The Weber Diamondback Octar

[dylanferris]

I guess this was on display at NAMM..how about this gorgeous piece of eye candy?

[NotMelloCello]

Boy! I'd like to know more about that tailpiece.

[Eddie Sheehy]

I played it. It was gorgeous.

[Portermusic]

I'm the proud owner of that instrument..which is why it wasn't for sale. Can't wait for it to come home...

[Londy]

Very nice.

[Marcus CA]

Congratulations! I played it, as well, and it sounds as gorgeous as it looks. The notes really pop out of it.

[Portermusic]

Yep. Bruce is an artist. The genuine article. Proud to own one of his masterpieces…looking forward to recording the new album this spring which will feature the Octar a bit...

[Sweetpea44]

That is one beautiful instrument! Would love to hear it.

[dylanferris]

Portermusic...if you ever, and I mean EVER feel like donating it to a good cause..you just let me know haha.

I'm quite jealous of you! What a beautiful instrument.

[eadg145]

I have the D-hole version of this instrument (thanks, "Mandomutt" Kevin!) This thing is a roaring monster, with tremendous sustain (at least on the D-hole version). I love all of my instruments dearly, but in the case of "The Mighty Octar", every time I put it back into the case, I think to myself that if I had Bruce Weber's cell number, I'd send him a text that says "Thank you".

This is a really interesting and unusual instrument in this family of instruments.

[Sweetpea44]

What is the scale length?

[eadg145]

What is the scale length?

Scale on mine is 23 1/2"

It's a bit physical to play, but it rewards with quite a sound.

[Portermusic]

DylanFerris: Haha. Yes, I understand the sentiment…

It's also a 23 1/2 scale. The extra length is part of what gives it the depth of sound…takes some adjustment for fingers accustomed to mando, but worth the stretch...

[GarY Nava]

Boy! I'd like to know more about that tailpiece.

You'll find a little about the tailpiece herehttp://www.bridgerproducts.com/about/weber_designs
Cheers Gary

[J.C. Bryant]

I realize this is a very old thread.

But, Does anyone have any review or comments on this OM, or one like it?

How many, like this, were made?

How do you like the 23.5" scale?

Any other info on this Octar would be very much appeciated.

Thanks,

J.C. Bryant

[THart]

There's been one up for sale for quite a while & now I see it's down. Did you buy it? I took a run at it about a year and a half ago but the seller backed out at that time. Eventually I had one built with a 22" scale. I find that a pretty good stretch & can only imagine a 23.5" scale but I'm sure it would sound great, I have a bitterrroot archtop guitar & it sure does. I don't know how many were made but it wasn't a lot. Maybe you could find out from Bruce Weber?

[J.C. Bryant]

Yes THart, I got the one you might have seen on Reverb. It is wonderfully made and has an amazing tone. The 23.5 is a stretch and I am going to have to get accustomed to it over time, I hope. If not, it may have to move on. But it is truly a "piece of work"! Beautiful and ,actually, much larger than I expected, but Wow, what a sound it has! Anyway, now on to the issue of bonding and trying to make music, together.

[THart]

Congrats & enjoy. You can tell how many were made by the serial number. The original owner seemed to believe it was the last one made if I'm not mistaken.

[J.C. Bryant]

Thanks Thart. The SN is 1613210 and the company told me that Bruce Weber, essentially, made them all with only 3 had being made in Bend, OR.

[THart]

The way I understand it then is date, Oct. 2016, Octar #132 & that would be 132 total Octars made across all models through all the years of production. A rare bird

[J.C. Bryant]

thanks Thart. Anne, of Weber says the production was completed on "November 8, 2016". She also said, "I am only able to find how many we built here in Bend. Bruce Weber Senior essentially built all of these but here in Bend we built 3." So, I would agree that this particular jewel does not have many identical "siblings". It is indeed a beautiful and fantastic sounding instrument. thanks

[Michael Eck]

J.C.,

I'm so jealous. I had my eye on that, but was gathering funds. When I could finally do it, it was gone, at a lower price that I could have afforded a few weeks before!

Best,
Michael