Building the Ergonomic Guitar» Performances

Improv to Let the Chips Fall

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:15:32 +0000

Guitarist Roger Placer performs his improv to Let the Chips Fall – from Praful’s album “One Day Deep.” Roger plays a custom Forshage ergonomic headless guitar through a Fender Princeton Reverb amp.

For more on the Forshage custom guitar, take a look at some previous coverage:

Canton Klein Style Guitar Demo

Rob Irizarry — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:30:11 +0000

Al Shaffer demos his made to order 2009 Canton Custom Klein Style Guitar.

The first two tracks are the neck pickup direct into a Carr Rambler with a Kingpin 60 speaker and the third track is the bridge pickup direct into a Tech21 Trademark 10 in a Blues Junior cab with a vintage JBL K-120 speaker with a scooped mid tone setup.
Everything was recorded with a Panasonic Lumix digital camera in movie mode with the camera mic.

The Specs

Body:

Chambered contoured mahogany body with curly maple & lace wood laminates
Hand bent curly maple top
Jon Bondy fixed bridge
Poly gloss finish on the body and top
Flush mounted strap locks and output jack
Rosewood pickup rings
Q-tuner pickups

Neck:

Steinberger headpiece
Curly mahogany neck
East Indian Rosewood fretboard
18″ fingerboard radius
Jumbo stainless steel frets 0-15
Medium stainless steel frets 16-24
Oil finish on neck

05Ric Performing Goodbye

Rob Irizarry — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:30:56 +0000

Extended range bassist 05Ric performs a short clip from “Goodbye” – a song “about a time when I was at a crossroads” – from his upcoming album “Circles” with drummer Gavin Harrison.

Part guitar, part bass and part Chapman stick, the custom instrument is the result of 05Ric’s collaboration with Crimson Guitars. Covered in detail in the article, 05Ric Extended Range Bass, the ERB is based on a Klein influenced body design and includes a number of interesting elements like a multi-laminate neck, a custom piezo equipped bridge and pickups hidden beneath the surface. For even more, check out our 3 part series of progress pics – part 1, part 2 and part 3.

Matt Read on the Equinox Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:39:50 +0000

Matt Read demonstrates the clean tones of the Equinox guitar in his arrangement of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Then find out more about builder Rick Canton’s ergonomic guitar in the article Canton Custom Guitars Ergo 2 Complete.

Canton Equinox at the 2008 NYC Fretless Festival

Rob Irizarry — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:02:08 +0000

From the 2008 New York City Fretless Festival, here is oud, sarod and guitar player Mustafa Stefan Dill performing “For Tagore” – a performance inspired and dedicated to the spirit of Rabindranath Tagore.

To learn more about the instrument, see the article Canton Fretless Electric Guitar and see some of its unique features.

Extended Range Bassist 05Ric

Rob Irizarry — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:51:38 +0000

05Ric, extended range bassist (and drummer), dropped by a few days ago with a quick update on his previously featured custom ERB – the instrument 05Ric and Ben of Crimson Guitars collaborated on for two years.

I’ve now had this beauty for over a year and still love her – considering she was to be a prototype. Also to say Ben is king!
The link is another video that shows what she can do, also a little preview for the forthcoming album.

And now here’s 05Ric playing his ERB solo through Guitar Rig 3.

Tim Miller Plays the Canton Electric Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:44:13 +0000

Guitar maker Rick Canton and jazz guitarist Tim Miller have been planning a custom electric guitar for several months. Recently, the two met in Boston to firm up the design. Rick brought along his Ergo 2 guitar, now known as the “Equinox”, so that Tim could try it for a tune or two in his three set gig.

Rick:

Tim opened the first set with his green basswood Klein and did a jaw dropping version of “Fall” by Wayne Shorter. In between sets he said, “I’m going to tune up the Equinox and test it out.” Tim ended up playing the Equinox for the next 2 sets. He really liked the tone and the feel of the neck profile, which was the final design tweak to his custom.

Here’s Tim Miller on the Equinox Electric Guitar:

In addition, Rick has several other projects in the works. Over the next few months, we can expect an ergo bass prototype, a new mini model and an ergo guitar for our friend Al Shaffer. BTEG looks forward to sharing all of these with you.

For more on the Canton Equinox, see Canton Custom Guitars Ergo 2 Complete. For more on Tim, see Tim Miller – Jazz Guitarist and Klein Electric Guitar Player.

Al Shaffer Demos the Koll RE7/F Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:59:49 +0000

Al Shaffer returns with a solo demo of the beautiful Koll RE7/F guitar previously covered in Koll Guitars Multi-Scale Archtop and Shaffer on the Koll Multiscale Archtop.

Listen and enjoy.

