Rick Toone | Luthier

Eulogy

Richard George Storer
February 22, 1965 — June 15, 2008

I'm saddened to report the loss of my dear friend Dale Storer's older brother, George.

Dale and I go back to 1982, and he and Monster go back a decade further than that. Whenever I get together with these two, my cheek muscles literally ache from laughing by the end of the night.

"The scoutmaster had two guns and didn’t call ‘CLEAR!' before firing the .38 pistol. My brother and a friend were out behind the target digging slugs since that was the way to impress the other scouts by how much lead you had. The shot ricocheted off of a tree before hitting him in the hamstring and the calf and finally resting in the mound. He told me that what was scarier was the crowd of scouts running at him at full sprint with ‘Merit badges gleaming in their eyes’ and pulling out their pocket knives. It took three of them sitting on him to hold him still so they could ‘field dress’ his wounds."

And both of these guys play musical circles around me...a chase I will never win. So often musicianship and friendship are enduringly and inextricably intertwined.

Sunrise

Our proximate star isn't scheduled to illuminate my locale until 5:31 AM EST. It is still dark here (except for the moon) yet precisely six minutes ago (4:38 AM) at least five distinct species of non-domestic birds simultaneously began vocalization.

I wonder what they know that we don't?

Just looking at the word "sun" a moment ago, I realized the word has become a symbol. My brain has neatly categorized the concept of "sun" and, during conscious normal waking hours, simply references — and dismisses — the reality, using this abstract linguistic representation. It's become the Crayola Yellow bisected semicircle in the upper right corner of a third grader's drawing.

Forgetting this astonishing and terrifying hydrogen fusion reactor is seven minutes away by light particle as our watery sphere cracks the whip through a sub-zero vacuum at 18.5 miles per second.

I've been taking my life for granted.

"Explosive, sustained action!" — C4

(sonorous voice-over)

Combining ground breaking special effects mixed with extended live action sequences, this latest film masterpiece from TOONE GUITARS will undoubtedly earn a hallowed position in the annals of post-deconstructionist lutherie theory. Enthralling for the entire family.

The reviews are in:

"A performance on par with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt in Fight Club." — Soap Makers Digest

"Social criticism as cutting as American Beauty. Toone delivers with a nuanced subtlety comparable to Kevin Spacey." — Realty Today

"The antidote to Marxism." — Pravda

"Pitch perfect!" — Atonal Monthly

Although honored by the praise, I think you should see this film and judge for yourself...

DOVE SERIES:

Dove Takes Flight
Dovetail
Hip Hole
"Black & White" vs. "Shades of Gray"
"Explosive, sustained action!"
Fanned Frets
Fanned Fret Compensating Bridge

Alex Lifeson Guitar Lessons

Christmas, 1981 landed a cassette of Rush's Moving Pictures in my stocking which had been hung by the chimney (with care). Delighted by Santa's thoughtfulness, within minutes the recording found a permanent home in the cassette deck of my Aiwa boombox.

A few months prior I had bought a mahogany plywood Les Paul clone for $75 from my cousin, Scott Baker. He'd tried guitar, but hated it, returning immediately to design which has always been his first love.

The guitar came with a small solid-state amp that was never loud or distorted enough for my taste. Somehow I discovered if I patched cables from my standalone Panasonic cassette deck into the Aiwa, then back out to the guitar amp, and plugged the guitar into the Panasonic (while hitting Record|Pause|Play) I could use the source input knob on the Panasonic to dial in a gorgeous smooth distortion with unlimited gain. Some sort of unholy feedback loop. Even better, I had surround sound as speakers on both the Aiwa and the guitar amp broadcast my playing...mixed with Moving Pictures.

Eternal Glory!

Only problem is I couldn't yet play guitar. But the first song on Side 2 of Moving Pictures was The Camera Eye, which featured sustained guitar notes in a deceptively simple melody. First, I could tune to the song. Second, the notes came at me slow enough I could hunt around on the fretboard until I matched pitch. There was no Guitar Hero, and I didn't know how to read music or tab.

Trial and error as I slowly built fingertip calluses, wearing the fidelity of the cassette down to mud with pause & rewind. I finally mastered the song, even the wrist-breaking odd-time signature 12-string rhythm part, and meandering pitch bends in the solo.

I've long since forgotten those subtle nuances, but Alex's playing inspired and shaped my own music. I learned his love for suspended chords, unusual time signatures, and abstract intricate textures.

But here's the point.

Think how much fun it would have been if I could have learned directly from Alex. Using hi-def close-up video. Watching this brings back a flood of memories. Sure, "good old days" and all that, but — with technology like iVideosongs — the present is even better.

"Black & White" vs. "Shades of Gray"

Two idioms for contrasting outlooks on life. But really, both reference the same monochromatic scheme.

How did that happen?

As I wander (walk. jog. sprint.) through life I've discovered a nifty principle that sometimes works: switch back and forth between the two. If your fishing vessel of life is navigating a fog bank off the coast of Newfoundland (shades of gray), increase the contrast filter until intermediate shades vanish and navigational decisions become suddenly stark (black & white).

In lutherie, I often photograph progress then change color modes in Photoshop, allowing me to see an instrument in shades of gray. Contours emerge, without the distractions of color.

I am deeply immersed in refining Dove's angles and curves. Have a look.

DOVE SERIES:

Dove Takes Flight
Dovetail
Hip Hole
"Black & White" vs. "Shades of Gray"
"Explosive, sustained action!"
Fanned Frets
Fanned Fret Compensating Bridge