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)
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)
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.
