What does CNC mean?

CNC is short for "computer numerically controlled" and refers to a type of machinery commonly used around the world for manufacturing of all types, especially guitars.    The machine is basically an overhead router that instead of using templates for repeatability and precision, uses a computer generated coordinate system.

The majority of the time spent building a Megatar is still hand work.  But the CNC does a lot of the loudest and dirtiest processes such as the basic shaping of the body contours and cavities while also offering a higher level of precision than would normally be possible for some key processes such as the fret slots.  

Although almost all instrument makers are taking advantage of the increased efficiency and precision of CNC equipment, most of them use that fact as a way to increase profits.  At Megatar we see it as a way to make better instruments more affordable.    And where most manufacturers are assembling instruments from a kit of pre-fabricated components and calling it lutherie, Megatars are individually hand-built from rough lumber to finished instruments right here in our northern California studio.  Compare our sound, features, playability, design and quality with any other maker and you will see that the Megatar represents the best value of any tapping instrument available today.

From whence it came.

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What sort of Amplification will I need?

What Kind of Amplification will I need?

How do you amplify your fretboard tapping instrument?

We cannot answer this question exactly, because your music and your ears will determine what’s true for you. However, as an overview, here is some information about the different ways we’ve seen people amplify their tapping instruments –

TWO AMPS

Because the instrument has bass and melody outputs, some people simply use a bass amp for the bass side and a guitar amp for the melody side. 

Of course two amps cost more than one amp, and you have to carry them both around, but it is a fact that bass amps are built so as to be very kind to the sound from bass strings, and guitar amps are built so as to be very kind to the sound from guitar strings. So this two-amp plan does work pretty well for getting a great sound.  

Having separate signal chains means control over the sound of the two string sets individually such that the bass side can be a bass and the guitar side can shred or jazz it up or whatever.

Best if you think of the instrument like a bass and a guitar on one neck, and want a separate sound for each of them.

ONE AMP

Some players treat the instrument like it is all one animal with a wide range rather than as two separate things.  Mono output and one signal chain, with one sound, and one amp.  For example the bass player who plays the instrument like a 12-string extended-range bass.

If you’re selecting a single amp, the thing to beware of is this:  Some bass amps will be weak in the higher registers and some guitar amps will leave of the lowest bass frequencies. However, some bass amps and guitar amps can produce excellent results.  High-end bass amps will generally reach high enough into the upper frequencies for good projection on the highest Megatar strings, and are generally preferred over guitar amps.

Your ears must be your guide. And most any guitar store will let you try amps as much as you like.

ONE MULTI-CHANNEL KEYBOARD-TYPE AMP 

Some players use this particular method, because it allows them to have one easy to carry amp that can handle very low and very high noted. Keyboard amps or PA-type amps are made to handle a full range of frequencies.

Some combo amps have multiple input channels.  This works great for the stereo output of your Megatar, and often allows for additional instruments or a microphone as well.

As this type of amp is not optimized for the sound of a bass or a guitar, Integrating some sort of preamplification, EQ, conditioning, modeling, or effects can go a long way toward sweetening the sound.

This type of setup is great for players who use MIDI or heavy effects, taking the sound outside the normal realm of bass and guitar.

Home Stereo

With the right adapters, you can plug the instrument into the auxiliary input on your home stereo.  The draw back (or is it an advantage?) with this setup is that the melody will be in one channel and the bass in the other, although this could be overcome with certain measures.  If you have a good quality stereo setup this can be quite effective.  It also gives you the option of using headphones to practice.

Computer or Home Studio

With commonly available adapters you can plug your Megatar into your computer, laptop or even smart phone or tablet allowing access a whole world of digital recording and effects possibilities.  Plug it in, grab some high-quality headphones and you're in sonic heaven.

Also, remember that you can *start* with almost anything, because your earliest practice will be getting the feel of it. Luckily, your past training will transfer quickly, and the process is a lot of fun. And after a couple of weeks playing through *anything*, you’ll probably be in a better position to specify what you’d prefer more exactly.

What sort of cables will I need?

Coming Soon.

Owners Manual

Click the link below to download the Megatar owners manual.  It is left over from the the companies previous owner and is somewhat dated, but there is still a lot of good info in there, especially for beginners.

Get owners manual

Is that a Chapman Stick?

No.

It is a Megatar.

The Chapman Stick is a unique fretboard tapping instrument assembled and sold out of Woodland California.  The Stick is guitar-like in it's origin, but the design, details and tuning are highly specialized, resulting in a distinctive sound and look that is centered around a certain musical technique and style.   The Stick is available with 8, 10, or 12 strings and several other variations of the idea are available, the most recent of which is assembled around a machined aluminum body.  The creator of the instrument, Emmett Chapman, is a primary contributor to the popularity of fretboard tapping techniques, both as a musician and as an instrument builder. Thousands of enthusiastic Stick players around the world practically worship his theory and technique.

The 10-string Chapman Stick 

The Megatar is also an instrument designed to be played primarily with touchstyle techniques. Other than that, the design, construction and details of the two instruments have little in common.  Manifesting as a 12-string extended-range bass guitar, tuned like a bass, the Megatar is built using traditional lutherie (guitar making) practices which give it an authentic bass/guitar sound and feel   Unlike most extended-range basses where the strings are arranged in order from low to high the Megatar has it's 12 strings  divided into a bass and melody string sets arranged on the fretboard in the way familiar to guitar and bass players and so that the hands do not need to reach all the way across the fretboard.  The Megatar is focussed on existing guitar and bass players who are voyaging into the realm of fretboard tapping and are looking for more headroom, as well as new recruits looking for a unique and surprisingly accessible way to make amazing music.  The Megatar can also accommodate chapman stick tunings, expanding the sonic palette available to existing stick players.

The Megatar 12-String Bass

Who is Patrick Nicholas Anders?

This is the guy you are talking to:

Patrick Nicholas Anders lives near Mount Shasta, California with his wife and four children.  He studied architecture at the University of Detroit and is a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. As much an audiophile and musician as craftsman and designer, his northern California studio designs and builds innovative musical instruments and other works of functional art.

From 2006 until 2013 Patrick worked for the Mobius Megatar company as Shop Foreman and eventually as Production Manager.  During this time he was responsible for all aspects of instrument production from raw lumber to finished instruments packed and shipped.  He got to know the process pretty well, having personally built almost 250 Megatar instruments.  In late 2013 the Megatar business was sold to Patrick and he began working on renovating and old barn into a new purpose built shop, redesigning the instruments and a creating a fresh image.  In spring of 2014 the Megatar was reborn and production resumed on a small scale.  In Late 2014 a new website was launched that began a new era for The Megatar as the instrument of choice for discerning touchstyle musicians around the world.

Location, hours, shop visits.

Click here to be taken to the "contact" page.

The Megatar shop is located at a private residence and as such is not open to the public.

Visits can be arranged with advance notice.  

Use the contact link above for more info.