Hell Guitars

[Kodiak3D]

Actually I would be very interested in any recommendations from the fretters on what they think might be suitable for any of these models. If I wind up actually trying to market these I will probably want some reasonably priced (but good quality) name pickups.

Can't beat GFS for quality/price ratio, but while their name is growing, they aren't known as well as Seymour Duncan or EMG.

[syo***]

Just received these images from the factory. This guitar is tentatively called the "Bender". It's actually sexier than I imagined...
Jack is too close to the knob though. Have to fix that next time around.

Front:
http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...a1b75e9894.jpg
Back:
http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...a1b760b22a.jpg

Apparently they are ready to ship. I'm very excited to receive them!

[deeaa*]

That is one damn cool axe. I knew it'd look great but that really really looks good. Even if the pickup switch is in the wrong place for me, it sure looks like an axe I could definitely want.

[Kodiak3D]

Lookin' very sweet, Syo!

[bigG]

Hell....?....Yeah! That is one sweet lookin ax, syo! I would be interested in that guitar if she were hangin' on the wall of a local git shop!

[Kodiak3D]

Hey Syo! What's the latest word on Hell Guitars? Haven't heard anything for a while.

[Tibernius]

Just received these images from the factory. This guitar is tentatively called the "Bender". It's actually sexier than I imagined...
Jack is too close to the knob though. Have to fix that next time around.

Front:
http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...a1b75e9894.jpg
Back:
http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...a1b760b22a.jpg

Apparently they are ready to ship. I'm very excited to receive them!

Got to say, that in black, with a black pearl pickguard and chrome hardware...

If you do end up selling them...have you given any thought to a UK/EU distributor?

[MAXIFUNK]

LOOKS GREAT WONDER HOW IT SOUNDS.

[syo***]

Hey Syo! What's the latest word on Hell Guitars? Haven't heard anything for a while.

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.

Got to say, that in black, with a black pearl pickguard and chrome hardware...

If you do end up selling them...have you given any thought to a UK/EU distributor?

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..

[syo***]

A quick update. I just installed some Bare Knuckle pickups in two of my guitars and am floored by the transformation. I was looking for a Cream-like vintage vibe and got it with a set of The Mule HBs. Terrific match for this particular guitar. The HSS model got a "Nailbomb" HB with "Irish Tour" singles which pack quite a punch. More muscular than I am accustomed to but it seems to work for this model too, although I may try some others too.

Anyone out there using Bare Knuckles? I'd love to hear what someone else has to say about them. I am quite pleased myself and leaning toward using them for all of my designs. I'll try to post some sound files soon so you can hear what I'm talking about .

[grave89]

Hello...
Just received some photographs of the first real round of prototypes of my new guitars in progress.
This lot is fairly straightforward. Each basically inspired by ES-335, SG, and Strat in terms of rough dimensions and playing styles.

Anyway, would love to hear what anyone thinks. Although there are a few issues I can see already (oval fret markers for one), I am generally quite excited about the whole thing. Finished samples should be delivered in about 2 weeks...!

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...eff25c35da.jpg

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...eff2611b3c.jpg

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...eff25e5d74.jpg

these are really great!! I like the most is the middle one.

[MAXIFUNK]

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..

sounds very cool best of luck with the new hardware.

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

[syo***]

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***]

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***]

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...

[FrankenFretter***]

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***]

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***]

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]

Cool thread, cool guitars. :-)