James Michael Thompson

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James Michael Thompson
James Michael Thompson playing his 8 string resonator
Background information
Origin	Perth, Western Australia
Genre(s)	Blues
Occupation(s)	Musician-Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Website	http://www.tompo.net/
Notable instrument(s)
8 string baritone tricone resonator

James Michael Thompson is the co-designer and sole player of the world first Ellis 8 string baritone tricone resonator guitar.

The concept was first considered after Thompson had played the Ellis 7 String resonator at a guitar festival. This guitar is now currently in the hands of Jeff Martin from The Tea Party.

The instrument is tuned in an extension of the 'Open A Tuning'. It is tuned low to high: A E A E A C# e/e.

The highest two strings are tuned identically and played as one string, similar to the idea behind the 12 string guitar.

The guitar was built in late 2006 as a world first and it was premiered on Thompson's debut album 'The Good News Blues' as well as Western Australia's largest blues festival, The Bridgetown Blues Festival. It has also appeared at the Australian Blues Festival in Goulburn.