Many thanks to Al for the follow up video and thank you for mentioning BTEG!

Joe Giglio Solo – Embraceable You

Rob Irizarry — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:31:32 +0000

NYC guitarist Joe Giglio performs “Embraceable You” solo on his Forshage ergo electric guitar. Note the neutral seated playing position the Forshage facilitates. Joe’s torso is upright and there’s no need for a footstool to position the guitar. His shoulders are level and the guitar neck sits at an angle without the need for additional accessories. Overall, it’s a great formula for avoiding musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).

Now enjoy the performance.

Manha De Carnival – Joe Giglio & Jimmy Halperin

Rob Irizarry — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:47:47 +0000

Joe Giglio performs on his Forshage electric guitar with Jimmy Halperin on saxophone from a September 29th, 2007 outdoor concert in my old stomping grounds of New York City. Enjoy the video.

For more on Manhattan jazz guitarist and vocalist Joe Giglio, check out joegiglio.com.

Monster Meets the Orchid Bass

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:15:09 +0000

Luthier Rick Toone and “Monster” take us on a demo of the Orchid Bass guitar covering its sculpted ergonomic bass body, the unusual trapezoidal profile neck and the piano-like clarity of its sound.

In Monster Eats Orchid, Toone notes that…

Although Orchid was designed to ergonomically fit a petite player, watch Monster chew on the bass. He’s 12″ taller than Halie and outweighs her by 110 lbs. Because the bass also comfortably fits him, I would characterize this body shape as successful.

Overall, it’s quite an impressive bass.

Read more in Toone Guitars’ Orchid Bass, the follow up The Orchid Bass Sprouts An Unusual Neck and from the guitar maker himself on TOONE GUITARS.

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License

Lou Reed Performs

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:15:41 +0000

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Lou Reed performs “Heroin” on a Klein electric guitar.

The clip is from a documentary on the highly influential Velvet Underground (1965-1973).

Roger Placer – Harboring Days

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:15:35 +0000

Roger Placer plays Harboring Days on his Forshage ergonomic electric guitar – a song with lyrics by Henrik Takkenberg. According to Roger, Henrik went on to “create Flamenco Chill, a genre blending Spanish Flamenco music with ambient electronica.” Roger adds,

He was a founding member of the successful group Chambao. Tragically, he took his own life on 25 November, 2006. We were close friends at University and played in bands together. I will forever miss him.

Enjoy…

The Torzal Neck Klein Guitar in Action!

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:00:23 +0000

Austin, Texas guitarist Justin Telepak demos the unique combination of Little Guitar Works’ Torzal Twist neck with a genuine Klein Electric Guitar in this video provided by Jerome Little of Little Guitar Works. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Video no longer available effective 6.17.2008.

How about that? The Klein’s not just for jazz anymore.

For more on the merging of these two ergonomically beneficial designs see this previous article – Most Ergonomic Electric Guitar Ever?

05Ric Playing His Extended Range Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:30:13 +0000

Musician 05Ric planned this extended range guitar over the course of two years – an instrument first looked at in Crimson Guitars’ 05Ric Extended Range Bass. Now let’s take a look and have a listen to 05Ric on his Crimson Guitars ERB:

Thanks to reader Ray DeGennaro for pointing out this Youtube video.

Roger Placer Improv on his Klein Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:44:07 +0000

Have a listen to guitarist Roger Placer improvising over a loop of his song “Red River, Blue Sky” which first appears in its entirety on his 2003 album “Solo Archipelago”. Roger is playing one of his main instruments – a chambered spruce Klein electric guitar.

You’ve seen Roger featured before playing his other main guitar – the Forshage electric guitar – a state of the art custom guitar designed with ergonomics as a primary goal. For a great tour of its tonal variety, check out his Forshage guitar demo.

To learn more about Roger’s music, guitars and videos visit him at RogerPlacer.com.

George Harlan Demos the Delta Wing Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:45:26 +0000

TYRANT21′s George Harlan demonstrates the unusual Delta Wing Guitar from Gary Kramer. Note how the Delta Wing’s leg rest and form contribute to improved balance when compared to the typical electric guitar. Also observe George’s neutral sitting position while playing. He can play the Delta Wing without having to bend over the guitar or raise the guitar to bring it into a good playing position. No body contortions are necessary.

Although the shape may appeal primarily to the pointy guitar crowd, it’s a big step in the right direction. With it, Gary Kramer has exposed a segment of the guitar player population to something other than the usual designs based around Fender and Gibson models. Now on the market for several years, the Delta Wing Guitar may be another indicator that guitar design philosophy may actually be changing. That said, I vote for a shorter horn…

Frisell & Baron Perform Wildwood Flower

Rob Irizarry — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 15:05:08 +0000

Bill Frisell on guitar and Joey Baron on drums perform Wildwood Flower – from a Nov. 12, 1997 appearance at Teatro Masciari in Catanzaro, Italy. Bill is seen playing a Klein electric guitar for the piece.

