Hell Guitars

[bcdon***]

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

Fantastic work!

[syo***]

Cool thread, cool guitars. :-)

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

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

Fantastic work!

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]

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***]

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/...eb1493669d.jpg

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/...eb14958ea8.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***]

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.

[syo***]

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.

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 , Canada and Japan first with Europe 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***]

I'll try to post some more pics soon.

Any new photos?

[syo***]

Any new photos?

Thanks for asking Don. I just got my camera back from repair and took a few shots over the weekend. Did a few quick layouts to try and get a feel for possible presentation. Haven't had a chance to shoot the semi-hollow model yet, but I just put a set of Bare Knuckle Black Dogs in it which really crank.

I am also thinking to design my own vol/tone knobs for a couple of the models. Anyone out there do any metal casting?

Anyway, here are a few of them. Comments please...

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/SpitBlk_topdtl.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/spi...Dtl_SdeSml.jpg

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/spi...opDtl_Sml2.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/spi...Dtl_SdeSml.jpg

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/Spi...Dtl_SdeSml.jpg

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2Blk_topdtl_sml.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2Blk_topSddtl.jpg

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2Wht_topdtl_sml.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/No2Wht_topSddtl.jpg

http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/Ben...TopDtl_Sml.jpg
http://www.hellguitars.com/stuff/ben...Dtl_SdeSml.jpg

[Katastrophe]

Possible ad line:

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

[guitarhack]

Possible ad line:

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

Most excellent

[bcdon***]

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!

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

[bcdon***]

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***]

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]

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***]

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***]

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

[bcdon***]

Hi syo,

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

[syo***]

Hi syo,

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

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...!

[bcdon***]

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