Rick Toone

International orange Spearfish™ 6-string guitar will be on display in the Bare Knuckle Pickups booth at NAMM, January 2024. Come explore this amazing instrument.

Bare Knuckle Pickups

2024 NAMM Show
January 25-28

Main Exhibit Hall

Level 1

Booth 5637

“Rick Toone’s unique ‘67 tremolo can dive bomb like a Floyd Rose, stay in-tune better than anything else, and keep chords in-tune throughout the wide up and down range. For me, it’s the new standard for radically expressive trem playing.” (Henry Kaiser)

“My ‘67 has changed things for me. This is the sound…and the trem…this is IT. HOLY SHIT. There’s an effortlessness to playing it and I find myself already going down new avenues.” (Chris Buono)

(LEARN MORE)

White Pearl Skele™ is a perfect blend of semi-hollowbody warmth with single coil spank. Classic tones with a completely modern twist. Details on this beautiful instrument include: carbon fiber, mother of pearl, alder, aircraft grade birch. Polished stainless steel frets in state-of-the-art Richlite fretboard. Quartersawn torrefied flame maple neck w/tilt back headstock and luthier's joint. Advantage™ neck profile including Fretboard Flare™ geometry. Bare Knuckle custom pickups with 10-way switching. Patented & patent pending Pisces™ tremolo precision machined from stainless steel and aircraft aluminum. (PURCHASING INFO)

6-string guitar + 6-string sub-bass. Mahogany, carbon fiber, stainless steel. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Total game changer.” (Chris Buono)

Fretless 6-string guitar. Inspired by the art of Roger Dean. Swamp Ash, carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum, stainless steel. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ bridges & Element™ neck. DiMarzio™ pickups designed by Steve Blucher. (LEARN MORE)

Sketch™ 7-string guitar. Built for Tosin Abasi in 2011. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ and PCSPCS™ component set. Patented IPNP™ neck profile. Prototype DiMarzio™ pickup. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Guitar sounds super amazing so can’t wait to get it set up best for me! As I’ve started writing (AxeFx) presets for this guitar…clean sound is by far the best tone I’ve ever had and that is a huge thing for me. Very punchy and dynamic!” (GTH)

“I’m worried a demon is going to come out of it. I love it. For the last hour, all I have done is played drop D tuning, dropping further with the tremolo, with crazy gain and sustain, causing unbelievable effects.” (Carl)

Pisces™ limited edition guitar series. Aircraft aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber, alder. DiMarzio™ custom noisless pickups. Element™ neck. Patented & patents-pending Pisces™ tremolo system. (LEARN MORE)

“Wingspan sounds INCREDIBLE. I find this instrument to be transformative of my perception and relationship with the guitar. I see it as a symponic tool of strings; strings representing the universe.” (DARK)

“Man, this guitar feels important to me in a the way that movements in art are deemed important because of the changes in thinking they brought to the genre.” (Ede Wright)

Illustration: Riley Smith

Wingspan™ eight string guitar. Swamp ash treated in traditional Japanese shou sugi ban method, carbon fiber. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Bare Knuckle™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I played a lot these last days and I must say I like it a lot. Very well balanced and very high tech looking. Extremely easy to play, just need to get used a bit to the non-linear frets. Very versatile sound, I like that when the volume is down the guitar sounds like a strat.

“Overall very very happy, thanks a lot. The guitar has become my number one.” (Eric, Belgium)

Atmosphere Ultimate Shred Machine™ six string guitar. Figured maple, ebony, swamp ash, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Acoustic 6-string guitar. Cherry, ebony, spruce, stainless steel. Personal archives. Built 2007. (PURCHASING INFO)

Blood Orange Goshawk™ six string guitar. Swamp ash, flame maple, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ bridges. Custom Bare Knuckle™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Pisces™ trem is like no other. I am constantly discovering new whammy phrasing.” (Chris Buono)

Green Monster 6-string guitar with patented Pisces™ tremolo system. Swamp ash, AAAA grade flame maple, carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum. DiMarzio™ noise cancelling pickups. (LEARN MORE)

