The Chetboard

I think I've probably asked this before probably of Rande Dager who owns a Grodin guitar, but does the midi output allow one to make it sound like Chet's octobass? Also do they have a model that has a classical guitar neck? You know, two inches wide at the nut. I've found that I play better on a Yahama Classic guitar that my son gave me than I can on my Ovation nylon strung guitar with a 1 7/8 inch neck (go figure). I do want more frets than a true classic guitar allows me and I'm willing to give up the 'choke chords' of my beloved Merle Travis's songs as well as a lot of Chet's tunes (I don't think that Merle Travis ever played a barre chord in his life). I'm supposing that some Grodin neo classic model offers a true classical guitar's neck and string spacing with more high notes available which I would like. Thanks for any advice in advance. As far as the octobass thing, I've always wanted to play some of Chet's music using that instrument.

Hi Rich.....I have owned a Godin guitar for many years now and if it has the "Octabass" capability, I am not aware of it. I use a Roland GR30 for my synthesizer and I have never run across a setting on there for that sound. I do know that Godin makes a 2" classical neck. The guitar that Buster B. Jones played was a classic width I think.

Thanks for the information Roger. I was thinking that using the midi interface each string would be separate somehow and then a synth could make the E and A strings one octave lower. I guess not.

Rich Irvine

Rich, first of all, there is no "r" in Godin. The sounds that you can achieve do not come from the guitar. The guitar is only a midi controller which has to be connected to a midi unit like the Roland GR-30, which has now been replaced with newer models. That controls the sound. I'm not sure about Chet's "octa-bass" sound but there are various bass options. I don't know about coordinating with it in the same way that Chet does with using 3 bass guitar strings. I also don't think that the Godin Multiac assigns separate midi sounds to each string.

Thanks for the correction on the Goden guitar manufacturer name. I don't know how I ever got that other name (Grodin) in my head. Also I thought that Chet's octo bass only involved the E and A strings not the E A and D strings. I never knew. Thanks for the information. It's all grist for the mill!

Sorry Rich, that was a mistake on my part. You are correct that he only replaced the bottom 2 strings with bass strings. I did that once for awhile years ago but you sort of need 2 guitars where one is devoted to that. It's annoying to be stuck with it when you want to play other things!