PHOTO: Roopam Garg (Dark.co) and Chris Buono casting shadows after recording.
Perfect spring day in early May when Roopam Garg flew in to take ownership of his new Wingspan™ 8-string guitar. He’s been a good friend ever since Camping With Animals As Leaders (2013) when we met for the first time. That amazing experience with Tosin, Javier, and Evan Brewer first introduced Ken Kinter and me to Roopam and Gabriel Levi…friendships which have shaped all of our trajectories over this past decade.
His visit was also a first opportunity to establish new connections. I had a hunch Roopam and Chris Buono would generate musical sparks.
Wingspan sounds INCREDIBLE. I am currently still exploring all facets of this instrument. I have only scratched the surface so far. I am finding this instrument to be transformative of my perception and relationship with guitar. I see it as a symphonic tool of strings: strings representing the universe. (Roopam Garg)
VIDEO: Roopam Garg and Chris Buono one take live improvisation in the guitar shop. This piece is pure energy. Roopam with Wingspan™ 8 and Chris with Spearfish™ fretless.
VIDEO: Chordal progression. This longer one take live improvisation sets a mood. Love hearing Wingspan™ and Sketch™ 7-string being played in the shop where both instruments were designed and built. Signal chain is Strymon Iridium > Logic.
VIDEO: Todd Haug (Gravhaug) brewer and guitarist from Powermad takes us on a live improvisational trip with his Spearfish™ 6-string guitar. Light show by visual artist Mad Alchemy.
PHOTOS: Artist Jim Woodring created the beautiful “Surf Madonna” ink drawing laser engraved on the fretboards and pickguards. Matched pair of Spearfish™ 6-string guitars.
American cartoon artist Jim Woodring has such a uniquely awesome visual style. Awesome, in the truest sense of the word: inspiring awe. Hieronymus Bosch discovers psychedelics and is visited by those inter-dimensional elves who playfully transport his spirit to our current century.
I knew incorporating Jim’s art would be both honor and challenge. I knew also, that simply imitating his artistic style on the guitars themselves would not be enough…to merge two artists’ personalities would require each of us to enter one another’s domain.
Visual and metaphorical playfulness abounds.
The original idea was to take Jim Woodring’s personal view of my music and apply it to the Spearfish guitars, which are the perfect fit for me, allowing me to totally express myself through the instruments. Everything about the instruments is perfect. The way that the etching is incorporated into the guitar and the impeccable execution of the build are truly inspirational.
Thank you for taking this ethereal concept and making it a reality. Jim Woodring and his art are very personal to me and he even included me in the dedication section of one of his books. Combining that with your innovative and artistic philosophy of building has created truly inspirational functional works of art. You have given me something very special. The instruments have what Buddhists call the Given Power, an aggregate power that in all cases transcends the individuals.
VIDEO: Spring duet featuring Killick Hinds & Rick Toone. Three instruments invented by Rick Toone: 8-string fretless guitar, Symbiote 8-string passive resonator, 6-string Spearfish™ guitar equipped with prototype Pisces™ tremolo. Killick on 8-string fretless and Symbiote. Rick on 6-string tremolo guitar. Listen on headphones or monitors.
What did fine arts painting look like at the moment of Picasso?
Killick Hinds has a significant history of recording with some of the most interesting artists. Players who are pushing limits and exploring boundaries.
Yesterday, I asked him if he wanted to record something together. I truly don’t believe you can fully understand Killick’s genius until you actually work with him.
“The interplay of Killick’s 8-string you built and the great range of the tremolo is very exciting. Your playing is exciting, love diving the vibrato at the end of a phrase — reminds me of cutting the power on a tape machine. Reminds me of Xenakis textural language. Excited to hear more of it and see how that thing is working!” (Andy Pitcher, StringJoy)