Conquistador Spearfish™ 22-fret six string guitar. Played extensively by Dany Villarreal during recording of The Warning band’s third studio album (producer: David Bendeth). Swamp ash solid body. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Bare Knuckle™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Matched pair of Spearfish™ 6-string guitars. Artist Jim Woodring created the beautiful “Surf Madonna” ink drawing laser engraved on the fretboards and pickguards. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Stealth radical ergonomic acoustic guitar. Carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. CYCFI™ active pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Moria Spearfish™ 24-fret six string guitar. Played extensively by Daniela Villarreal during recording of The Warning band’s third studio album (producer: David Bendeth). Swamp ash solid body. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Bare Knuckle™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Reptile Spearfish™ six string guitar built for Misha Mansoor. Swamp ash art finish. Element™ 22-fret single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Misha Mansoor Bare Knuckle Juggernaut™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Orchid™ headless 4-string bass. Swamp ash treated in traditional Japanese shou sugi ban method, carbon fiber, ebony. Advantage Neck Profile™ aircraft grade birch laminate neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Lindy Fralin Split-Jazz™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“It's not even a guitar...it's something totally new. The resonances/overtones are unfamiliar to my sensibilities. Bowing with the Pickaso yields entirely new textures & audible rhythms in addition to the fundamental/overtones. It's instantly rewarding and challenging. This instrument is a perfect ergonomic fit and is truly the electric guitar's metamorphosis. It's a surreal time to welcome beauty and homework into the world. Thank you completely!” (Killick Hinds, Athens)

Multiscale fretless 8-string extended range guitar. Swamp ash, carbon fiber. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“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.” (Victor, Chicago)

Raven seven string extended range guitar. Swamp ash, carbon fiber. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Honestly, I was a bit skeptical of the claims. Every 8 claims to have clarity on the low string, and to be ‘very playable’ for an 8. They all claim it. They never deliver.

“This one delivers.

“The most playable 8 neck ever.

“I asked Rick if the string spacing was tighter. Because it was so easy.

“He said no.

“I asked him again.

“He said no. Again.

“The neck shape. Jeez. I could actually play thumb over chords on it. And the 8th string is clear.

“Guitar might look beastly in a pic. In person…it’s even more beastly in some ways…as it’s way more 3-D in person than in photos.

“But it is actually not large in your hands. Feels very light (7.25 lbs). The contour cuts make it feel small on your body.

“Did I mention that neck profile?”
(Steve Sjuggerud )

“The cleans on LAW are insane-o”
(Chris Buono)

“In a word. Breathtaking. When I took it out of its case for the first time, that feeling of the air momentary leaving the room was definitely there. (there were no shortage of gasps in the music store where I unveiled it, either).

“I don't even know where to start. It's perfect. The weight. The neck profile. The ergonomics. Actually, I need to at least address that part for a moment...looking at pictures, you led to believe sure, it's probably relatively comfortable, but it's so angular and jagged in appearance, I just assumed some compromise was to be made. (and I was OK with that. You "can't have your cake and eat it, too", right?) WRONG. Almost like an illusion, as soon as LAW is placed in your lap the entire instrument just becomes one with me. Had I flown to your place and we physically measured the body against mine and cut around it, I still can't imagine this being any more perfect than it is.

“Little Angle Wing is light, but not so much it feels like a toy. It's beastly, but also delicate. (as a butterfly?). How one guitar can be so many things at once is almost an enigma, but that, I am coming to understand, is what Rick Toone does best. Anyone can build guitars. You create vehicles for musical inspiration. Even as I type this, LAW sitting a few feet away, inspires. It somehow has the ability to strike, fear, awe, and wonder, in equal parts.

“I can't thank you enough for working with me and helping me bring this one home.” (Matt Richards)

Angle Wing butterflies are experts at biomimicry, adapted to camouflage themselves against dead leaves in the forests of North America. Freeway™ 6-position blade switch. DiMarzio™ pickups. Swamp Ash body. Intonation Cantilever™ patented solo tuner-bridges machined from stainless steel and bearing bronze. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Orchid has arrived and it is perhaps the most stunning thing I have ever seen! It's at once everything I hoped it would be, and still uniquely surprising. There is no question that nothing else like it exists, I absolutely love it. First play through unplugged and it's clear and effortless; this is really what I needed to help take my playing to a new level. More to come when I have a chance to plug in and crank it up. In due time I aim to be a lot more active on Instagram and YouTube sharing my exploration into new edges of guitar composition and sound. I can't thank you enough for this creation and I hope to do it justice.” (Jesse)

