NGD: Tommyhawk Baby Blue

jeroenvanhulsteijn

Got this in a trade. I like peculiar instruments and this truly piqued my interest so I offered a trade and it was accepted. Happy me. It is a Tommyhawk travel guitar built by the late Tom Barth. It is said around 300ish Tommyhawks where built. This built was made for the Blue collection (Scott Chinery). It came with the suitcase (I think it was meant for carrying a violing or something like that) and the Blue Guitar book. According the book Tom Barth made a 12 string and bass version as well.

Well, it is small and very loud. Didn't expect that much volume from such a small thing. It is a very remarkable sound. It rings and is kinda boxy. Tuned in A. I think strings can alter the sound quite a bit. It sounds a bit like a mix between uke and charango I guess.

Anyways, pics or it didn't happen;

guitarjack66

The fretboard looks wider than the guitar! It's a funny looking little thing,definitely a curio if you like.

Mellish

Well it's.......different . But if it suits you, and it plays well, that's job done isn't it? 

Tannin

Wow!

What is the scale length? What strings does it take? And what is the width across the nut?

Soupman

Interesting. The bridge saddle design is unusual, but I see the individual saddles have been set for intonation. Are they fixed or moveable?

bertie

Soupman said:

Interesting. The bridge saddle design is unusual, but I see the individual saddles have been set for intonation. Are they fixed or moveable?

Ive seen it before on late 60s/early 70s  guitar

Mellish

@Soupman ; the saddles look fixed. If they'll come out (or even if they won't), material could be removed (front or back) to fine-tune intonation  

jeroenvanhulsteijn

Tannin said:

Wow!

What is the scale length? What strings does it take? And what is the width across the nut?

Currently it has metal strings (I don't know whether it is steel or bronze) on it. Scale measures 17.1/4" (~43,5mm) approximately. Nut width approximately 1.1/4" (~44mm). Rosewood bridge and fretboard, abalone dot positions. Body is carved from a solid peace of mahogany. Solid sitka spruce top.

The saddles are fixed in place but threaded, so I guess you can alter the elevation somewhat.