To mark 20 years of the Touch Guitar Circle (founded in 2005) and the nearly 20-year journey since the first ideas for the U8 Touch Guitar emerged in April 2006, I’m proud to introduce the U8 Deluxe – Markus Reuter Special Edition.
This series represents both a return and a refinement — a continuation of the design work I began with luthier Ed Reynolds in 2007, now realized through the craftsmanship of Touch Guitars in Germany. Each instrument carries the essence of the original U8 design while embracing everything we’ve learned in the years since: balance, resonance, precision, and the physical poetry of the touch-style approach.
I personally curated the production of these deluxe instruments — from the finishes and the headstock logo to the smallest construction details. These are one-of-a-kind celebratory instruments, embodying both the best of the original design and the newest developments in our craft. Remarkably, they are offered at the price that once defined the standard U8 model, a gesture of gratitude and continuity.
Only ten instruments will be made, one per finish, each featuring my “Kopfmensch” logo on the headstock. This edition will never be remade.
Specifications
Body: Basswood with advanced contouring for balance and comfort
Neck: Maple, offering clarity and stability
Fretboard: Bog Oak or Plumwood
Strings: 8
Standard tuning: Bb F C G D A C D
Pickup: Custom Nova pickup, optimized for touch-style articulation
Electronics: Passive Volume and Tone
Hardware: Custom bridge and tuners for tuning stability and precise intonation
Finishes (one per instrument)
Firemist Gold Metallic · Heather Poly Metallic · Pelham Blue Metallic · Firemist Silver Aged Metallic · Ocean Turquoise Metallic · Capri Orange High Gloss · Daphne Blue High Gloss · Dakota Red High Gloss · Olive Drab High Gloss · Tahitian Coral High Gloss
Availability
The U8 Deluxe – Markus Reuter Special Edition is limited to 10 instruments, one per color.
Pre-orders can be made directly via info@touchguitars.com.
Expected availability: December 2025.
