Watch Rob Scallon Shred on a 16-String Theorbo
The guitarist rips out some medieval djent on the lute-like instrument.
Over the years we’ve seen Rob Scallon play metal on a one-dollar guitar; on a ukulele; on one fret; and in “very inappropriate places.”
Now’s he’s upped the ante once again, this time busting out a theorbo, a 17th century lute-like instrument with 16 strings, an extended neck and two sets of tuning pegs.
If you’re up for some medieval djent shredding, check out the video above.
As far as we know, Scallon is the first and only guitarist to play metal on a theorbo…though he does get a bit of help from another set of hands in order to reach one of those last tuning pegs.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.

“I got rid of a lot of my electric basses – at one point I had over 100!” After five decades at the low-end, Stanley Clarke decided to part ways with his astonishing bass collection

“It’s difficult to hear bass playing in metal, but players like Geezer Butler stand out – they try to do something different with their parts. If they don’t, I usually find it a bit boring”: Opeth’s Martín Méndez names the 5 albums that shaped his sound