FAQ

For the U8 Deluxe, U8 Deluxe Headless, U10 Deluxe und U12 Deluxe please use our preorder form. These models can just be customize to a certain degree. If you have special requests write it to the comment box in the form and we will get in contact with you. 

For custom models like the T8, S8, AU8 and S10 sent a mail to Stefan Huth. Once you’ve clarified the model, wood, pickups and finish that you want, and are ready to confirm your order, we ask for a 50% down-payment so that we can get the building process started. 

It takes between 5-7 months to construct and complete a Touch Guitar. During this period, you will be constantly updated about the progress of your build.

Don’t worry – unlike most touchstyle instruments, you can continue to use all regular guitar and bass techniques on a Touch Guitar (including pick playing, fingerpicking or slapping) without a drop-off in either playability or sound quality.

Since the string action is really low, you just need to get comfortable with using a softer touch than you might expect from having played a regular bass or guitar.

Custom Pickup Systems

Since 2024, we’ve exclusively equipped our instruments with NOVA Pickup systems.

Every pickup is custom-made and precisely matched to the specific instrument—designed to capture its full character, dynamics, and tonal range.

Our U8 Deluxe, U8 Deluxe Headless, T8, and S8 feature monophonic pickups, while the U10 Deluxe, U12 Deluxe, and S10 are equipped with stereophonic pickup systems.

All NOVA pickups are true full-range systems. Nothing is artificially voiced or colored – the natural sound and character of the instrument comes through exactly as intended.

Custom Electronics

Since 2024, our instruments also feature a custom filter preamp, designed to take full advantage of the extended range of our pickup systems.

Each pickup has its own filter control, combined with a blend control that lets you move seamlessly between the pickups and shape their interaction.

Selected controls feature push-push functions, opening up additional ways to shape and transform the sound without adding unnecessary controls to the instrument.

The result is an electronics system that can stay completely open and natural or become a powerful sound-shaping tool when you want it to.

The preamp is powered by by a power block charged using a standard Micro-USB charger.

The Power Block Plug N Play is an intelligent rechargeable power system for active electronics. It features automatic sleep/wake detection when plugging or unplugging the instrument cable, LED battery status indication, overcharge and deep-discharge protection, and battery-friendly charging. A full charge takes just 2–3 hours, while a 10-minute quick charge provides 8–25 hours of playing time. With Vaudoo Audio preamps, enjoy up to 185 hours of playtime on a single charge. Check the Website of the manufacturer for more details at https://vaudoo-audio.fr/power-block_plug-n-play_en/.

How do I check the battery status?

Simply press the button to activate the LED battery status indicator. The different LED signals indicate the following battery and charging states:

The AU8 — A Different Approach

For the AU8, we developed a completely different pickup concept. It combines custom-made Cycfi pickups with custom Graph Tech piezos, integrated into our own bridge design.

This hybrid system brings together magnetic and piezo technologies in a setup developed specifically around the AU8 giving the instrument an exceptionally wide sonic range while preserving its natural response and character. Every system also has a seperate 2-band eq to shape the sound.

Our tuning is designed around the greatest pitch range available on a 34″ scale length instrument without sacrificing tonal quality. We have found that the ideal range is one which starts at the low B♭ on a bass guitar (B♭₀) and ends at the D found on the 22nd fret of a regular guitar (D6).

The tuning is also optimal for playing with all eight fingers on the fretboard since it allows you to easily cover a whole octave with both hands in a single position without stretching.

Here is a list of all available tunings with the string gauges needed.

Strings and Tunings

Yes – there is absolutely no problem with doing this. However, since we are using locking tuners the string needs to be long enough to reach the tuner of a 34″ scale length instrument. Most regular guitar strings and bass strings will work with this setup. We recommend the use of contact core or exposed core strings to allow for easier setup of the string height as well as providing a brighter playing tone.

Yes – you can play it in a more traditional guitar position, or even something much more eccentric if you like! Our Touch Guitars are perfectly balanced instruments – so you can put them into any position that you want, and they will stay there. 

Regarding the “unusual angle” – many of our Touch Guitar Circle players do choose to play their instrument at a fifty-degree angle to suit some of the pieces and playing styles in the foundational TGC repertoire. However, the instrument has been specifically designed to be adaptable to any player’s choice of playing position.

The neck and bridge can be adjusted just like on a conventional guitar.

Neck Adjustment (Truss Rod)

The truss rod controls the curvature (relief) of the neck. A 4 mm Allen key (hex wrench) is required for adjustment. Turning it clockwise generally reduces neck relief, while turning it counterclockwise increases relief. Make adjustments in small increments (about 1/8 of a turn at a time), then retune and check the neck relief.

Especially with new instruments or after long shipping periods, the neck may develop a slight change in curvature due to variations in temperature, humidity, or string tension. This is completely normal and usually nothing to worry about. Wood naturally reacts to its environment, and minor adjustments are simply part of regular instrument maintenance.

The truss rod access cover is located directly behind the 24th fret, on the underside of the neck. Remove the two screws securing the cover plate to reveal the truss rod adjustment channel. 

On the U8 Deluxe, U8 Deluxe, Headless, U10 Deluxe and U12 Deluxe a 4 mm Allen key (hex wrench) is required for adjustment.

On the T8, S8, AU8 and S10 a 5 mm Allen key (hex wrench) 

Bridge Adjustment (Action & Intonation)

The bridge allows you to adjust the string height (action) and intonation. Adjust the saddle height to achieve your preferred playing feel without excessive fret buzz. To set the intonation, compare the frettted note (slighly touched) on the 2nd fret with the fretted note on the 14th fret. If the fretted note is sharp, move the saddle backward; if it’s flat, move it forward.

Important: Always use the correct tools, avoid excessive force, and make adjustments gradually. We recommend allowing your instrument to acclimate to its new environment before making adjustments. Maintaining a stable humidity level of around 40–60% also helps keep the neck in good condition. If you are unsure, we recommend having your instrument set up by a qualified guitar technician.

The strap is made out of premoium buffalo leather and can be cut to length.

The ideal height is when the nut is at chin height when playing it in an upright position.

Touch Guitars are robust and tend not to develop serious problems: however, there is a support system available for when this happens. The first thing that you do is contact us by email with details of the problem: our product specialists can easily advise you on solutions to small problems which you can fix yourself. In the case of more substantial problems which need to be fixed by a luthier, you’ll need to send your instrument to our manufacturing address in Austria, with full details (advising us via email first). For the benefit of players in the United States, we also have US-based partners who can check your instrument so that you do not have to send it to Europe – email us for details.

Since most of the well-known amplifier modelers and Profilers offer a full range of guitar and bass sounds, they will all work perfectly with the full range of a Touch Guitar®. If you’re asking for a more direct recommendation, we at Touch Guitars have had a particularly good experience with Phil Jones Bass amplifiers with 5″ speakers. These accommodate the whole tonal range of the instrument perfectly.