Hell Guitars

MAXIFUNK · Dec 16, 2009

syo said:
Hey Kodiak, Tibernius and MAXIFUNK.
Although I have been at the Fret, I somehow missed these posts. Sorry.
Hell Guitars are coming along very nicely, Thanks! After playing around with the first prototypes I am very encouraged. I am just finishing some small design and spec changes and the next round of prototypes should be started next week. We will be trying out some Bare Knuckle pickups this time. The Wilkinsons are really quite decent for the money but I want to try some higher end hardware this time around for comparison.

Thanks Tibernius. Maybe I'll try your color suggestion. I was thinking to offer black and with a black pearl pickguard sounds nice. Right now I am putting most of my energy into building the best guitars I can and not worrying too much about distribution. Hopefully we can get to that part of things soon too.
Hmmm, If I have a UK distributor, perhaps I will have more opportunity to visit Wales. One of my favorite places..:AOK

sounds very cool best of luck with the new hardware.

Maxi....................

syo · Dec 17, 2009

I've done a redesign of my semi-hollow "No. 6" model. These 3 are being built now. You can see the concept art here:

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/no6_colors.jpg

The original had one soundhole and not chambered on the treble side. It plays nice but is a little too heavy so I decided to hollow out both sides and
added a soundhole (redesigned shape). Added new colors as well. Would love to hear any feedback...er...I mean opinions from my trusted fellow fretters.
Thanks.

FrankenFretter · Dec 17, 2009

syo said:
I've done a redesign of my semi-hollow "No. 6" model. These 3 are being built now. You can see the concept art here:

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/no6_colors.jpg

The original had one soundhole and not chambered on the treble side. It plays nice but is a little too heavy so I decided to hollow out both sides and
added a soundhole (redesigned shape). Added new colors as well. Would love to hear any feedback...er...I mean opinions from my trusted fellow fretters.
Thanks.

Love 'em. I like the black best, although the goldie is nice. Any idea how much longer until you go into production, and where your US distributors will be? If someone already asked this, and I missed it, I apologize.

-Sean

syo · Dec 17, 2009

FrankenFretter said:
Love 'em. I like the black best, although the goldie is nice. Any idea how much longer until you go into production, and where your US distributors will be? If someone already asked this, and I missed it, I apologize.

-Sean

Thanks Sean.

The (hopefully) last round of prototypes should be finished in about a month. We have just a few design tweaks and trying out a few more pickups to see which fit each guitar best so I'll be sending a bunch of guitars out to some professional players and builders for their input and go from there. If all goes well, we might start marketing in 4 months or so. As for US distributors we're not yet sure. We are talking with several parties but we may start first here in Japan and go from there.

Really this all started out as something purely for my pleasure and passion with an idea to make a business of it if it felt right. After the second round of guitars (with a different maker) I was so encouraged (stoked actually) that I've been putting more resources into realizing a business. My approach is always to start small, take our time and get it right. And of course to do something I feel passionate about.

One thing I would like to make clear is that I joined this forum before I seriously considered trying such a business. Lest anyone here should think that I came here to cultivate future customers I can assure you that this is not at all so. I stumbled upon this forum when I found Steve's great Hagstrom review. I then discovered the good vibes here and joined the group. I am sharing this Hell business because I am seriously gassed about it (in more ways than one) and appreciate that I can share with the good guitar-passionate people I've come to know here. This is in fact the only guitar forum I have ever joined.

Perhaps when we get into the business of finally selling these things I can be Robert's first paying commercial business member (you still doing that Robert?). I'm looking forward to it...:happy

FrankenFretter · Dec 17, 2009

That's good info, Syo. Thank you.

It must be a fantastic feeling to start a business that is also your passion. Congratulations, and best of luck (although, looking at your guitars, I don't think you'll need luck, as long as they play as great as they look!).

-Sean

syo · Dec 30, 2009

Here's the last of my first four designs:

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2_layout.jpg

First prototypes to be built starting tomorrow. A familiar style made a little sexier (to my taste anyway). I'll have three flavours to start. This black, a cream (w/ red tortoise PG) and a figured maple top tobacco burst. For comparison we will be testing Bare Knuckle "Brown Sugar" pickups, BK "The Boss" and some Wilkinson Vintage. I'll go to the factory in a couple of weeks to check out the progress. My AmStd Tele is one of my favorite guitars so I am really anxious to try this model out.

