The Raw Guitar Co.

17/07/2024

Quick update on our current work. We also have a Guyatone inspired model too . . .

Until next time. SR

15/07/2024

The Rolling Stones have been pushing for a number of years to have Hubert Sumlin inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, see link below. Mr Sumlin was Howlin' Wolf's guitarist, consequently, I don't need to elaborate further!

Why he's not there remains a mystery.

However, along with The Stones there are a host of devotees who agree with their sentiment. I'm singed up. Friend and colleague, Bob Angell too. Bob's more than a devotee. He was Hubert's apprentice. I've written previously on this page of Bob's relationship with “Uncle Hubert”, second link below.

In recognition of Bob's relationship with “Uncle Hubert”, he recently teamed up with friend and fellow devotee, Duke Robillard to record a tribute cut which features on his new album. Released on Rawtone Records, “Brand New Blues” is Bob's follow up to his 2020 critically acclaimed “Supernal Blues” release.

To help promote Bob's new album I've set up a Facebook Group page called Shake For Hubert, see previous post which contains numerous photographs of Bob and guests recording at Stable Sound Studio. You will also find Bob's first official promotional video too which I was delighted to produce. I'll pop the video in the Comments section below should you wish to take a look.

Until next time. SR

https://nypost.com/2017/08/17/the-rolling-stones-want-this-guy-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1106397656086949&set=a.154990727894318

25/04/2024

When Bob Angell began recording his new album at Stable Sound Studio last year, I suggested he photographically records every session he plays the ''44'' prototype guitar we recently designed.

Not only did Bob send over pics of him playing the ''44'' he pinged photographs of every recording session undertaken! The photographs were so good, I opened a folder, and when time permitted, I began to edit the best of the best.

Such was the quality of material - editing was hugely enjoyable. Shane and I used a number of them on Bob's pre-release promotional video we produced earlier this year. Those pics were just the tip of the iceberg! I have not counted but I must of edited at least thirty photographs showcasing Bob and his guests laying down the groove at Stable Sound.

What have I got? A photographic record of Bob and friends having fun in the studio. The majority of the photographs were taken by his sound engineer and co-producer, ''Magic'' Steve Rizzo. Bob took a number of photographs too when guests came to record. He took some amazing pics of Mark Cole, Doug James, Kelly Knapp, Duke Robillard and Charlz Ruggerio plying their craft.

When I spoke to Bob last week, I suggested we do something with my edits for promotional purposes and as a precursor for the launch of his album. We are currently debating which way we should go regarding publishing and presentation because each black and white photograph comes complete with its own story adding colour to the shot!

Stay tuned!

Until next time. SR

10/04/2024

Love this Steve Rizzo pic of legendary baritone saxophonist Doug James and Bob Angell. Snake invited ''Mr Low'' to Stable Sound Studio to add a little colour to his forthcoming album which will be released shortly on Rawtone Records.

Doug's résumé is very impressive. He's a five times Grammy nominee and a W. C. Handy Award winner. He has recorded with Pat Benatar, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Colin James, Duke Robillard, Roomful of Blues, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Louis Walker and many others.

Doug has played live with LaVern Baker, Eric Clapton, Helen Humes, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and many more. He has recorded and released numerous albums over the years and tours frequently with his own band.

The list of guests who have contributed to Bob's forthcoming album is mouth watering to say the least. Mark Cole, Kelly Knapp, Duke Robillard and Charlz Ruggerio have visited Stable Sound Studio to record with Bob. With Doug James added to the list, Bob's album is shaping up very nicely indeed.

Until next time. SR

23/02/2024

Many thanks to all who Commented, Liked and Shared our recent posts, your continued support is greatly appreciated. Many thanks also to those who recently clicked the page Like button.

Following on from my last post and admiration of Squier's budget line of Telecaster Sonic Esquire guitars, I've adopted their conceptual thinking to our current Japanese/American Fusion project and created an introductory model.

Over the past eighteen months or so, when time permitted, I've been developing a brand of guitars which I believe are not only commercially viable but, more importantly and from a marketing perspective, may offer the guitar buying public something new and exciting to purchase.

