This instrument was custom made for me in early 2001 by Pete Hanewinckel of Hanewinckel Guitars. I had admired Pete's instruments for several years before then and even borrowed one of his six-string basses to record some of the clips in the Recordings section. I had been playing Bach on a six-string bass since about 1994. When I started working on the Two-Part Inventions in 2000, I realized that I would need an extra string if I wanted to play the works without transposing some of the higher phrases. I quickly realized that the extra string also helped me with the Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and the Six Cello Suites by giving me more tonal options and the ability to improve the clarity of many chords. As of today (June, 2007), this is still my primary instrument for playing Bach and other solo music. My primary instrument for my band is an alternate 7-string Hanewinckel which I keep at my studio. I also own a 7-string fretless and a 7-string piccolo Hanewinckel which I also like very much. I can't recommend his instruments enough.