Rick Toone
Todd Haug | Paradigm Shift
Surf Madonna | Pair
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.
My most sincere thank you.
Brotherly Blessings and Peace All-Ways,
Bob Gore
Daffodils | Killick Hinds & Rick Toone | Duet
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)
Odin | Goshawk
A quiet knock but with weight, on the wood door of my shop. Deep evening, winter’s blue black and the hush of deep snows.
“Come in,” I said.
Cloaked figure stepped through, gracefully, balanced muscle and power. Greying hair. Two half-wolf dogs slipped in behind him, circling the room, settling at attention, tails to the hearth.
He looked at me appraisingly through one clear eye, the other covered by a patch. Snowflakes rising as steam from his woolen mantle. I nodded.
“Please make yourself comfortable. Mead?”
“Yes, thanks.” he replied.
He studied my tools, the layout of my workspace, builds in progress. “You have a certain mastery,” he said. “I value the precision in your work.” He continued: “Skill and trust are the coin of my realm.”
I recognized him as a leader of men.
“I have…an adventure ahead.” His eye glinted with mirth.
I intimated thoughtfully, almost as an aside: “Perhaps related to the follies of Lear.”
He smiled, then his features hardened. “Many suffer from the foolishness of the few. This world does not abide weakness.”
“Return again in Spring, the first month of green grasses. Your build will be ready.”
We stood, both wolf-dogs bounding out the door into the night. He clasped my forearm strongly, then strode forth beneath breathtaking stars, diamonds in darkness. High above the western horizon, Mars shining red.