Yes, that's a bold statement. Take a look at the short promotional video clip I recently produced with Shane (link below) and judge for yourself. If you're a fan of 1960s Japanese guitars but love American manufactured hardware and pickups, our current work ticks all the boxes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyzRVvVfTI8

Back to today's post.

Why do I admire Squier's budget line of Telecaster Sonic Esquire guitars?

Simplicity is the answer.

Driven by a single Fender humbucker at the bridge, these guitars pack a punch and for around £150 are tremendous value. Rather than a Fender humbucker, I've chosen a Filtertron to drive our prosed model. This pup compliments the Teisco Apollo inspired body and Gibby hardware perfectly - if you're going to make an introductory statement - make an introductory statement!

Until next time. SR

19/01/2024

Two posts in one day!

It's been a while since I posted anything relating to guitar design. Looking at Bob and Kelly's Squier Telecaster Sonic Esquires, see previous post has got me thinking. Could I adapt Squier's conceptual thinking with my current project and, if so, which model and configuration?

Over the past eighteen months or so, when time permitted, I've been developing a brand of guitars which I believe are not only commercially viable but, more importantly and from a marketing perspective, may offer the guitar buying public something new and exciting to purchase. Take a look at the short video clip Shane and I recently put together and judge for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyzRVvVfTI8

I've let this project lapse over the past few months as other work took priority. Thanks to Bob, Kelly and Squier it's time to head back into the workshop and take these concepts to the next stage of development.

Until next time. SR

19/01/2024

Following on from my last post - Bob pinged me this great pic. It was taken by Steve Rizzo last weekend when Bob hooked up again with the great Kelly Knapp to work on his forthcoming album.

Bob and Kelly love Squier's current Telecaster Sonic Esquire with a Fender humbucker at the bridge. You can pick these up for a song and they come in numerous colours. Bob and Kelly prefer Lime Green. I must admit I'm taken in with them too. They look great and according to Bob play beautifully and sound amazing.

If you've not seen Bob's promo video Shane and I recently put together where Bob talks about his forthcoming new album it's featured on my last post. Alternatively you can click the link below.

Looking at Bob and Kelly's Esquires has got me thinking!

Until next time. SR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSr4Er3wVaQ

05/01/2024

Recently, I wrote how friend and colleague, Bob Angell has been hard at work recording his new album at Stable Sound Studio in Portsmouth, RI. It will be released on Rawtone Records in the spring. His new recording is the follow-up to his 2022 and critically acclaimed, Supernal Blues album.

During breaks in Bob's recording sessions he pinged me some incredible photographs which Shane and I have used to create a short promo video. After several edits, we're delighted how it all came together. If you agree, hit the Like and Share buttons!

In the Comments section, I've posted a couple of pics which didn't make the edit. We were spoilt with the material we had to work with. If you like my additional posts, again, hit the Like and Share buttons!

Producing short promotional video clips is something we've wanted to do for a while. Getting your work noticed on social media platforms gets more difficult by the day.

I believe, eye-catching 60 second videos (with additional promotion), are the answer to promoting your work. Hit 'em hard as the saying goes!

If you like what we've done with Bob's vid, get in touch, we would love to work with you.

Until next time. SR

Throughout the summer of 2023 Rhode Island blues musician, Bob Angell (https://rawtonerecords.co.uk/artists?view=article&id=44:bob-angell&catid=15:artists) h...

10/10/2023

Love this recent Bob Angell pic of Duke Robillard putting our Chicago inspired 44 prototype guitar through her paces.

Duke and Bob were at Stable Sound Studio in Portsmouth, RI recording a Hubert Sumlin tribute cut which will feature on Bob's forthcoming new album, see previous post for more details.

Duke's verdict on the 44? His smile says it all!

Until next time. SR

06/10/2023

For those who don't know, friend and colleague Bob Angell has been hard at work recording his new album at Stable Sound Studio in Portsmouth, RI. It will be released on Rawtone Records in spring next year. Bob's new recording is the follow-up to his 2022 and critically acclaimed, Supernal Blues album.