As always, feedback/opinions much appreciated.

syo · Jan 31, 2010

For any out there still following this, the 3rd round of prototypes are shipping this week. Got some pics from the factory and here are a couple...

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/spits_0110.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2s.jpg

The Tele-ish model is all new. Although I saw parts of it in the factory last week, it hadn't been assembled so I am am very much looking forward to seeing how it plays. The one on the left is a bit out of focus but it's a flamed maple veneer on alder. Looks stunning in person if I do say so myself.

As always, any comments welcomed.

mainestratman · Jan 31, 2010

Cool thread, cool guitars.

bcdon · Feb 1, 2010

Those are very nice! How long before they hit production? Do you have a ballpark price range yet?

Fantastic work! :dude

syo · Feb 2, 2010

mainestratman said:
Cool thread, cool guitars.

Thanks! Coming from a golden god that is high praise indeed!

bcdon said:
Those are very nice! How long before they hit production? Do you have a ballpark price range yet?

Fantastic work! :dude

Thanks Don!
The (hopefully) last of the prototypes are shipping this morning and if all goes well with these we should be ready for market in about 3 to 4 months. I am also negociating with the top maker in Korea to perhaps build some models there which may push things back for some models. As for pricing, we are currently debating strategy. We will definitely offer our models equipped with Bare Knuckle pickups (which retail for for about $320 USD). These will range in price from approx. $500 to $700 depending on model. We are also considering offering the same guitars equipped with much cheaper (but still good quality) Wilkinson pups. These would probably go for around $350-$500+.
The guitars are all made from North American woods and most parts are from the US, UK and Korea. Pricing and timing could change a little but this is a decent estimate of things.

Also, we just negotiated a deal to bundle our guitars with an excellent US made tube amp. I'll give more details on this soon as there are a few small details pending. But basically for the retail price of the pickups and a handmade, handwired US made amp you can get a new guitar for just a few dollars more (all for under $1,000).

Honestly, the most gratifying thing about this whole process has been designing and realizing the kind of guitars I want for myself. I am not structuring this strictly with profit in mind. We have other businesses that do well enough so if I can cover costs with a little left over I'm cool with it. This has really been the most fun I've had in some time and I don't want to spoil everything pouring over pie charts and attending marketing meetings. Modest profit and maximum fun and creativity. Perhaps you'll get a better idea of it all when our website launches soon.

mainestratman · Feb 2, 2010

syo said:
Thanks! Coming from a golden god that is high praise indeed!

Heh... one of my old drummers called me that... it made my head swell until I saw the movie "Almost Famous"... ;-)

I love the "SG-style"... I even like the color. Plop a 57 and 57+ in it and I'll save my pennies to buy one.

syo · Feb 7, 2010

I received most of the last round of prototypes a few will have to wait until after the (very long) Chinese spring holiday. They look great and so far have had the time to play 3 of them. I spent quite alot of time on this new model which plays like a dream. It's the first maple neck I've ever owned. I love the look and feel of it. Here are a couple of pics:

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/93434b6eb1493669d.jpg

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/93434b6eb14958ea8.jpg

I was all set to take pictures of all the models that came in but my trusty Nikon decided to stop working. Very frustrating. Also due to the snow storms last month in England which hit the "English Riviera" (Cornwall) the pickups arrived too late to get to the factory in time which means I will need to install a dozen or so pickups myself to test. While I'm at it I suppose I'll try out a few different pots for comparison.

As always, comments/observations appreciated...

bcdon · Feb 7, 2010

Those are awesome!!

I can not wait until you get to production! When are you going to start taking orders? Please tell me you'll be able to ship to Canada. :dude

syo · Feb 8, 2010

bcdon said:
Those are awesome!!

I can not wait until you get to production! When are you going to start taking orders? Please tell me you'll be able to ship to Canada. :dude

Thanks alot Don. Hopefully we can start taking orders in a few months. There are still a few logistical details to be worked out but we're getting closer. We will start shipping to the US:smile-us: , Canada:canada: and Japan:master first with Europe:frenchblank soon after.
More than anything, we'll have to see if the world is ready for Hell. I feel fairly confident we will be up for it

I'll try to post some more pics soon.

bcdon · Feb 21, 2010

syo said:
I'll try to post some more pics soon.

