Any plans or implemeted systems for Licensing the materials out, for say smaller builders?
As it is now, we are the only manufacturer in the world who can use this material. If we would "license out" the material, we would be biting our own ass.
I´m a heavy whammy user sometimes, so I need a system at least as stable as a Floyd.... How does yours compare?
The Schaller LP tremolo we use is not as stabile as Floyd, but it works for most of the players. If You keep the tremolo clean and the string-rolls well oiled, the tremolo works well and it suits most of the players. Some players say that it can take also dive bombs.
Relatedly, on the Parker Fly the tension adjusting mechanism seems to be similar to yours, but on a Parker I can´t use my 12´s.. Is that a problem her as well?
As I know the Schaller LP tremolo is unique in the way it is build.
I have attached a picture so you can see how the springs are attached on the tremolo steel block.
You can use 09-046 to 011-049 strings. If you wish to use thicker strings, the tremolo springs needs to be changed to stiffer ones. If you use thinner strings, one or more springs can be taken away from the tremolo. So if You want to use 12set the tremolo should be "adjusted" at the factory to fit the strings
Leading to (depending on answer): Guitars with Floyds a possibility?
We are going to make some prototype test's with Floyds in the future, but at the moment it is not possible to order a Flaxwood equipped with Floyd.
Any plans for seven strings or Baritones?
We are new in the business, so it is better to start with models that are "quite normal". Baritone is not a big seller and if we would make one, we would maybe sell 10st in a year, so the price tag should be around 20 000USD for each to make it profitable for us.
So no baritones in the near future I'm affraid.
I assume the guitars could also be intentionally made heavier if desired (I personally like a good 4-5 kilos on my shoulders live, just feels "right")?
You can take the back plate of and ad some weight inside. There is at least a one liter of free space inside the guitar, so I think You could fit even a 1-2kg weigh lifting weight inside. You could also clue some stuff on the other side of the back plate, some pieces of lead maybe.
At the factory, we could build easily 1kg heavier custom shop model where the weight is in the body material, but this is the first time a heavier guitar is requested.
How limited is the Custom Shop on shapes, headstock Inlays and such? I understand the material makes it possible to do more or less anything, the question is how flexible are you (within reason, of course) ?
The Shapes are limited only by the cost of the moulds.
It is very expensive to make a new mould for a new headstock or for the body.
The holes for the inlays comes during the injection molding process and to have different kind of inlays we would have to make a new neck-mould. It would be cheaper to order a normal guitar with 24 karat golden inlays, than to order a custom shop neck from us with example simple eagle inlays.
And finally, any Artist relations programs already in place?
We are endorsing at the moment only one artist in Finland. He is a very talented 26yo professional player called Timo Kämäräinen. He has played all the sound clips on our web page. He is also testing our prototypes on tours, so we get a professional opinion from a guy who uses the prototypes on the road.
With this guitar You can play stuff that You cant' play with any other guitar and sooner or later, some "virtuoso" will understand this and choose our guitar only because it is superior instrument, not because he was paid to play it.
Cheers
Ari
Flaxwood guitars
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