Guitar #063

Swamp Ash 7-string Tele

Completed Feb 27, 2026

Seven string guitars are most often marketed to the Metal Heads, but this guitar is a bit more classic, with a generally "Tele" body shape, and utilizing the iconic combination of woods; a two part Swamp Ash body joined exactly on the center line, a flamed Soft Maple neck, and an Indian Rosewood fret board.  
I built this guitar for myself, with an aim to experimenting with extended chords, bass lines, and bringing "Finger Style" playing to the electric.   As a 7-string, that meant a lot of design changes. including the wider neck, and the change to the head stock for a 5 by 2 tuner layout (Hipshot brand tuners).  Like many of my other electric instruments, I used a lap-joint to attach the neck and then carved the heel for increased access.  The body includes an arm rest and belly cut.  I top mounted all controls and pickups with wiring access at the back of the body.

The pickups are three custom ordered Seymore Duncan 7-string "Stratocaster style", with moderate power for that glassy clarity similar to vintage Fenders.  However, the bridge pickup is "tapped" with switchable vintage or overwound settings via the Tone/Push/Pull knob.  Each pickup has it's own On/Off mini switch, giving seven combinations as compared to the standard blade switch that only gives five.  Using the Push/Pull adds an additional four subtle tone changes.  These pickups together with the woods and construction method work to give this guitar an incredibly long sustain and strat like clairity. 

The bridge is made up of seven Hipshot brand "single string bridge" units, staggered for intonation compensation, installed on a Rosewood "seat", and with through the body string loading.  The Rosewood seat matches the fret board, as will as the pickup rings, knobs, and control cover plate at the back of the instrument.

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