News

KTM-9 is now available here in the UK through Tonetech Luthier Supplies.  Our press release has been issues and stocks are ready for shipment.

KTM-9 is the best waterborne lacquer on the market.  It has been used widely in the United States for some time and is acclaimed by instrument makers.  For the professional finisher it is easy to spray and for the amateur a great finish can be achieved by brushing.  The great flow properties give a virtually flat finish with only a small amount of flatting needed.

Go to the online store now and get your KTM-9 Lacquer

KTM-9 is hailed in the USA as the finest waterborne instrument lacquer.  It has many of the characteristics of Nitro-Cellulose lacquer and yet is free of harmful solvents.  The lacquer can be sprayed or brushed. It is compatible with our Rechargeable Spray Unit so there's no need to invest in expensive professional spraying equipment.

Tonetech Ltd have been selected to be  the UK's sole distributor and stocks will be in place by mid October.

Jescar developed their engineering expertise through the production of nickel free wire for the ophthalmic industry, catering for nickel allergy consumers.  They already supplied the US guitar industry with polishing compounds and logically moved in to making Fretwire.

They use new state of the art German manufacturing machinery and tooling to achieve a higher level of precision wire shaping and profiling.  The result is a new standard in fret wire manufacturing.  This is why the world's highest quality guitar manufacturers and luthiers have specified Jescar fret wire for their instruments.

There are many different fret wire profiles available, from small to large, low to high, narrow to wide, oval to round to triangular, all affecting the playing characteristics and feel of the instrument.  Brass frets from days past have given way to today's standard material, 18% nickel silver, also called "German Silver."  But even with 18% nickel silver, there are differences in hardness, tensile strength, surface quality, grain size, and other metallurgical properties that influence a fret's quality, performance and feel.  Beyond 18% nickel silver, new alloys have been employed in the production of modern fret wire that dramatically improves the performance and aesthetics of the guitar.

For this feeling and performance to last it is vital to employ a fret wire with the appropriate alloy and hardness to avoid premature wear.  Fret wear results in buzzing, poor intonation, and a degrading of the feel of the fingerboard.  The result is the need for leveling and dressing or even the expense of fret replacement.  Premature wear can be avoided with quality fret wire.

With the Jescar line of professional grade high quality guitar fret wire luthiers and players can expect these benefits:

• Perfect forming of all wire dimensions throughout the entire coil length
  
  
• Stringent quality control of tensile strength, hardness, dimension, and composition
  
  
• Exact symmetry of profile with centered and perpendicular tangs
  
  
• Barbs with sharp highly defined points to bite into the fret slots and remain securely seated.
  
  
• Tolerances accurate to within +/- 0.002"
  
  
• Superfinish surface quality for a bright appearance and smooth finish
  
  
• Greater hardness and tighter grain structure for longer life and playability

Read more: Jescar Fret Wire

We're very aware of the problems people are having during the credit crunch. We want you to be able to continue your hobby without spending quite as much on timber, especially if you are an electric guitar maker.  We've added some cheaper timbers to our range such as Meranti and Sapele, and we now offer unglued body blanks.  These are cheaper than the glued up ones simply due to time saved in not edging and gluing them into completed body blanks.

So, if you know how to plane a straight edge and have a couple of sash cramps available why not save some money and buy our unglued body blanks?

The Manchester Guitar Show held on May 10^th was packed with exhibitors selling everything from straps to custom made guitars.  Some of the local retailers were there and plenty of visitors were taking the opportunity to try their favourite makes of guitar.  There were a number of second hand instruments for sale so if you are hankering after a classic from the 50's and 60's get yourself down to the one of the upcoming Northern Guitar Showsheld in Leeds in September, Middlesborough in October and Merseyside in November.

One exhibitor worth a mention was Martyn Booth Guitars . Martin was here showing a number of his hand made electric guitars and the craftsmanship was there for all to see.  In speaking to Martyn and Nigel they had had a busy day and both were hoarse from talking to prospective customers.  It was nice to see that among the traditional branded guitars there are good quality makers offering affordable and unique quality instruments.

After a number of requests came in to source repair jacks we contacted our engineers and we have produced a simple to use brace repair jack.  It had to be easy to use with one hand and I think you'll find this design perfect for the job.  The nylon feet are hard wearing and one is shaped to straddle the guitar brace.  This small but well made tool will speed up brace repairs in the busy repair shop.

We've also added a precision router base for dremel routers to our range.  If the plastic versions are not accurate enough for your inlay routing or binding channels, try this brass, aluminium and stainless steel, precision router base.  It will accept most dremels, has a micro adjusting thumbscrew and an air inlet to attach an air pump to keep the work area free from dust.

We have opened a sales counter at our Southend depot which will be open each Saturday between 10am and 5pm.  We have most of our range of products available however it is advisable to phone ahead if you are travelling any distance to check we have what you want in stock.

At the moment we are accepting cash and cheque payments and we hope to be able to take card payments in a few weeks time.

The traditional paints and lacquers used on guitars and other stringed instruments are nitro-cellulose based.  These paints and clear lacquers were developed for the automobile makers.  Many of the colours that makers such as Gibson® and Fender® used came straight from the car paint makers; famous colours like TV Yellow, Gibson Gold Top and Dakota Red.

 Tonetech are one of the few suppliers to provide these high quality nitro-cellulose paints to both the trade and amateur makers.  Dan MacPherson, our technical director, is one of the country's leading sprayers of musical instruments.  A number of renowned guitar makers use Dan to finish their fine instruments. 

Dan has used his experience and knowhow to develop a range of lacquers, colours and tints for guitar makers so you can achieve that authentic finish on your guitar.  You can buy them in handy aerosol cans with dual fan position nozzles, or in tins to use with your own spraying equipment.  Visit our online store to see the full range in our Paint and Lacquer section.

Olympic White Dakota Red  Daphne Blue   Black

Surf Green      Sonic Blue     Gold (Gold Top)

TV Yellow         Arctic White  Fiesta Red  

Read more: Guitar Paint from Tonetech

For the last two Sundays on BBC1 at 10:20pm there has been an hour long program narrated by Alan Yentob on the development of the guitar.  The first program focused on the acoustic / classical guitar and the second looked at the development of the Electric guitar. 

Both offered a facinating insight into the development of guitars and the final program is coming up on Sunday 19th October. 

If you've missed the first 2 you can catch them on BBCi player .  Well worth a watch