Rick Toone’s recent creation — Spearfish — for 2016 is something which looks aesthetically familiar, but materials and construction make this unique. It features “the world’s most advanced guitar neck: Element™. Machined from single billet aircraft grade aluminum. Industrial grade stainless steel mounting system for rapid (repeatable intonation) neck removal & installation.
Details of Element™ machined guitar neck. Fretboard Flare™ geometry for exceptional string bends. Polished stainless steel frets. Hipshot locking tuners, made in USA. Proprietary machined stainless steel multi-scale nut system for rapid string action adjustments and exceptional tonal consistency.”
As of 1/2016, this is for sale on the Toone website: Matte semi-clear black burst finish over Swamp Ash. Element™ single billet machined aircraft aluminum neck. Kahler multiscale tremolo. Available 1/2016. $8,000 plus shipping.
Definitely curious what a wood body guitar sounds like with an aluminum neck. Past examples of this didn’t really impress, but it may depend on execution. Production must be somewhat limited (and expensive) if the aluminum neck is machined from a single billet. I’d love to hear what this guitar sounds like playing a wide variety of music.