Russian guitar Russian guitar The Russian guitar (sometimes referred to as a "Gypsy guitar") is an acoustic seven-string guitar that was developed in Russia toward the end of the 18th century: it shares most of its organological features with the Spanish guitar, although some historians insist on English guitar ascendancy. It is known in Russian as the "semistrunnaya gitara" (семиструнная гитара), or affectionately as the "semistrunka" (семиструнка), which translates to "seven-stringer". These guitars are most commonly tuned to an open G chord as follows: . In classical literature, the lowest string (D) occasionally is tuned down to the C. Although in a
Classical electric guitar Classical electric guitar Gibson guitars marketed a new hybrid in 1982. Developed with guitarist Chet Atkins and Kentucky luthier Hascal Haile, the "Chet Atkins CEC (Cutaway Electric Classical)" merged solid-body electric guitar with classical guitar, resulting in a nylon-string instrument that could be played at high volumes in large auditoriums without feedback. Classical guitarists have given the innovation little credence, but pop and rock music stars like Sting, Earl Klugh, Zappacosta, David Gilmour, Jack Johnson and Gipsy Kings have played it to millions of concert-goers. Gibson also manufactured a model called the Chet Atkins CE which had a smaller 1-7/8"