Magnets And Wire | Album & Documentary

“Hey!” I asked, “Would you guys be interested in recording an album? I have an idea in mind.”

A flood of yesses flowed in before I had a chance to explain…

I had developed independent friendships with each of them as individuals, but most had never met one another in person, just basic awareness as fellow artists via my website. All of them have been loyal long-time supporters of my craft. I knew this mix of personalities would be synergistic and supportive.

Even working professional musicians find it difficult to gain enough time and space to be able to record an album. The pressures of touring, teaching, writing, and performing are intense. And so many of my clients are passionate amateurs — in the purest sense — they make a living unrelated to music, yet dedicate their free time to playing. Many are highly skilled but have no outlet to record.

I want to change that.

To keep our focus tight and set logistically achievable goals, we established several criteria. Each participant will be featured on at least one song. Choose someone(s) to collaborate with or perform solo if you wish. Most importantly, recordings will be first or second take…looking to capture spontaneous magic.

Steve Sjuggerud contributed his time and resources with incredible generosity. He hosted us at his location Sugar Pointe, surprised everyone with custom t-shirts and a coastal waters sunset cruise, plus brought in supremely talented photographer Adam King (check out those photos!) and drummer Dan Ostrowski to add depth to our mix. Thank you, Steve. Thank you also to Steve’s wife Kassy, and his business partners Chris & Kelly Manus.

Killick Hinds generously contributed his audio recording and production skills, first in tandem with me on location, then in his studio mixing and mastering. His deft touch transformed the raw audio into a coherent whole — a difficult task because each song was an entirely different arrangement of room, mics, musicians.

I gratefully thank Chris Buono, Todd Haug, Ken Kinter, Gabriel Levi, and Ede Wright for flying or driving to Florida to contribute their beautiful art.

PS: This album is dedicated to SB. You have inspired many more lives than you could ever know.

magnets and wire toone ensemble
ALBUM: Listen at https://killick.bandcamp.com/album/magnets-wire (photos: Adam King)
VIDEO: Documentary recording the album Magnets And Wire at Sugar Shack in Florida, November 5-6, 2019. Guitars and basses designed and built by luthier Rick Toone. Filmed entirely on iPhone. (41 minutes)
PHOTO: Toone Ensemble. Clockwise from upper left: Steve Sjuggerud, Ede Wright, Killick Hinds, Todd Haug, Dan Ostrowski, Ken Kinter, Gabriel Levi, Rick Toone, Chris Buono. (Photo: Adam King)

Goshawk On Stage | Matt Richard

Matt rocks Purple Relic Gosawk™ in his band The Chee-Weez.

Attaching a pic from last night’s show. Goshawk in action in Baton Rouge, LA. It’s officially my new #1. The Goshawk inspiration continues. I don’t recall the last time I wrote and conceptualized new techniques and melodic ideas which such freedom. Playing the Goshawk (and the 24 fret Spearfish) bring me back to a time akin to when I first started playing, around age 14-16. The guitar was like this massive book I couldn’t wait to open and explore every minute I could. I’ve been playing for almost 30 years (who’s counting?), and I’m back there again. Thanks for re-lighting my fire to write and record this record. (Matt Richard)

matt richards goshawk guitar

Raven | 7-String ER

Bespoke for Victor in Chicago. Swamp Ash, carbon fiber. Element™ single billet aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ bridges precision machined from stainless steel, bearing bronze. DiMarzio™ exclusive pickups with 10-way switching.

Speechless, Rick!!

I absolutely love what you did with the body shape. It has its own character vis-a-vis the Fathom™ and others.

Nailed the finish, too. Just like the majesty of a raven’s feathers in sunlight! How’d you manage it?

You’ve outdone yourself with the Raven. I have a multitude of things I could say, but, pending a more detailed report, I’ll just say that the instrument excels on every level.

What’s most impressed me in these early stages is the playability. It feels even more comfortable to play than the Spearfish — that same Element™ feel, but perhaps just the right amount more tightness in the bends and vibratos. Just perfect. And the extended-range functionality is just insane in the best way.

I like to play any new guitar un-amped for a fair bit to get acquainted with the feel, the sound of the pick contact, and the natural resonance of the guitar, and the Raven impresses in all respects. In particular, the setup is fantastic — low to the deck, but not to the detriment of the satisfying, almost springlike attack.

On a different note, I’ve really enjoyed seeing the subtle changes in the finish under different lighting. I’ve also found myself staring at the guitar a lot: even if it weren’t an absolute sound machine, it’d function just fine as a standalone marvel of design!

Stay tuned for a more detailed update later, but in the meantime: thank you. This instrument is a joy. (Victor, Chicago)

rick toone
raven guitar
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seven string guitar
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extended range guitar

Killick | Lacunae (University of Colorado)

Saturday evening Killick txted me: “Livestream tonight…my part starts in 15 minutes.”

I followed his link, not knowing what to expect. He was, in actuality, live improvising (with Walrus) the soundtrack to Lacunae modern dance MFA performance at University of Colorado, Boulder.

The show will use the spiral, gesture and drive of bodies to craft a collision of apocalyptic, upside-down fairy tales, feminist ruminations on neurological difference and site-specific experimentations involving questions of intimacy, connectedness and the unknown.

Killick truly finds the most interesting paths.

It was about four months of remote back and forth collaboration under choreographer Kelley Ann Walsh’s direction…for each of the 3 shows there was 25 minutes of pre-recorded music (all original plus building on a theme from a project of mine with Federico Balducci) over top of which I improvised with the fretless Walrus. I was responding to the parameters from the playback material, the audiences, and primarily to the energy and movement of the dancers, all brilliant and completely ON! throughout. (Killick)

SCREEN CAPTURES: CU Theatre & Dance opens “Lacunae,” choreographed by MFA Dance candidates Kristen Holleyman, Gretchen LaBorwit and Kelley Ann Walsh.

Goshawk | Purple Relic

purple goshawk guitar
PHOTO: Patented Intonation Cantilever™ solo bridges, precision machined from stainless steel. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. Carbon fiber pick guard.
advantage neck profile
PHOTO: Proprietary Advantage™ neck profile roasted figured flame maple.

HOLY SH*T. 

Apologies for the bluntness, but man… Goshawk™ is something to behold. 

I’ve been playing guitar for the better part of 30 years, over half of that for a living, and I can’t recall the last time — if EVER — I got goosebumps playing guitar. As it were, it happened while rolling off the tone knob (which also deserves its own comment: I’ve also never had a guitar where the ENTIRE range of the tone knob was not only useable, but sounded AMAZING).

There is some SERIOUS tonal mojo going on here.

The ergonomics are a very good fit for me. The neck size, and even more so the way the body fits me and seats the neck much more “in” my person, it just works. The ability to play in the lower register without feeling like I am stretching my arm out is just superb. 

Again, wow… the whole chemistry of this instrument is ME. I’ll be taking it out on the road in the coming weeks for the road test part. And I’ve got a recording project underway I’ll be using it for in the meantime.

Thank you Rick. You’ve gotten me an instrument that makes me want to just sit and write. It’s rare I’m inspired to this degree with a new guitar. This one is special. (Matt Richard)

rick toone
PHOTO: Compact curves that fit. Swamp ash solid body.
goshawk guitar