Over the summer, Bob pinged me numerous photographs which I've used to create a short promo video, see link below. Producing short promotional videos is something I've wanted to do for a while. This is my first and I'm delighted how it all came together.

Until next time. SR

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaWQxNsEv4I

02/07/2023

Summer's here! Consequently, this will be my last post until autumn. Until then, a quick update.

Colleague, Bob Angell is busy recording his new album, see penultimate post.

All's good in the hood! I've been privileged to hear numerous sound files of Bob playing our “44” prototype from our “Chicago” collection as he puts down the cuts! I'm blown away with what he's writing and recording. Looking forward to hearing the album in full.

I caught up with Baz a couple of days ago and after a very enjoyable lunch we started to go through a treasure trove of goodies we have acquired over the past few years.

They included a number of prototype pickups colleague, Bob G. Harrison has designed and built. For those who don't know and, I may have mentioned this once before on this page, Bob was taught to wind pickups by Abigail Ybarra.

This was the first time Baz had seen the treasure trove. He was like a little boy in the sweetie shop! One of Bob's designs which immediately caught his eye were his stacked humbuckers with reversible mountings, see attached photograph.

I've mentioned these beauties recently on this very page should you wish to scroll down. Such are the build quality of these pickups, I suggested we drop them into one of Baz's relic Telecaster bodies so we can evaluate and, more importantly, appreciate their tonal qualities. We've wanted to do something with these pups for a while. It was one of those - we'll get round to it one day – projects.

Bob, forgive me!

There were other pickups Mr Harrison designed and built which Baz loved. They may find their way into the project too.

Until autumn. SR

14/06/2023

New light through old windows!

One of my early Japanese/American fusion designs – period Yamaha SG-2 body and pickguard fused with classic American hardware.

This concept provided the catalyst for our current work which you can view by scrolling down the page.

(Baz has taken up the mantle and created a number of amazing designs using the SG-2 body which he put on his Elderwood Guitars page should you wish to take a look. I've put the link in the first comment below.)

Until next time. SR

06/06/2023

Great pic of colleague Bob Angell at Stable Sound Studio, Portsmouth, RI. He's playing our 44 prototype MKII. This guitar is from our Chicago inspired project, scroll down the page for more info.

Bob's recording his new album and he's delighted how it's developing. He pinged me a sound file earlier today and the 44 is singing!

I'll update soon with more pics and info as Bob puts it down!

Until next time. SR

01/06/2023

New month, new post.

First things first. Huge shout-out to Baz at Elderwood Guitars for all his hard work and promotion. Baz is a great designer and builder - his work is unparalleled. Working with him is always a pleasure.

Since my last post when I paraphrased Ronnie Wood, I thought it would be cool to expand on my Japanese/American fusion project with Fender style, single coil pickups and period hardware.

Fender style, single coil pickups are synonymous with a certain double-cutaway guitar. However, that doesn't mean you can't go there and experiment!

The word ''experiment'' was the key to my thought process. Could I unlock the holy grail of guitar design?

No, is the answer.

Leo and Freddie got it right from the get go. Their double-cutaway guitar is so iconic - all you can do is respectfully doff your cap.

However, there's nothing in the ''rule book'' that says you can't use the three single coil pickup format to enhance your work.

After a dozen years of designing guitars, I guess this experiment is the perfect way for me to bow out.

Have I succeeded? That's not for me to judge!

Until next time. SR

26/04/2023

Over the past few months, I've been squaring the circle and completing my work I started a dozen years ago. My work is documented on this very page should you wish to scroll down.

During my time of designing guitars, I've met and worked with many talented people - the list is endless. Each, and everyone of you, have brought so much to the party. Thank you.

What started as a repair job on my son's Fender Squier Stratocaster - quickly developed into something more substantial. It may have been my background in product design, my love of music or a combination of the two, which brought me here today.

Having caught the guitar bug, and having thrown my hat into the ring, metaphorically speaking, my aim was to create something unconventional and to row against the tide of conventional guitar design. I was a very brave man!

I learned very quickly that rowing against the tide was not how the guitar industry works. My enlightenment happened at the very time I saw on TV, Ronnie Wood talking about songwriting. He exclaimed, and I paraphrase, it's not what you copy but what you add which, subsequently, raises the creative bar and takes your copy to the next level. Thank you Ronnie. Ditto, my approach to guitar design.

Talking of which, I’m really happy with how my Japanese-American fusion work has progressed, see recent posts. Fusing period Guyatone and Teisco body shapes with authentic American hardware and pickups, I believe, and to paraphrase Ronnie again - raises the bar, creatively speaking. More importantly; the marketing possibilities of these products, can be equally creative, as I have demonstrated in the Comments section below.

That’s it for now, folks. Until next time. SR

22/04/2023

Having spent the last dozen years designing guitars, I've come full circle and squared. However, before I turn my attention to other things, I've unfinished business.

The last few months have been a delight - returning to a project I started eight years ago. Consequently, I discovered new light can perforate through old windows!

Having spent the last couple of weeks or so energising my Teisco Apollo adoration, see last post, could I find something in my creative soul to replicate the above with my take on the Guyatone LG-350T?

That's not for me to judge!

Until next time. SR

08/04/2023

For those who love sushi with their burger!

A couple of posts ago (link below), I wrote how modular design is an important part of my work - none more so than our retro-vintage Japanese guitars.

Delighted, as I am, with our Guyatone and Teisco inspired designs, I felt there was more I could accomplish, creatively speaking, with the body shapes by designing a whole new range of modular guitars that can be marketed accordingly.

In the post sited above, I presented two conceptual renderings where I fused a period mid-sixties Teisco Apollo body with classic American hardware and pickups. These two concepts were developed from a previous project I put on our website eight years ago (link below). Having revisited my initial design work, I returned to the workshop and mocked up the proposals posted today.

My fusion project has always been unfinished business. Today, I have squared the circle!

Until next time. SR

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=577086567777388&set=a.352618376890876

https://rawguitars.net/slide_show.html

15/03/2023

We're pushing on with our Japanese inspired guitar project. Two down, one to go! Inspired by Guyatone's LG-160T, this concluding prototype is a fitting end to what has become a great project.

(More information below.)

Until next time. SR

15/02/2023

We're progressing further with our Japanese inspired guitar project. Our second model, see previous posts, is now in the paint shop. We've started to design our third and concluding build. inspired (again), this double cutaway will be the perfect compliment for model's 1 and 2.

Many thanks to everyone who recently clicked the page's Like button. If you are not sure what we do – may I be so bold?

We design guitars. We don't manufacture. We are a conceptual design and marketing studio. We concentrate on creating potential guitar brands which are commercially viable and designed for mass-production. Colleague, Gary Grainger came up with a great quote when he said we are “The potential Pininfarina of the guitar world”. Gary's quote is indelibly carved into every aspect of our work.

We're not conventional in our design work. Perhaps it's my background in product design that makes us unconventional and why modular design is at the forefront of our work. Modularity has many benefits. Besides reducing manufacturing costs, it combines the advantages of standardisation with customisation.

Guitar design is modular. How many variations of the Telecaster, for example, have there been since she was launched in 1950? You may debate the Telecaster's progression as a guitar brand is down to marketing and industry competitiveness rather than evolutionary design. It's a combination of the two and it's this combination what drives us to design guitars in the way we do.

Back to our current project. It's still in its infancy but the conception dates backs to the time when I was designing guitars for inclusion on our website. Check out the “Rogues Gallery” page (I'll put the link at the end) and you will find numerous Japanese inspired concepts which we returned to as reference points. As stated in previous posts, Frank Meyers' awe-inspiring book on the history of Japanese electric guitars was another point of reference which continues to be hugely rewarding as the project develops. Ditto, Ry Cooder.

Over the past few weeks, I've posted numerous mockup photographs on social media. It would appear we've struck a chord with the guitar loving public. Each Instagram post, for example, has generated approximately fifty new followers which, for us, is phenomenal considering we're not on the radar. Humbled!

What are we developing? Probably our best work to date.

