Ormsby GTR Lineup

[Axkoa]

Alright guys, don't know if any of you have seen or heard about it, but the Australian Luthier Perry Ormsby from Ormsby Guitars started up a production line for Ormsby Guitars called the GTR line up.

Pretty much the whole line up are Multi-scale guitars. So each string has a different scale length, which just happens to coincide with the fact that the way that it is shaped means you don't have to bend your hand as much.

But god damn they're some amazing guitars.

Here is one of the new guitars that is currently for sale, the Ormsby GTR Goliath.

Now tell me to my face that this guitar is ugly you don't want to play it ever. Especially considering you can get this exact guitar $1819 AUD, or around $1400 USD.

Another one of their guitars is the Hype GTR:

Another example of one of their amazing guitars.

If you guys are interesting check out their website.

http://www.ormsbyguitars.com/gtr-production-models.html

Pretty much, you can get 6, 7, or 8 string versions of every single one of their GTR guitars, no upcharge for lefties, and the price isn't too bad. Now, if only I had enough money to get a 7 string Copper Printed Goliath...

 

[line6man]

The first one looks like the lovechild of a Dingwall, a Steinberger, and a Ritter.  :headbang1:

 

[stratamania]

I'm sure they are well made guitars. Not my thing however.

 

[Logrinn]

I saw Premier Guitars coverage from NAMM of them on Youtube a while back

[youtube]g6doUY7K8qs[/youtube]

I think they look a lot like some models from swedish Strandberg guitars.

Personally, I don't buy the whole ergonomic concept of a fanned fretboard being more easy to play. The argument being that if you use a barre chord, your fingers will line up more naturally on the lower frets. That might be so, but what if you don't play chords like that? What if you want to do single note runs starting from from the lower strings on the lower frets? You will suddenly have serious problems reaching those notes. That seems as far from ergonomic as can be to me.
So you might guess from this, that I'm not a fan of fanned fretboards  :icon_biggrin:

 

[pabloman]

I saw Premier Guitars coverage from NAMM of them on Youtube a while back

[youtube]g6doUY7K8qs[/youtube]

I think they look a lot like some models from swedish Strandberg guitars.

Personally, I don't buy the whole ergonomic concept of a fanned fretboard being more easy to play. The argument being that if you use a barre chord, your fingers will line up more naturally on the lower frets. That might be so, but what if you don't play chords like that? What if you want to do single note runs starting from from the lower strings on the lower frets? You will suddenly have serious problems reaching those notes. That seems as far from ergonomic as can be to me.
So you might guess from this, that I'm not a fan of fanned fretboards  :icon_biggrin:

Have you ever played one? I mean really spent some time on one or is your opinion based on what you imagine it'd be like. I'd like to hear from guys that have experience with fanned fret and multi-scale guitars.

 

[Logrinn]

No, I haven't played one.
But since I've recently realized that the scale that suits me best is 24" - the 25,5" of Strats' and Teles' is much too awkward to play for me - I can tell from the Ormsby specs - which seem to be 25,5" to 27,5"(!) - that I will not find them enjoyable to play.
I'm off to a music store this morning, and I'll be sure to try some model (probably Ibanez) that has fanned frets and give you my thoughts of it.

 

[mayfly]

I'd be interested in trying one.  If it works out, why not have a telecaster like that?

 

[pabloman]

I wish I could find some locally to play. Seems interesting at least.

 

[Axkoa]

I wish I could find some locally to play. Seems interesting at least.

I'm not sure what stores stock them but Ormsby have a couple of stores over the world where they stock the GTR lineup.

I'd be interested in trying one.  If it works out, why not have a telecaster like that?

They are a custom guitar company, so they do make and sell any kind of guitar that you would want. Want a multiscale telecaster? Just custom order one.  Though to be fair, they would be a lot more expensive than this lineup of guitars.

 

[Logrinn]

Today I had the opportunity to try an Ibanez seven string with fanned frets.
Now I can definitely say that this is not something for me. Like I had imagined - since I'm a 24" scale type of guy - the much longer scale on the lower strings make some stuff impossible to play. Not harder, but impossible. Just like it isn't possible to play more than octaves or perhaps ninths on a piano* because of the limitation of hand size. If you've got gigantic hands, then sure, it would work, but for me a guitar with fanned frets and longer scale length strings on the lower strings is the opposite of an instrument that I feel is easy to play.
And like I also suspected, the stated ergonomic reason for the fanned frets is a thing for certain fingerings, like some chords. But for anything else, it's the opposite of ergonomic. It actually forces the wrist to extreme unnatural angles a lot of times.

So, thanks, but no thanks. :guitaristgif:

*unless of course you've got hands like Horowitz
[youtube]7ClDFmFmr0k[/youtube]

 

[mayfly]

Good to know.

 

[amigarobbo]

I'd be interested in trying one.  If it works out, why not have a telecaster like that?

Never tried fanned frets, would like to give it a whirl.


Not too sure about their deification of Brasilian Rosewood though. http://www.ormsbyguitars.com/tonewoods.html

 

[bagman67]

Yeah, the whole tonewood thing is tremendously overstated.  These guys build solid-body electric guitars, so while certain very general tendencies are going to be true, much of what they claim about given timbers is purest hype.  And yeah, I think their elevation of Brazilian rosewood is rather absurd.  It was comparatively cheap and available when Martin started building instruments, so that's what everyone thinks a guitar SHOULD sound like.  I think our friends at Taylor have taught us that a thing is not necessarily worse if it was not manufactured in accordance with tradition.  So, for that matter, do the members of this forum.  And given the comparatively advanced instruments Ormsby are making, it's rather surprising.  But then, they're interested in commanding the highest price they can, so why not pump it up?

 

[amigarobbo]

I think it's more the 'this unobtanium that we can, wink-wink, on occasion get hold of, at a price' is like the best EVA, rather than some general 'Tonewood mass Debate' that's been so entertaining.

 

[Re-Pete]

I think it's more the 'this unobtanium that we can, wink-wink, on occasion get hold of, at a price' is like the best EVA, rather than some general 'Tonewood mass Debate' that's been so entertaining.

They might be able to get their hands on some Brazilian Rosewood, but it appears they are not going to be able to get full CITES documentation for it, as they are not exporting guitars made with it.

All this tonewood talk is very subjective and quite often a cause of vibrant debate online. A lot of that debate revolves around how the wood sounds when placed into an acoustic guitar though. The reputation for Brazilian Rosewood as a premium tonewood came from prior to the electric solid body guitar. And it just so happened that firstly, Gibson and then Fender started putting fretboards of Brazilian Rosewood on their guitars and noticed the difference to tone. Is it any better to other Rosewoods? I don't know. I have seen one acoustic guitar with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and the deep chocolate look was fantastic. But tone wise?  :dontknow: