DOLPHIN SKY – (Family: Aquila Sky Guitar)
General Description:
The DOLPHIN SKY was the first ever Sky Guitar! Built in the Spring of 1983 by Andy Demetriou, it became the original prototype for all Sky Guitars ever built. At the time, there was no other guitar like it in the whole world and it was truly revolutionary. This was the first ever guitar with over 30 frets, effectively extending the range of the electric guitar by almost an octave! It also featured a pick-up under the neck to preserve the warm tone which only a neck pick-up can provide.
Wood & Specs:
- Number of strings: 6
- Alder body
- Sycamore neck
- Position dots: black dots – spiral on 12th
- Long scale (Strat style – 25 inch – 65 cm)
- Neck width at saddle: 4.5 cm
- Neck width towards bridge: 5.9 cm
- Neck join: Classic Sky style) Not scalloped originally
- Number of frets: 30
- Super-Jumbo fret wire – smaller in the higher regions
- Floating tremolo with 3 springsSound & Tone Engine:
- Mega-Wing II System with 9 volt batteries
(also available with Mega-Wing I and 18-volt power supply ) - 3 pick-ups: (2 humbuckers & 1 single coil in the middle)
- Available with 3-5 bottom control knobs:
1) volume – 2) treble-range – 3) Mid-range – 4) bass-range – 5) master gain - 5-way toggle switch
- 2 x humbucker-to-single-coil switches
- Cyan Magic – 12 blue/turquoise lights with dimmer
- Finish & Colour:
- Overall appearance: silver theme
- Polyurethane
- Body: single-tone dolphin sky blue with black three-pronged spiral
- (also available in other colours)
Decoration & Symbols: - 2 white plastic scratch plates
- USG logo on headstock
- Unique identification back plate with serial number and date of manufactureExtras:
- Tronical Powertune Self-Tuning System
- Black UJR Sky Guitar case with black velvet interior
Tone: - Bright and singingSky Guitar Type:
- Aquila Sky – best suited for smaller fingers in the top-range, because the frets are all semitones
Scene from the “The Night the Master Comes” video, January 1985
Photo shoot during the “The Night the Master Comes” video recordings, January 1985
Corona del Mar, California, Summer 1985
Beyond the Astral Skies tour, 1985
The original Sky Guitar Trinity: 3 prototypes
Dolphin, Mighty Wing, Emperor