Having completed our previous project (see link below) I, as the glue which binds us all together, was creatively exhausted. I needed a tonic or stimulus from one of my colleagues to ignite my creative flame. The spark came from Bob Angell. He suggested I revisit my Japanese work from ten years ago and pick up where I left off.

Hats off Sir, inspired suggestion or should that be tutorial!

Inspired indeed, and with technical guidance from Baz, Bob Harrison and Ritchie, I started to create a number of designs which were motivated by period Guyatone and Teisco guitars.

The first model I started to work on was inspired by Guyatone's LG-350. I've loved this guitar for years. The shape of the body is exquisite and, consequently open to new ideas and concepts. Scroll down our feed and you will see where the project is heading. Bob Harrison's prototype stacked Fender style humbucker pickups, for example, are the real deal and, when configured with his Teisco Gold Foil single coil, take the project to another level. I'll come back to Bob Harrison at the end of the piece.

The second model in the project is a labour of love. Inspired by Teisco's Apollo, this guitar has, and continues to be, the one period Japanese guitar which inspires me the most. The body shape is off-the-wall, yet paradoxically, traditional. Consequently, I've used the body as the foundation for numerous concepts, see Comments below. My “Skulduggery” and “Hound Dog” guitars, for example, exemplify why modular design rules the roost. Ditto, our current project. This is where I came in, folks!

However, before I sign off, a few words on model 3. Inspired by Guyatone's LG-160T from the mid-1960s, this design will be a fitting end to the project. The body shape (and the guitar as a whole) of the LG-160T is so out there it blows your mind. I've aesthetically tuned the body shape so it's more in keeping with model's 1 and 2. Colleagues, Bob Angell and Ben Raw are more than happy with this concept and design work exclaiming she is the best of the three. I'll post pictures in my next post.

I almost forgot! Bob Harrison was taught to wind pickups by the legendary Abigail Ybarra.

Until next time. SR

Links:

Our “Rogues Gallery” webpage where my ideas were born and developed:

https://rawguitars.net/rogues_gallery.html

My piece on how we created our range of Chicago inspired guitars:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4223451074381576&set=ecnf.100064281480028

14/01/2023

A few years ago, pickup guru and colleague Bob G. Harrison developed a new prototype pickup platform that maximises the number of design options and tonal variations while minimising components and build costs. Put simply, Bob created a modular pickup that is multi-functional with tone by the truckload and aesthetically tuned to look good on any guitar. We believe, Model #2 from our current Japanese project, illustrates my declaration and Bob's work perfectly.

What has Bob developed? Something unique and rather innovative is the answer.

Primarily, “The 51”, as we have named the pickup, is a conventional Fender style stacked humbucker built with industry standard, off-the-shelf, components. However, it’s much more than that and here’s the rub. One bobbin is rail and the other pole. Therefore, you can choose which way up you would like the pickup fitted and consequently, the tonal variation.

If you require more than one pickup on your guitar you can mix and match by reversing the mounting so both rail and pole options are available. In addition, you can choose whether you want The 51 humbucking or as a single coil by simply adding a dual variable coil-tap/split switch.

The tonal variations from Bob's work is off-the-wall and illustrates, once again, why we got involved in guitar design.

Until next time. SR

22/12/2022

One more development pic from our current Japanese project. This inspired double cutaway has more curves than Scarlett Johansson!

Many thanks to all involved.

Until next time. SR

14/12/2022

We're progressing with our Japanese inspired guitar project. Our first model, see previous post, is now in the paint shop. The second build, and sister model, is taking shape and looking good.

Until next time. SR

03/11/2022

First working prototype pic of our current Japanese project. inspired, this double cutaway is hitting all the right chords with us!

Personally, I'm delighted colleague, Bob Angell suggested we head East with this project. Period Japanese guitar design was radical and off-the-wall. With all Japanese designs of the '60s they copied what was cool in the West and added their own twists, which today, are considered chic and ultracool.

The words “chic” and “ultracool” are the key to this project. With traditional Western inspired guitar design you are confined to uniformity and stereotypical expectations. With Japanese guitar design those parameters can be thrown out of the window and the sky really is your limit, creatively speaking!