Orchid™ 6-string guitar. Swamp Ash with traditional Japanese Shou sugi ban wood finish. Forged aircraft aluminum. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ bridges. Advantage™ neck profile. Bare Knuckle™ pickup. (PURCHASING INFO)

"Ancient Viking relic meets alien technology. Let's break the internet." (Todd Haug: Powermad, USA)

Ghost™ eight string guitar. Old growth maple, birch. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Now it is after midnight here in Phuket, I’m very tired after long excited evening. I was notified by UPS service 8 hours ago, while about to finish surgery at 17:30 pm. They came to my hospital office, when all nurses just returned home. I urgently called my intimate friends, to help taking picture while opening box. Everyone around me was excited as they had watched your youtube with me.

“What should I tell first...

“Cupid wood selection is gorgeous, very sturdy expensive high quality feel. It must be very smart to play in both standing and sitting. You made all specs fit to my request, perfectly fit my small hand and body with fanned fret 24-24.7 inch, 21 fret. Cupid weight is light and very ergonomic like my dream guitar.

“I have tested tone with tube amp together with my guitar tech for 2 hours: ‘SUPER SWEET AND RICH, flawless!’

“I should be the luckiest guitarist to get two Rick Toone special jazz guitars with opposite design. I will play Cupid every night and show my progress, I promise to myself!” (Dr. Dominic, Thailand)

Cupid™ semi-hollowbody six string guitar. Figured claro walnut, figured maple, titanium, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickup. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I’m sending you this picture from last Friday, we played Hell and Heaven Festival at Mexico City, it went amazing!!

Dany loves the feel and sound of the Element™ aluminum neck...she loves that the neck doesn’t get sticky because of the sweat and she can still slide her hand perfectly across the neck when playing. Also she has found that she has to apply less pressure over the strings and her hand is more relaxed while playing.” (The Warning, Mexico)

Spearfish™ six string guitar. Swamp ash solid body. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

A single piece of solid cherry forms the arched top. Smooth ergonomic outer contours conceal a sophisticated chambering system. Torso Touch™ carbon fiber back allows the soundboard to resonate fully, without dampening. The center of the body is simply air.

Element™ neck machined from single billet aircraft grade aluminum. Polished stainless steel frets. Stainless string nut for consistency. Quick-release stainless steel bolt system for carry-on TSA transport.

Patented Intonation Cantilever™ solo tuner-bridges machined from solid stainless steel and bearing bronze. Smooth precise accurate tuning.

Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups in a 5-way configuration with volume and paper-in-oil cap vintage tone. 3D™ system places controls at your fingertips, easily reached by either hand.

Expect warmth, organic, punch. Exceptionally balanced tone across the bass and treble strings. Deep fundamentals. Sustain. Acoustic-snap and articulate response. Incredibly dynamic.

This guitar is ideal for Trad-Jazz-Fusion or players looking to bring controlled archtop tonality into high-gain settings. (PURCHASING INFO)

“It’s not an overstatement to say it’s the sweetest electric guitar I’ve ever played.” (Mike Dawes, UK)

Goshawk™ six string guitar. Swamp ash, torrefied flame maple, ebony, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I will never forget how Fathom felt and sounded.” (Roopam Garg, USA)

Fathom seven string extended range guitar. Swamp ash chambered body, raw aluminum, carbon fiber. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Had to repel outta the ethereal world I've been in since the guitar arrived to type this email. Dude, you are totally insane! Mad scientist for real. Been playing guitar for 50 years, and hands down this Skele is the best guitar I've ever played.

“Almost sounds like a hollow body archtop unplugged, with very warm and deep sound. The neck is a string bender's dream for country and blues, and legato lines are effortless as well. Key to it all is your Advantage Neck Profile™. Pure genius!

“Very very well done, my friend. You totally went above and beyond. Thanks so much, Rick. Mind blowing!” (Andrew Darcangelo, USA)

Metro Skele™ semi-acoustic six string guitar. Figured maple, ebony, swamp ash, birch, cherry, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickup. (PURCHASING INFO)

“The instrument behaves and looks *exactly* as we had planned and imagined, and wipes away all the shortcomings of the fretless guitar: I can tap or pluck the highest notes and get instant, high-energy sustain. Even without the Sustainiac engaged, notes above the octave on the highest two strings ring for a remarkably long time.

