Reworked Sunburst Strat

PHOTOS: Nitro sunburst Fender Strat™ (based on ’54) upgraded with patented & patent pending Rick Toone™ premium components, including: tremolo, output jack, neck plate. Nickel plated aircraft aluminum and stainless steel. The quartersawn factory maple neck has been reshaped to Advantage™ neck profile. Pickups are Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Strat™ for that familiar authentic tone.
VIDEO: Chris Buono channels Jeff Beck on the reworked nitro sunburst Fender Strat™ equipped with patented Rick Toone™ tremolo system. Sunburst Alder body. Quartersawn maple neck with Advantage™ neck profile.

I bought this lovely nitro sunburst Fender Strat™ then gave it a complete reworking.

The goal was to take an already fine (USA built) instrument and elevate it to a premium studio/stage guitar for the player who is seeking traditional Fender vibe but wants my latest technology.

—Rick Toone

VIDEO: Joe Cirotti blues riffs the reworked nitro sunburst Fender Strat™ equipped with patented Rick Toone™ tremolo system. Sounds so sweet in his hands. Deluxe w/SM57.

7-String Single Cut | Eclipse

PHOTO: Inviting contours. Light weight, balanced, minimalist.

I fell completely in love with this guitar. Something about the simplicity feels familiar. Sleight-of-hand simplicity, however. Unusual multi-scale plus the Advantage™ neck profile plus the ingredients adds up to a delightful playing experience.

Plus, that tone. Warmth, piano clarity, sweetness.

Deeply grateful to Andrew for allowing me a blank canvas and his patience as I thought through how to manifest this machine.

Have you considered designing a 7-string single cut? I have always been drawn to single cuts (mainly Teles), and I have been looking for a seven string. I can’t, however, find one that I like. Please let me know if that is something you would be interested in working on. I just love single cuts, but most people don’t push the limits of what they are capable of. I was thinking a headless multiscale, humbuckers (probably Bare Knuckle), 6-way switch, tone and volume. Simple finish, probably a nice black stain with a nice wood grain. (Andrew)

I am still a bit speechless…I have been playing almost non-stop, and I am completely blown away. Even when I am not playing it, I am still thinking about it. The design and aesthetic are incredible. It is so much fun to play, and I have barely scratched the surface. It is so comfortable, and you were right…a complete tone machine. The fun starts now, as I am already finding new ways to approach my playing. I can’t wait to see where she leads. Thank you so much, and it was definitely worth the wait. (Andrew)

PHOTO: “Eclipse” 7-string guitar. Torrefied swamp ash, quartersawn torrefied flame maple, ebony. Carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ component system. Custom Bare Knuckle™ PolyMath pickups with 6-way switching.

Gold Top Skele

PHOTOS: Gold Top Skele™ is a perfect blend of semi-hollowbody warmth with single coil spank. Classic tones with a completely modern twist. Details on this beautiful instrument include: carbon fiber, mother of pearl, alder, aircraft grade birch. Polished stainless steel frets in state-of-the-art Richlite fretboard. Quartersawn torrefied flame maple neck w/tilt back headstock and luthier’s joint. Advantage neck profile including Fretboard Flare™ geometry. Bare Knuckle custom pickups with 10-way switching. Patented & patent pending Pisces™ tremolo precision machined from stainless steel and aircraft aluminum.

A Few Years On

It’s magical to hear from clients who have been playing these guitars for a few years. I sometimes feel overwhelmed with gratitude having been able to walk this path in life, connecting with kind, thoughtful, amazing people from around the globe. I deeply appreciate your letters and notes…

Hi Rick,

I just wanted to say hello send a quick note in appreciation of the wonderful instrument you made for me four years ago.  

I have quite a sizable guitar collection, and as I was going through the inventory in search of a downsize, I evaluated all my «babies» and compared them side by side.  I play a lot of different styles all from classic finger style, fusion, prog-rock, ballads, C&W, R&B.  I don’t use a pick, thus the instruments pick-up sensitivity and capacity of modulating sound frequency is important to me.

The Goshawk is a Chameleon. There is virtually no sound drop-off in coil splitting. The tone knob is extremely versatile. And the volume knob is really a gain knob instead of increasing overall volume (that would not be desirable) it just adds more grit. I love that balance point just before it breaks up. I want the tooth to come out, but with a bit of delicious pain first. 

The bird you made stands out in the crowd, and as I played through the bunch of pretty high end guitars made by some of the best luthiers on the planet, I plugged the Goshawk back in time and time again, just to find that it could replicate and surpass pretty much any other guitar, it be a tele, a strat, a whatever.  Adding on superb ergonomics and playability, I am pretty sure this ranks as one of the most desirable guitars on the planet from a player’s perspective. And it made me think, what will I do if anything happens to it?

You’re a living Picasso Luthier, Rick.

I can picture my self in old age, hair and muscles all gone, skin dry and wrinkled, just sitting in the still of the night, noodling on my Goshawk. This bird is not going anywhere without me.

All the best to you and kind regards,

Carl (Norway)

From the snowy forests of Norway to the lush soils of Hawaii — speaking of: Dave Anderson sent me a care package recently including some locally grown single source estate coffee from Kauai. I am enjoying a cup now, which explains why autocorrect is getting a morning workout. Dave also filmed this pretty spectacular review demo of his American Girl Goshawk…

Hey Rick,

I just did this video demo’ing American Girl. Please tell me what you think and if you dislike anything about it I’ll yank it in a Jersey second. The video realm is totally new turf for me, so don’t hold back.

I’m finally getting around to finished wiring of studio things as time allows, then I intend to post some “super-sonic” demos in full audio bandwith, using studio guys that’ll hopefully knock some socks off.

I hope you’re doing well. I LOVE American Girl. Thanks again Paisano!

Aloha,

Dave (Hawaii)

VIDEO: Dave Anderson reviews and demos his “American Girl” Goshawk.

Sea Monster

IMAGES: Swamp ash, quarter-sawn one piece AAA flame maple. Advantage™ neck profile. Polished stainless steel frets. Carbon fiber. Precision machined components from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel. DiMarzio noiseless pickups designed by Steve Blucher.
PHOTO: Sea Monster Pisces™ 6-string guitar.
VIDEO: Overview introduction of the new tremolo system.