BLUEPRINT | ˈblo͞oˌprint | (noun) a design plan or technical drawing that acts as a model, or template.
Testing and refining the Fender-compatible tremolo design over this past year, I thought the extraordinary bridge performance could be best realized with a purpose-designed guitar.
Pairing the Rick Toone™ tremolo with the Element™ aluminum neck allows for seasonal stability, across continents and climates. Perfect, consistent, string action in changing temperature and humidity conditions. No adjustments required.
String action is also consistent — even during radical tremolo use. New musical techniques become possible.
Spearfish™ platform was chosen due to its proven design and delightful ergonomics.
The result is a reliable, light weight, balanced, comfortable guitar ready for professional touring/studio.
PHOTOS: Rick Toone™ tremolo retrofit-capable for Fender Stratocaster™ guitars. Precision machined in USA from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel. Patented, multiple patents pending.PHOTOS: Element™ 24-fret aircraft aluminum neck. Spearfish™ neck system has been fully redesigned. Precise, repeatable installation and removal for air travel. Position markers are pass-through design for tactile orientation with maximum visibility. Continuing the slender Element™ theme of 0.5″/12.7mm now with new soft C profile. Familiar 25.5″ scale length with polished stainless steel frets.PHOTO: Spearfish™ headstock with six-in-line for rapid tuning. Tilt back design with straight string path optimizes tension across the nut. Precise return to pitch.PHOTO: Spearfish™ 6-string tremolo guitar. Blueprint art finish. Swamp ash, carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum, stainless steel. 6-way switching for true single coil and humbucker tones. Intuitive controls at your fingertips. Reliable machined aluminum output jack positioned below, allowing tremolo arm to swing freely. Pickguard-mounted electronics for simple servicing, without removing neck or trem.
VIDEO: Henry Kaiser shares gorgeous ambient improv playing on SPORE 6-string guitar. There are so many things I love about this recording. Notice the massive, immersive, soundscape Henry paints with such economy of motion. His fingerstyle and subtle trem. Harmonics. Skull shirt. Our conversations behind the scenes indicates a surprising signal chain…the only reveal here is there is no looping: only delays. Grateful thank you to Henry for recording this video, and also for acquiring SPORE. When I built the guitar I knew it needed to be in the hands of someone special.
“I took the liberty of keeping it psychedelic behind your end title after I finished playing it is SPORE, after all and the guitar told me to make it like that” (HK)
PHOTOS: Spearfish Vapor™ 6-string guitar. Swamp ash, carbon fiber. Patented component set precision machined from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel. Bare Knuckle custom pickups with 10-way switching.
(begin)
screen will now go dark
not just this screen
every screen
everywhere
if (no = ipadphonecarsmarttvterminalAI)
if (can’t poke box for answer)
then (what happens next)
IF: you want to run a software self-diagnostic — abstain from all screen interactions for 24 hours. Do not allow your brain to access any electronic or media content: visual, sound, written. (24 hours)
>> Return your sensory input to: only what you can directly perceive using your own five senses.
IF: you want to run a simultaneous hardware self-diagnostic — abstain from all nutrition input for 24 hours. Including water. Do not allow your body to access any calories or fluids. Dry fasting. (24 hours)
>> Allow your body to: only breathe.
Q: What do you notice?
VAPOR | ˈvāpər | (noun) a substance diffused or suspended in the air, especially one normally liquid or solid.
VIDEO: Joe Cirotti works out the Rick Toone ’67 trem on Jimi’s Machine Gun. Caleb Estey on drums. Wayne Lyle, bass. February 7, 2025 @ Bernie’s Hillside Lounge, Chester, NJ. (video courtesy of John Barless Pellichero)
Dude I used the ’67 guitar for a Hendrix show. Fucking thing absolutely decimated. 14 and a half minutes that song was. Wailing on the trem. By the end it was still in tune. Crazy! (Joe Cirotti)