Back in the day, Guyatone and Teisco to name but two, designed eye-catching guitars which still set pulses racing today. Ry Cooder, for example is a huge fan of these manufacturers, see previous post. Ditto, colleague Bob Angell.

Guyatone and Teisco guitars were fitted with remarkable pickups which subsequently, and thanks to the aforementioned Ry Cooder, have spawned a whole new product market in commercial guitar and pickup building. I''ll pen a few words for a future post on Cooder and the pickups associated with him.

We've now started to prototype our second Japanese influenced guitar. We've taken one of my favourite guitars from the '60s as our starting point and we're delighted at how she's progressing. I'll post a working photograph in my next post.

Until then. SR

01/10/2022

The man who put Japanese guitars and pickups on the map!

31/08/2022

New project and we're heading East!

Colleague, Bob Angell loves period Japanese guitars. He has several in his collection. When it came to discussing new project ideas Bob suggested we head to Japan for inspiration.

I bought Frank Meyers' amazing book on the history of Japanese electric guitars as a starting point - it was a revelation when it came to kick-starting the creative process. Consequently, I've come up with a couple of ideas which may develop into something cool and exciting.

Time to head into the workshop.

Until next time. SR

31/07/2022

If you love period Japanese guitars this book is for you. SR

30/05/2022

My work is done!

I have fulfilled my ambition of designing a range of Chicago blues inspired guitars that are modular in conception and designed for mass-production.

It has been an incredible journey of discovery and enlightenment.

It began the day “I went down to Eli's” and viewed on YouTube, Robert Nighthawk and John Lee Granderson performing Dr Clayton's, “Cheating and Lying Blues”.

Their performance was urban, vibrant and American.

The colourful lyrics, the vibe and the liquor-enhanced reaction of the crowd, who had gathered to watch them perform, sent a shiver down my spine.

It was electric! One could say, it was RAW!!

I subsequently discovered the clip I saw on YouTube was taken from a 1965 observational movie called “And This Is Free”. It was recorded on numerous Sundays throughout 1964 and shot on and around Chicago's fabled Maxwell Street.

The film was directed and produced by award winning photographer, Mike Shea. His sound recording engineer was Gordon Quinn. Together, they recorded a masterpiece of cinéma vérité and a must-see movie for anyone who is studying 20th century American history.

As great Nighthawk was on Shea's film, it was his playing partner, for me, who stole the show!

John Lee Granderson's presence was mesmerising.

Puffing on a cigarette throughout the recording, his playing was sublime and perfectly in keeping with Nighthawk's bottleneck playing.

It was Chicago guitar legend, Mike Bloomfield who teamed Nighthawk with Granderson for Shea's film. Bloomfield was Shea's Technical Consultant for the blues sequences which appeared in his movie.

Having watched the YouTube clip, I noticed Nighthawk was a playing a Gretsch Corvette solid body. A beautiful guitar with a sweet tone. Granderson, however, was playing a guitar I had never seen before. Simplistic in design and aesthetically provocative. I instantly loved the look of her.

What was he playing?

I had no idea.

However, I was determined to find out.

This is where I came in folks!

I have written a book on how Granderson's performance that summers day in '64 on Chicago's Maxwell Street, got me hooked on guitar design. It led to the creation of “The Prowler” and “The Predator Series” - five guitars which have Chicago and Maxwell Street deeply etched in their DNA!

I could write more on my book and the guitars we have designed and developed. However, this little summary video I recently put together with Allan Smyth, and posted in the Comments Section, does it much better!

Until next time. SR

24/05/2022

When we completed our “Predator Series” prototype guitars last year, see previous posts, we knew we had created something unique and different. However, we didn't know how they would be received.

Thank you to everyone who commented on our social media platforms. Humbled again.

Until next time. SR

18/05/2022

When we unveiled our Charlie Christian pickup “Predator 44” prototype last year, see previous posts, we didn't know how she would be received.

Thank you to everyone who commented on our social media platforms. Humbled.

Until next time. SR