Enjoy.

And now… Bill Frisell

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:24:58 +0000

Here’s jazz guitar player and composer Bill Frisell performing on his Klein guitar in this YouTube video of a July 3, 1993 Warsaw, Poland live performance. Joining Bill are Kermit Driscoll on bass and Joey Baron on drums. The composition is Amarillo Barbados:

Bill Frisell’s playing on the Nashville album inspired reader PJ Doland to make a Klein Guitar Replica – a lovely swamp ash body instrument with a Steinberger Synapse bridge.

Tim Miller and the Janek Gwizdala Project

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:44:41 +0000

Klein electric guitar player Tim Miller performs here as part of the Janek Gwizdala Project – from a May 2006 live performance in Caracas.

Thanks to reader Marc Why of the Marc Why Group for pointing out this YouTube video.

Roger Placer Performs From Gray to Black

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:12:27 +0000

Enjoy this YouTube video of guitar player, songwriter and recording artist Roger Placer performing his instrumental “From Gray to Black” on a Klein Electric Guitar:

You’ll also enjoy seeing Roger’s Forshage Hollowbody Guitar demo which illustrates the range and versatility of this radical electric guitar.

For more about Roger Placer and his melding of multiple musical styles, visit his site RogerPlacer.com.

Klein Electric Guitar Player Mick Goodrick

Rob Irizarry — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:44:23 +0000

Here’s guitarist Mick Goodrick in a 2005 Montreal Jazz Festival YouTube video playing his Klein Electric guitar. The piece is called “Meditation”:

Aside from his work as a musician, Mick is also an educator with several books to his name. Among them are the following:

The Advancing Guitarist
Almanac of Guitar Voice Leading Vol 1
Mr Good Chords Almanac of Guitar Voice Leading

For more examples of great guitarists playing ergonomic guitars, see the Performances category.

David Torn’s Trans-Trem Klein Electric Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:04:49 +0000

Regarded as “Best Experimental Guitarist” in the 1994 Guitar Player Magazine Reader’s Poll, David Torn is many things including producer, composer and recording artist. Here we see him in the role of guitarist demonstrating one of the most interesting innovations in the history of the guitar – The Steinberger Trans-Trem by inventor Ned Steinberger. In short, the Trans-Trem is an extraordinary type of tremolo system that allows the guitarist to transpose the instrument up or down on the fly.

Mounted on a spruce bodied Klein Electric Guitar, David Torn explains how it works and takes us through a demonstration that includes very cool pedal steel sounds courtesy of the Trans-Trem, his talented playing and YouTube.

Roger Placer Demos the Forshage Electric Guitar

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:16:43 +0000

Here’s a great demonstration of the Forshage Headless Hollowbody Electric Guitar by solo artist Roger Placer. Roger comments on the basic features of his built-to-order Forshage, contrasts its design with the Klein Electric Guitar and then demonstrates the guitar’s range of tones. Beautiful woods, unique design and versatile electronics come together to produce a truly impressive guitar built by Austin luthier Chris Forshage.

Here are some of the guitar’s specs:

Mahogany body with quilted maple top
Seven piece laminate figured maple neck
Cocobolo fingerboard
Gibson 57 Classic Humbucker in the neck
Lindy Fralin Strat pickups in the middle and bridge positions
Individual toggle switches for pickup selection
Pull pot places the single coil pickups in series approximating a humbucker tone

Now a little bit about Roger Placer from Roger himself:

I’m a solo artist in New Jersey and I play in a style influenced by jazz and ambient sounds, but I’m definitely not a diehard “jazz guy.” I have mostly focused on writing and recording and have 3 CD’s to my name as well as a bunch of random stuff. I gig occasionally in small spaces, but mostly I play for fun and passionate interest in music and the guitar.

To learn more about Roger Placer and his music, visit him at RogerPlacer.com.

Tim Miller – Jazz Guitarist and Klein Electric Guitar Player

Rob Irizarry — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:32:04 +0000

Another in the Performances series – Here’s the Mason Brothers Band Live in NYC with guest David Binney on Alto. The band features Brad Mason on Trumpet, Elliot Mason on Trombone and Bass Trumpet, Tim Miller on Guitar, Janek Gwizdala on Bass and Jordan Perlson on Drums:

Looking back at previous guitar players in the series, it’s interesting to note that there are no rock guitarists in the mix. Why are only jazz guitarists willing to explore unique instruments like the Klein Electric Guitar and the Forshage Hollowbody Electric Guitar? Whatever happened to rock being the music of rebellion?