“I noticed it is balanced in two dimensions: the amplitude curve is flat and strong across the frequency range, and the instrument hangs evenly from the strap — no need to adjust while playing.

“It is truly an incredible machine.

“Thank you for your craft and vision — this guitar has ruined me for any other instruments.” (Adam Wilson, USA)

Spearfish™ six string guitar. Swamp ash solid body. Fretless Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. EMG-89 pickup with custom Sustainiac system. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Haven't stopped smiling since I opened the case. Wow! All I can say is that I wish all my guitars sounded and played like this.

“Effortless on all 24 frets. The Bene pickup covers any style I want, even some overdriven Hendrix thru a Leslie.

“I'm telling' you bro, you are really onto something with all the technology on this machine. Totally makes sense, and takes all the work out of practicing. Lets the mind simply concentrate on music, which is the way it should be. Very special instrument, one that I will play every day.

“Many thanks again. I sincerely appreciate everything.” (Andrew Darcangelo, USA)

Jazz Skele™ semi-acoustic six string guitar voiced for jazz. Figured maple, ebony, birch. Waverly bronze tuners. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Benedetto™ S-6 archtop pickup. (PURCHASING INFO)

“My jaw dropped and face melted as if the ark of the covenant was opened.

“I love everything about this! Keep doing whatever you are doing. Thank you for delivering on the vision and creating my dream guitar! My already high expectations have been exceeded. -mind blown-

“This masterpiece will lobotomize the uninitiated.

“I'm still recovering from the initial stupor. The more I inspect the instrument, the more I begin to appreciate how incredibly difficult this must have been to make. The wood grains are so complex and the metal components are so unique, yet mysteriously necessary.

“I feel a mixed sense of terror and awe when I realize that I will never fully understand how you made this instrument or why you chiseled where you did...it is beautiful and unfathomable. I like giving feedback, but this guitar is so beyond my comprehension that I don't even know where to start.

“The best part is that I get to play music on it!

“The guitar is phenomenal. The intonation is flawless. I find the walnut body shape to be an incredible platform for my right hand/forearm.

“These pickups are extremely sensitive and dynamic. I've never played a pickup that was this responsive. The tone is very rich and resonant. It is like watching a movie in 3d.” (Daniel Frazier, USA)

Old Growth™ eight string guitar. Walnut, carbon fiber, stainless steel. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“While I was initially a little cautious about the classical headstock I've come to appreciate its design, the tuners are all extremely precise and perfectly placed for maximum comfort.

“The neck is also perfectly suited for my playing. The flat back of the Advantage™ neck profile is right where my thumb likes to be during single note lines and more complex chords, making it very comfortable. The bottom angle also aligns with that bit of palm where proximal joints (?) meet the rest of the hand for basically everything else.

“The fanned frets also allow me to reach chord extensions that were either impossible or very difficult on a traditional guitar.

“I've been messing around with different pick-up combinations and made a few discoveries.

“Firstly, that the bridge pick-up works really well with my MIDI plug-in. I get a lot less of it misreading what I'm playing and since I often double the MIDI parts with the guitar audio I also get a nice sort combo tone. You can hear that on ‘missing the point of me smoking’.

“Secondly, that the single coils just sound really fuckin' good. I've always had a bit of a bias against singles but this guitar (Skele) has completely 180-ed that. I find myself using the neck single more often than any other.

“It's a masterpiece.” (Max McCargar, USA)

Walnut Jazz Skele™ semi-acoustic six string guitar. Figured walnut, ebony, spruce, birch, and carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Incredible design and material choice. Fantastic example of invention wrapped in art.” (Jim Jannard, USA)

Ultimate Shred Machine™ six string guitar. Figured maple, ebony, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Brother the weeks pass the moon wanes and waxes. Much moves and turns and I grow as I can so here's a couple of tracks at least, from Saturday last. The music is a sketch, yet we go from here to here, am working toward an album so the next recordings will be all of the previous tracks and more, reworked refined, still live and with a bass. One photo is all I have.” (Dig Woods: Australia)

