So the question comes up pretty regularly, as to what’s new in guitar world? There are the requisite answers about new guitar models or amp models and re-issue this or that, but what is really new? We have discussed people like Jeff Babicz who has turned acoustic guitar design and electric hardware on its ear or Larry Fishman who has been innovating guitar pickup systems for many years, but what about good old meat and potato ‘new’?
This months blog will focus on our newest supplier and a guy who has taken a tried and true product, innovated a solution for the shortcomings of that product, and built a company which is now in the process of developing new and reasonably priced improvements to some of the products we already use and love.
Meet Christian Towner…artist, sculptor, painter, writer, poet and traveler….and most importantly, thinker. Christian is one of those people who can look at a product, immediately see the shortcomings of that product and at the same time start thinking about possible solutions or modifications to improve that product. Christian started playing guitar at 28 and quickly bought into the world of Gibson ES 335’s…. He also bought into the Bigsby Trem system for his 335 and wanted to install the Bigsby B3 rather than the B7 (which he was supposed to use), because he didn’t want to drill all those nasty holes in the body of his new guitar. After installing the B3 he found out that there simply wasn’t enough down tension over the bridge and the strings would simply fall off the bridge saddles when he strummed the guitar. Remember the part where I said he is one of those people who look at a product and improve it? Well, welcome to the Towner Down Tension Bar….designed, proto-typed and patented by Christian. The Towner Down Tension Bar increases the down ward pressure of the strings on the bridge thereby improving playability, tone and sustain, and can be adjusted up and down with the existing studs in order to find that sweet-spot for tone and sustain . This solves one of the longest standing issues I have had with Bigsby’s! Not just me, but luthier Pavel Maslowiec calls this innovation the Towner Genius Bar.
The Towner V.Block and Hinge Plate Adaptor came next, allowing a player to install a Bigsby on their instrument without having to drill holes in the Bigsby B3 plate or in the guitar body….another issue I’ve always had with Bigsby’s…once you go Bigsby, you can’t go back is no longer a thing! Now, any guitar player with a basic amount of tech skill can install a Bigsby on their guitar and adjust the down tension with the Towner hardware to achieve the exact tension sustain and tone they want.
Check out the selection of Towner hardware at www.sologuitars.com, and while you’re at it, check our selection of Bigsby products as well. Maybe it’s time for you to add this incredible trem system to your guitar.
Stay tuned for more products from Christian…he is now in the process of designing his own trem system for guitars, and based on the unique quality of what he has come up with so far, I’d say we have something to look forward to!
See you next month.
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