The
Sunday Newspaper
Reprinted
by
Permission
Article
by Paul C. Curtis
TGI
Business
Editor
Trio wants
to
build electric guitars totally from
Name
musicians have already expressed interest.
_____________________________________________________
What began
as
John N. Jack” Tucker’s dabbling while trying to decide what to do with
his life after Hurricane “Iniki” struck in 1992 has become Tucker
Guitars, in
collaboration with John Morrall a custom
home
designer and builder, and David Killingsworth, a former member of the
punk band Tubes.
All Northshore residents the men bring distinctively
different skills and tastes to the table, but all are fully committed
to the relentless pursuit of the perfect
Tucker and
Morrall are co-holders of a U. S. Patent
covering
around 20 innovations and materials used in the construction of Tucker
Guitars. It was Morrall’s
suggestion to use Albizzia Falcateria, which is found on acreage around
Since the
most common guitar wood,
“One of
our major objectives is to be able to build guitars and basses entirely
out of wood sources in the state of
“I think
we are getting close” Morrall said. “I would like Tucker Guitars to continue to
provide solutions to
players and the industry, especially if this means that we can
contribute
to growing the next generations of Tonewoods right here on Kauai.” he
said.
On
The
instruments sell for between $1450. and
$4750, and others
in the music world have expressed interest in the guitars, the trio
said
during a recent interview in
Pearl
inlays,
including some black lip shell inlay the company sources from Tahiti
are
featured in petroglypth design that are
engraved
into the fingerboard markers.
Among the
patented features of the guitar is a spline in the interior of the body
of the guitar, which actually acts as a platform to which the bridge,
pickups and neck
all interconnect for the purposes of improved vibration, Tucker
explained.
Tucker
brings
his business acumen to the table, Morrall
his
design excellence and Killingsworth adds the musician’s ear to the mix. Add international known graphics artist Prarie
Prince (current drummer for the Jefferson Starship) to the mix and the
men are confident that their designs are destined to take off.
The all
Hawaiian guitars are also designed for local players and during the
interview with the trio, with some of the axes on display, a small
crowd of musicians and other interested folks gathered around to learn
more about the products
and their makers.
“We have
spent the better part of the last ten years developing a significantly
different electric guitar,” Tucker said. “This has involved harvesting
tropical Hawaiian woods and stabilizing the woods by naturally
air-drying the wood instead
of the traditional kiln-dried approach.”
“I think
our design solves two major problems facing the guitar and bass
industry. First we are able to offer an
ergonomic instrument capable of achieving a wide, dynamic tonal range,
and 30% lighter than other brand name electric axes, he continued.
Our
prototype
weighs an astonishing 4.5 pounds, and has a full tonal response that is
not
easily duplicated. The lighter weight
should
solve problems of back, shoulder and arm pain experienced by some
guitar
players.
“The other
major problem that we addressed is the diminishing supply of
“The key
to our success will be to have players embrace our product on the basis
of tone. Tucker Guitars have a full tonal
range, from low
to mids to a very musical, bell-like
response,”
Tucker said.
“Our
guitars vibrate in your hands, and incredibly loud without
amplification.”
More about the Garden Isle Newspaper at www.kauaiworld.com
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