Semi-Hollow six string guitar. Figured walnut, swamp ash, figured quartersawn maple, anodized aircraft aluminum. Patented IPNP™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Blur has landed! This thing SINGS. It quite interesting how it still sounds extremely guitar-like considering the unconventional materials used. I'd say it sounds like an enhanced guitar or 'hyper-real'. I really think you are on to something with all this.” (Tosin Abasi: Animals As Leaders, USA)

Blur™ eight string extended range guitar. Old growth maple, swamp ash, titanium. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck with integrated capo. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. Lace™ Alumitone and Bare Knuckle™ Nailbomb pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Ultimate Shred Machine™ eight string guitar. Carbon fiber, birch. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Custom Bare Knuckle™ pickups designed by Tim Mills. (PURCHASING INFO)

Blueshift Ultimate Shred Machine™ extended range seven string guitar. Swamp ash, carbon fiber. Element™ extended range single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string tuner-bridges. Tosin Abasi signature Fishman™ Fluence pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“The guitar looks and sounds fantastic. It is certainly one of the best sounding guitars that we have heard with the technology installed.” (Henrik Bridger: Antares, USA)

Antares Auto-Tune™ six string guitar. Figured walnut, birch. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Integrated Antares Auto-Tune™ technology. Artwork by Laura Masi. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I love Black Dove! Simply stunning!” (Dennis Kole: Raveis Kole, USA)

Black Dove™ six string guitar. Figured maple, swamp ash, ebony, anodized aircraft aluminum, titanium. Patented IPNP™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Laurie and I just got back home from Boston to Bellingham yesterday after getting an opportunity to open for the Wailers at a charity benefit in Connecticut to raise money for cancer research. It was a lot of fun and a great cause!

“Laurie has been interviewed by Guitar Girl Magazine and the interview includes photos which we took of her and Luna.

“Luna is a beauty and will be reunited with family as I have and love Black Dove! Simply stunning!” (Dennis Kole: Raveis Kole, USA)

Luna™ semi-hollow six string guitar. Figured walnut, swamp ash. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

Spearfish™ six string guitar. Swamp ash solid body. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Custom Bare Knuckle™ pickups designed by Tim Mills. Kill switch. (PURCHASING INFO)

S2™ six string guitar. Swamp ash, stainless steel, Delrin industrial plastic. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Q-Tuner™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I play Dragon every day after work. Since it is my first time to play a fanned fret guitar, I need to get used to it. Except my inexperience with fanned fret, the guitar is great, really GREAT. Precisely made, beautiful mechanisms, and perfect weight balance. It is responsive, clear, but warm and acoustic. Especially, the balance is perfect to play classical music.

“The sound of the front PU in coil-tapped position is my favorite. I usually plug the guitar into Avalon U5 DI. The guitar needs no effects, even EQs on U5, like a fine acoustic guitar.

“I recorded several classical pieces. I played them using a thin ebonite flat pick. They were recorded directly from the output of an Avalon U5 DI with no EQs. Then I added a reverb to the recorded files. Putting aside my performance, the guitar gushes balanced, rich and sparkling tones. I am sorry that my English skill is poor to describe the sound of the guitar correctly.

“Mentioning about my nerve damage is welcome. I appreciate your concern. I have a focal dystonia in my right hand for more than 10 years. It is not a serious one. However, I cannot control my finger 2, 3 and 4 well. Before I got the disease, I was learning classical guitar for five years. After I got it, I changed my playing style from finger-picking to flat-picking. Fortunately, I was able to meet a good teacher of flat-picking.

“Flat-picking style was a completely new world for me. Since I can play only one note at a time using a flat pick, I began to play violin pieces with a classical guitar and a electric guitar.

“I looked for an electric guitar that is good for my style, and finally got Dragon. The guitar is exactly that. Since Dragon has a clear string by string separation, it is a great guitar for classical counterpoint pieces. An acoustic-guitar-like response and balance of Dragon are ideal for me.

“About my finger-style, since I can control my thumb and index finger, I noticed that I can play two-part pieces using these two fingers. Since J.S. Bach's two-part invention #13 is my favorite piece, I began to try to play it with two fingers. And I am still trying to play the piece for more than five years. It is true that the piece requires two notes at a time. However, it is difficult to play with only two fingers. I have to practice more and more...

