Interchangeable Guitar & Bass Bodies

Don't you wish you could sometimes change bodies?

One of the benefits of Uni-Neck construction is instrument bodies are interchangeable around the neck structure. Are you feeling a bit purple today? Or angular? Perhaps you have a gig with an all-girl Japanese sugar-pop band and need a guitar shaped like a florescent lollipop?

I digress. Ahem.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Active fantasy life, have we?

Lately, as you know, I've been feeling like a pirate. Or like I want to be a pirate. More specifically a pirate like Ragnar Danneskjold. Every effective buccaneer needs a suitable weapon, and mine will be a guitar. What more appropriate guitar could a pirate have than the Jolly Roger?

I rearranged the difficulties of the Telecaster body into a shape that is both a pile of human bones as well as more comfortable to play, at least for me, in terms of balance and ergonomics. My inspiration (concept sketch) was a beautiful vanitas painting by Dutch still life painter Pieter Claesz, painted around 1630.

I built the body from 5-ply marine-grade (waterproof) mahogany — in keeping with our nautical theme — to form a light weight rigid structure. Period correct forged rosehead nails, heavy distressing & antiquing, combined with a deep mahogany tobacco-burst finish give the body the feel of an ancient relic.

My wife Tricia Toone is a skilled painter, and she kindly offered to translate the idea into fine art. As I write this, she is in the studio applying the underpainting to define the volume of the bones.

LEARN MORE: Skele

Comments

[goran]

Light-weight, great-looking, ergonomic instrument with many innovations.
Gorgeous!!!

[Fighting Windmills]

I learn so much from you. I love that it was inspired by the Vanitas painting. It therefore has such wondrous inferred meaning for the songs that will be played on it. Your blog looks really nice with this orange and grey, btw. And I want to wish you a Happy New Year.

[Ardian Djombalic, Selvia Djombalic]

Wonderful work Mrs. Toone,
Your a wonderful art teacher and were so lucky to have you. I love the guitar, and I was wondering if Rick Toone could come in and talk to us about his guitars. And also does he make just bass guitars or electric guitars too?
Sincerely,
Ardian+Selvia

[Rick Toone]

Ardian & Selvia — thank you!

Tricia has nearly completed the skull painting, and the guitar is almost done. We both like your idea of bringing it to school to show and talk about.

She showed me your spray paint (space) painting and Tim Burton soft sculpture projects. Fantastic! Keep up the great work.

It's inspiring to have excellent students.

[05Ric]

interchangeable bodies are such a great idea and when you combine it with being a light-weight chamber, what a win win situation!