Hell Guitars

[syo]

Now that Hell Guitars has been launched and business is becoming a little more predictable, I've been turning some of my focus to designing/manufacturing accessories. This is something that I really enjoy doing. Also, I've always seen accessory sales as way to help subsidize our guitar prices. Anyway, I've come up with a new product called Pup-Caps which are thin (.10mm) adhesive backed, nickel-plated, copper strips which fit on top of your pickup covers to make your guitar look cool. So far I've manufactured 3 humbucker caps and one single coil cap. I'm designing more which will include a Tele lipstick cap. The effect is subtle and changes with the light angle. I think they look cool and integrate themselves well with the guitar without looking tacky. I guess we'll see if there's a market out there for them or not.

Here are some quick shots I took. Please let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate any opinions/thoughts. Thanks!

Here's a single coil version up close:

 

[Tig]

I saw these on your site last week. I think they are a really cool, innovative idea. I haven't seen anything like them out there, and they are not over the top.

Unfortunately, I have only a Strat with the right pickup covers for these to work on. Time to buy more guitars, eh?

 

[riverrick]

Very nice syo. I like the rising sun. Great idea.

 

[Katastrophe]

Now THAT, my friend, is true innovation. You have an incredible eye for small detail, and overall design. That single coil cover would go perfectly on my Strat. Any chance you'll make a similar cap for an open coil humbucker, too?

 

[deeaa]

Hm. I'd have to see 'em live to have a proper opinion. Since I respect your work immensely & really dig Hell designs, I'll be brutally honest I think they toe a fine line between being a bit gimmicky / cheap trick or a neat little upgrade, much like those fretboard marker stickers...and based on the pics I can't really tell which they are. Interesting in any case, the idea is good.

The designs sure look cool no doubt about that. The single-coil version is the best - I can instantly see it as sweet looking and I can imagine it would look great on many a guitar, because it looks like a flush fit. But the bucker ones suffer a little from the oval hole exposing the pole pieces. I fear the metal of the actual cover may look too different & be too conspicuous on some guitars, making the more matte/aluminum looking sticker look too plainly an added decoration. If the polepieces were traced closely too it'd likely look more convincing, but I understand it might create a host of issues with fit. I imagine there's lots of different spacing's for bucker poles.

All that said, I'd try 'em...I've tried those fretboard stickers too and on some guitars they work very well and I think these might suit some axes like gloves too. But I don't have anything but EMG pups right now but something like that on my SG would make it look even less 'metal'. If you make something like this to make EMG's look more like normal buckers I'd try em for sure.

 

[syo]

Now THAT, my friend, is true innovation. You have an incredible eye for small detail, and overall design. That single coil cover would go perfectly on my Strat. Any chance you'll make a similar cap for an open coil humbucker, too?

Thanks Kat! Yes, I would like to make caps for open coils too but this will have to wait until we see how they do, first. There are so many small (but significant enough) differences in pole spacings/dimensions etc. that we need to see first if there is a solid market for these first with the most common pickups.

Hm. I'd have to see 'em live to have a proper opinion. Since I respect your work immensely & really dig Hell designs, I'll be brutally honest I think they toe a fine line between being a bit gimmicky / cheap trick or a neat little upgrade, much like those fretboard marker stickers...and based on the pics I can't really tell which they are. Interesting in any case, the idea is good.

The designs sure look cool no doubt about that. The single-coil version is the best - I can instantly see it as sweet looking and I can imagine it would look great on many a guitar, because it looks like a flush fit. But the bucker ones suffer a little from the oval hole exposing the pole pieces. I fear the metal of the actual cover may look too different & be too conspicuous on some guitars, making the more matte/aluminum looking sticker look too plainly an added decoration. If the polepieces were traced closely too it'd likely look more convincing, but I understand it might create a host of issues with fit. I imagine there's lots of different spacing's for bucker poles.

Nice points, Dee.
Well, they certainly aren't for everyone, I'm sure. They are though, a non-destructive way to enhance one's guitar and fairly inexpensively at that. I'm also looking into licensing logos of popular bands and such (AC/DC being the first that came to mind) which could broaden our reach. I've applied for a patent so hopefully I can control the development of this idea.

Actually the stickers themselves are plated in actual nickel on a copper base. So they don't look aluminum-y at all. About the pole pieces on the bucker, yeah, I agree with you. But I would have to make several of the same design which is quite costly especially if I want to do alot of different designs. Actually though, whatever the spacing I think they look petty good if not ideal.

 

[deeaa]

Mm, that logo licencing idea sounds real good.

One thing that sprang to mind is could the oval area be also included in the sticker with fake pole pieces pictured, the oval ready-cut but included, so you can pop it out if you do have pole pieces higher than the PU cover and use also that part if not? That way you could use the same stickers also with flat pups like actives to make them look like normal ones, and / or when someone has pups that have flush polepieces or lower than the cover, or maybe even some open-coils like those ugly Carvin ones, the sticker could still be popped on most any mics to transform the look completely. I'd only add very little to the manufacturing costs methinks but broaden the possible uses quite a lot. I bet there'd be plenty EMG etc. users who'd prefer a more classic look instead of the black plastic on their LP's for instance.

 

[syo]

I like the way you think Dee . Actually I also thought about having removable parts to the stickers but I`m a little concerned about the ease of application. These can only be applied once. If mis-applied they are easy to damage. Not because they tear as they are actually quite strong, however they are very easy to bend and mess up.

Making caps for actives is an interesting idea. Perhaps I`ll try a run and send you one to try out.

Sent from my IS11CA using Tapatalk

 

[deeaa]

Yeah, I can imagine the material, I've likely seen similar stuff. It's very thin but stiff, right? Makes for nasty sharp bends easily. Maybe the polepieces part could be entirely separate a sticker, perhaps even a wee bit bigger than the hole so it'd be easier to apply....I think the material is thin enough they could layer slightly without issues. You could sell them as optional additions to these existing ones, could even have different ones or rails and poles etc. And yeah I'd be keen to try a set on my SG

 

[davewrites]

Just taking a moment to resurrect this thread because I've had my Black No.2 (aka, Bernice) for 3 weeks now and...

Admittedly, I don't fully appreciate the range of tones yet, but I've had zero difficulty transitioning my play. Great balance and feel. It has an amazing neck. It's just too easy to pick up, play and lose sleep. It's the most comfortable guitar I own. I expect my other electric will be hitting eBay sometime in August.

Anyways, back to my No.2: when I finish moving into my new home, I'll post a bunch of pics and a more comprehensive review. She is definitely worth bragging about. (And that price can't be beat!)

 

[Katastrophe]

Pics?

 

[Ch0jin]

"It's the most comfortable guitar I own."

I say the same thing all the time about my Hell ZeroDot! Whatever that neck profile is, it's a winner! I recently "fixed up" my old 80's MiK Squier, and the neck on it is like a bat compared to Hell.

 

[The Grand Vizier]

I would probably buy a Hell if they ever pull the finger out of the Devil's lair & make lefty version's, but I won't hold my breath waiting :deadhorse:
Yeh I know "shudup yah whinging lefty & be happy with the meager offerings available" :sarcasm

 

[syo]

Well, after being AWOL for quite a long time here at the Fret (posting anyway), I stumbled upon this long past post...

As promised (I think maybe even to you!) lefties are coming in November. I'm going to the factory in a little over a week to check production.
Hopefully we will get some support from the lefty community out there. We're trying to please!

 

[davewrites]

HELL YEAH!

Side note: have you heard of the book Delivering Happiness. It's an amazing read for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.