Skilled Luthiers Needed

I'm seeking three or four talented luthiers to beta test the Simplicity tuning system. This will be an opportunity for you to experiment with integrated multi-scale headless hardware and build it into your own original guitar design. Your work will gain global exposure via publication on multiple websites including eLUTHERIE.org.

EDITOR'S NOTE: All positions have been filled, and beta testing is in progress. Thank you for the (overwhelming) response of highly qualified candidates.

Simplicity tuning system is machined from 7075 aircraft grade aluminum, stainless steel and bronze. Premium components that will outlast a lifetime, milled with precision analogous to fine watchmaking. Townsend Machine is ISO 9000 certified. The elegant matte finished set includes:

• Multi-scale (fanned fret) capable nut with string height and intonation adjustment
• Multi-scale (fanned fret) capable bridge with string height and intonation adjustment
• Body mounted 40:1 (ratio) constant tension tuning

Selected luthiers will be given one complete 6-string guitar system in the color scheme of your choosing, available from a broad spectrum of anodized colors. There will be no hardware cost for you. You may keep or sell your completed instrument at your discretion. Because the hardware is designed to simplify both instrument construction and hardware installation, I will be available to assist you in optimizing integration.

In return for the system and publicity, you will commit to the following:

A. You agree to design and build a completed instrument within 2-4 months upon receipt of hardware. Please discuss prior to committing, if you need additional time. We anticipate delivering your hardware to you in early/mid December, 2009.

B. You agree to provide studio quality photographs of the completed instrument for use by us for promotional purposes. Your photos will be accompanied by written analysis in which you share your experiences working with the system. Video is optional, but always appreciated, as are in-progress photos. All materials should be for publication, without restriction, and are due within the same 2-4 month time period. You remain free to use your materials for your own promotion.

C. You agree to pay all expenses associated with the above. We are only providing one no-cost-to-you hardware system.

D. Multiple patents are pending on the system, so you agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

That's it. Pretty straightforward, really.

If you are interested in participating leave a comment below, or email me. Please be sure to include a link to your website or photographs of your work. I look forward to meeting and working with you.

IMAGES: In the drawings below an abstracted version of the hardware system is shown superimposed over some familiar friends. Mostly. The guitar in the center is my own design, currently under construction (26" bass & 24.5" treble) to demonstrate the capabilities of the hardware. Drawings to scale.

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License

Comments

[Ron Mielzynski]

I am interested in the testing of the Simplicity tuning system. I am a luthier who is always experimenting with new designs and have been thinking about using a headless system. www.ramguitars.com

Thanks.
Ron

[Rick Toone]

Ron — very nice, very solid work. Clean aesthetics.

I love your career path, especially investing time in violin making. Such fascinating — structurally complex — instruments, capable of both scratching fingernails on chalkboards as well as liquifying and seducing the soul from the body.

It would be great to see what kind of design you'd come up with, given new hardware geometry possibilities. Thanks for offering to join in. I'll be in touch next week, and in the meantime, feel free to email me with questions.

[Ralph Novak/Novax Guitars]

Sure: I've experimented with headless before, but it'll be easier now. Question: can your bridge design be produced as individual bridges, permitting 'righty' or 'lefty' placement and minimizing crosstalk?

[Rick Toone]

Ralph — thanks for your question, as well as inspiring multi-scale instrument exploration. Yes, the system is ambidextrous. Yes, the saddles are individually mounted to the body, minimizing cross-talk.

[Rick Toone]

Good! Me too...

[Rick Canton]

I'm in...

[Marc Ybaben]

So does this mean Ralph Novak is going to do this, too??? That would be amazing.

Marc

[Rick Toone]

Thanks, Rick. The other half of the credit goes to Bart Townsend for seeing the potential and patiently working through the details as we translated concept to production. Bart & Bill (Goldy) have elevated machining from trade to art. Everything about their craftsmanship speaks quality.

[Rick Canton]

Woah...I just got a sneak peek at the system. All I can say is that Rick Toone must have put many hours into design. The Simplicity Tuning System looks as if a highly skilled designer considered the "stringed instrument bridge system" as a whole, and from every angle possible, before landing on this current design. Really looking forward to working with my sample and seeing all of the instruments that can be created with this system.

Best Regards,
Rick

[Phil Neal]

Hi Rick,

That looks and sounds interesting. Please check out my site and drop me a line. The Lapstick is a project that has taken on a life of it's own, but now that it has developed it's own momentum I am looking forward to building some more experimental full scale instruments.

rgds

phl

[Rick Toone]

Phil — Lapstick is cool. Love it.

See my note below about filled slots. But keep in touch with me, moving forward. Email is fine, or visit the (upcoming) www.toone-townsend.com website to remain current.

Thanks for your interest and patience.

[Rick Toone]

EDITOR'S NOTE: What an outstanding response to this offer. I am absolutely honored so many excellent luthiers have contacted me. Thank you!

I've had to expand the scope of the program beyond the original three or four, because there were some builders I simply couldn't postpone. Bart Townsend has graciously granted my request for several more beta systems...including a 7-string.

(you know who you are)

Currently all slots are filled. That may change, however, so it would be worthwhile for you to monitor www.toone-townsensd.com for status updates. The website should be operational within this next week, and will feature ongoing developments. Link below will give you a 403 error message until then.

LINK | http://www.toone-townsend.com/

Cheers,
Rick Toone