Any new photos? :drool

syo · Feb 22, 2010

bcdon said:
Any new photos? :drool

Katastrophe · Feb 22, 2010

Possible ad line:

When everyone else is playing the same old thing, you can give 'em Hell...

guitarhack · Feb 22, 2010

Katastrophe said:
Possible ad line:

When everyone else is playing the same old thing, you can give 'em Hell...

:dude Most excellent

bcdon · Feb 23, 2010

This is one stunning guitar! I really like the target/bull's-eye inlays. Great guitar and fantastic image layout. I really want one now! :dude

Do you put the same fret markers on top of the fretboard as well?

bcdon · Feb 23, 2010

Awesome! Great inlays as well, but I'm partial to the one above that looks like a bull's eye (what do you call it?).

syo · Feb 23, 2010

bcdon said:
Awesome! Great inlays as well, but I'm partial to the one above that looks like a bull's eye (what do you call it?).

The "bullseye" marker is at the 12th fret only, otherwise it is 6mm dots at 9,7,5 and 3 frets. I did play with the target shape on other frets but it seemed to stand out best alone on 12. There's also the same motif on the headstock. You can see it here:

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/spit6_TB_head_Sml.jpg

As for the name, I will have to wait to say until a few trademark questions are answered (hopefully soon).

mainestratman · Feb 23, 2010

I'm super interested in seeing the semi-hollow... I dislike buying a guitar online, but think that a fellow fretter might be a safe investment. ;-)

FrankenFretter · Feb 23, 2010

I really like the body shape of the Bender (Hell Bender?), but I'm curious as to why a guitar named Bender has a fixed bridge? Just wondering. Not that it matters, I still like it best of the three.

syo · Feb 25, 2010

FrankenFretter said:
I really like the body shape of the Bender (Hell Bender?), but I'm curious as to why a guitar named Bender has a fixed bridge? Just wondering. Not that it matters, I still like it best of the three.

Astute observation FF.
That is a point that I considered actually. Has more to do with the body shape than playing characteristics. The original prototype was much more "bent" but this still reflects the original idea. Hell Bender, yes :AOK

bcdon · Mar 11, 2010

Hi syo,

This is my bi-monthly plead for more pictures and status.. can you help a brother out?

:dude

syo · Mar 11, 2010

bcdon said:
Hi syo,

This is my bi-monthly plead for more pictures and status.. can you help a brother out? :dude

Hey don...
Thanks (as always!) for following my progress. I apologize that I don't have any new pics just yet, but soon, I promise. Lately I have been concentrating on final details and minor tweaks. I'm designing some custom knobs and trying out different style knobs from different manufacturers. We've also been kind of deconstructing some of the guitars to ensure that the guitars are sound inside and out.

Also working on getting video and sound files recorded soon. Lots of things to do with only so much time. Funny, but even though we're not advertising we've been receiving quite a few enquiries about the guitars. Certainly hope
to be out there soon.

And for anyone out there building, fixing or setting up guitars, I can't recommend Stewart Mac enough. Lots of great tools shipped (cheaply) halfway around the world in 3-4 days. Now that I suddenly have a workshop full of guitars, I find myself gassing for new tools...! :drool

bcdon · Mar 11, 2010

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are having a blast with these. I'll nag you again real soon. :drool

syo · Mar 12, 2010

bcdon said:
Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are having a blast with these. I'll nag you again real soon. :drool

The process has not been without its' frustrations but yes, it has been fun and personally rewarding to this point.

Unlike most nagging in my life, yours is actually an encouragement. Thanks.

deeaa · Mar 12, 2010

I've said it before, but I gotta say it again, that Bender one sure is a cool looking guitar. And it looks nicely smallish and compact too in the pics, which is a big plus for me.

MAXIFUNK · Mar 12, 2010

I just saw your latest updates if those play half as good as they look your going to need a new accountant real fast.

I want one of each I really like the look and layout of each axe.

WELL DONE INDEED :applause :applause :applause :applause :applause

Hell Guitars

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