LISTEN | JS Bach BWV784.mp3

“Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to get such a great guitar.” (Ou Yamamoto, Japan)

Dragon™ six string guitar. Ambrosia maple, carbon fiber. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Compact and nimble. Fast and versatile. Fretless or fretted. The Walrus raises any or all bars aesthetically and functionally. It’s well-suited for conventional techniques yet excels as synthesizer catalyst; detuned third bridge transformer; video game analogue; all-purpose microtonal companion into rarefied space. And it’s super-easy as grab ’n’ go goes, a perfect traveller. It’s been a true honor to have Rick’s work and friendship in my life.” (Killick Hinds, USA)

Walrus™ six string guitar. Cherry, maple, birch. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck (both fretted and fretless). Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. Artwork by Laura Masi. (PURCHASING INFO)

S2™ (prototype) six string test guitar. Swamp ash. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“The guitar is fantastic...it is far more beautiful in person than in the pics — and it is beautiful in the pics! The neck is the fastest, most playable ever. The new profile is awesome.” (Steve Sjuggerud, USA)

S2™ six string semi-hollow guitar. Figured maple, swamp ash, copper. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Lindy Fralin™ Twangmaster pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

T2™ six string guitar. Swamp ash solid body. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. 3D™ electronics control. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“I'm staring at the instrument for these few days, more and more fascinated by this guitar! The shape of carbon-panels reminds me of Japanese sword...sharp and minimal, it's so cool.

“Its blade is made of only two elements.

“Carbon and Iron.

“In very high temperature and special method, scouring while adding charcoal to sand-iron. The finished high purity carbon-steel is called TAMA-HAGANE, it is said to be the finest in all steels.

“The blade is made by extremely high technology, and finished with a beautiful wood grip and sheath. That's also the art piece of minimalism.

“As a national treasure of Japan, there is a sword regarded as the highest masterpiece. Made around 900 years ago, it has a longer and wide blade, but super lightweight...like your innovative 8-string.

“The author's name is 包平 -KANEHIRA-

“I feel equivalent spirit to your (my) USM-8.

“USM-8™ | 包平 KANEHIRA”

(KS, Japan)

Kanehira Ultimate Shred Machine™ eight string guitar. Figured walnut, ebony, carbon fiber. Advantage™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“Hey Rick, I have some unfortunate news. Upon arriving home from tour we found out our house has been robbed while we were gone. They have taken 10 guitars and one of them being Viceroy. I'm so upset with the news.

“They have taken several other items including amps, keyboards, and even my car. I'm so sorry that I currently don't have the guitar. We are hoping it will surface online and I'll get it back. We are posting about it on our facebook page literally as I'm sending you this email. Wanted to inform you first before posting.” 6/18/2012 (Javier Reyes: Animals As Leaders, USA)

“Got it back! Incredible! Very much playable! Gonna have my tech take a look at it soon. Gonna change the strings. My guess it’s still the same strings from 5 years ago.” 3/16/2017 (Javier Reyes: Animals As Leaders, USA)

Viceroy™ eight string guitar. Maple, swamp ash, stainless steel. Patented IPNP™ neck profile. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Patented Positional Constant String Pitch Control System™ tuner. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)

“It is no secret that I have played for a long time and it was not until I put my hands on my first Rick Toone that I felt a perfect fit to a guitar.

“Usually there is some sort of adjustment or compromise to get what you need out of a guitar. Some are even uncomfortable in some ways...but you make adjustments to get what you need out of them. Each of my Toone guitars is a perfect fit for me. I love the Element™ neck and the balance of the bodies. Everything combines to allow the player to get whatever he needs from the instrument to make his best music.

“I feel so blessed to be able to play these instruments. What is so special about your instruments to me, is that they connect with the intangible inside spiritual source which is that special place where the most profound and best music comes from. They are, in a way, spiritual guides.

“Brotherly Blessings and Peace All-Ways.” (Bob Gore, Germany)

Old Growth Walnut™ six string guitar. Walnut, birch, carbon fiber. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Patented Intonation Cantilever™ individual string bridges. Exclusive DiMarzio™ pickups. (PURCHASING INFO)