collected it from Texas when she was there on business.
I chose well, it is very nice to play, feels the same as my hollow body but a bit weightier sounding, especially when gained up.

Probably not for everyone here (or anyone) but I love Chris' guitars, he makes some of the best handmade guitars I've ever played.

Spec:

Top Wood: Burled Maple
Body Wood: Mahogany  
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Neck Profile: "Slim C"  .847" @ 1st fret .892" @ 12th fret
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro, Maple Binding
Scale Length: 24.9"
Radius: 10″-14″
Frets: Jumbo Stainless, 6105
Inlays: Luminlay Glow in the Dark Dots
Nut: Bone, 1 11/16"
Tuners: ABM Headless
Bridge:  Tunematic
Pickguard: No Pickguard
Pickups: Lollar "High Wind" Imperials  
Controls: 3-way switch, volume and tone, push pull for series/parallel
Finish: Satin Nitro Lacquer  
Weight: 6lbs 7oz

IMO, the perfect guitar to play 'Smoke on the Water'. 

**

Superb quality of woodwork and guitar making.  I bet the guitar sounds and plays like a delight. 

Kebabkid

Nice one and looks lovely.

I see the specs, essentially, twin humbuckers, mahogany body..but out of interest, given the shape and other appointments and design, what does something like this sound like, i.e. ball park? A Gibson? A PRS, or does it have it's own unique sound? Is it versatile?

grayn

Where do you fit the trem?

octatonic

Kebabkid said:

Nice one and looks lovely.

I see the specs, essentially, twin humbuckers, mahogany body..but out of interest, given the shape and other appointments and design, what does something like this sound like, i.e. ball park? A Gibson? A PRS, or does it have it's own unique sound? Is it versatile?

Sort of setnecky dual humbuckery.
Wouldn’t say Les Paul or PRS though.
It is much lighter (physically) and it has more bottom end than a typical LP when played acoustically.
The Lollars are a familiar pickup, have them in the other Orion, which is a hollow body.
The splits are very good too, like my other one.

The neck though, my god! Chris carves an amazing neck.
The guitar covers a lot of sonic ground, it will do all the fusion/jazz stuff I play easily, great clean tone, takes gain very well, although I wouldn’t use it for metal.

When I’m settled in Switzerland I’ll do a video.

Winny_Pooh

octatonic said:

Wait until you have to pronounce 'Forshage'.
It isn't the way you think it is pronounced.
It isn't even the second way you think it is pronounced.

Foh-ars-hagee 

octatonic

Winny_Pooh said:

octatonic said:

Wait until you have to pronounce 'Forshage'.
It isn't the way you think it is pronounced.
It isn't even the second way you think it is pronounced.

Foh-ars-hagee 

The man himself pronouncing his name:

Kebabkid

octatonic said:

Kebabkid said:

Nice one and looks lovely.

I see the specs, essentially, twin humbuckers, mahogany body..but out of interest, given the shape and other appointments and design, what does something like this sound like, i.e. ball park? A Gibson? A PRS, or does it have it's own unique sound? Is it versatile?

Sort of setnecky dual humbuckery.
Wouldn’t say Les Paul or PRS though.
It is much lighter (physically) and it has more bottom end than a typical LP when played acoustically.
The Lollars are a familiar pickup, have them in the other Orion, which is a hollow body.
The splits are very good too, like my other one.

The neck though, my god! Chris carves an amazing neck.
The guitar covers a lot of sonic ground, it will do all the fusion/jazz stuff I play easily, great clean tone, takes gain very well, although I wouldn’t use it for metal.

When I’m settled in Switzerland I’ll do a video.

Thanks James and sounds good

stonevibe

My morning brain saw it like it like these at first glance


https://gear-vault.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/fernandes-nomad.jpg

octatonic

6lbs 7oz.
Heavier than my hollow body but barely noticeable.

Branshen

Reminds me of those ovation solid body guitars. 

CloudNine

Looks like a Naan Bread, but I have no doubt it is an incredible instrument.

Weren't you planning to get another of these custom built? Is that still happening?

octatonic

CloudNine said:

Looks like a Naan Bread, but I have no doubt it is an incredible instrument.

Weren't you planning to get another of these custom built? Is that still happening?

Yeah that is still happening but Chris' build schedule is heavy and not likely to get it for a year.
It will be an Languedoc style hollow body with a headstock and more jazz voiced pickups.

I'm considering a 7 string 'shred' oriented Orion too.

octatonic

Branshen said:

Reminds me of those ovation solid body guitars. 

A Breadwinner- I guess it is similar in that it is an odd shape but the Ovation is even less ergonomic than a regular guitar.

The Orion is most closely related to the Klein, which itself is based on Steinberger's ideas.
This is a Klein:



They are an 80's design sold into the 90's.
None of them were made with truss rods, just a big chunk of rosewood for a neck.
Some of them are fine... some of the really aren't.

I've had a couple of Steinebergers but never owned a proper Klein, played a few though.
Chris' guitars are quite a bit better- solid tuning, proper electric guitar tone, rather than high output actives in the Kleins.
You could always retrofit any pickups you want I guess but Kleins are now considered collectible and I'd not want to rip one to pieces and there is always the risk the neck will do a pretzel trick on you.