John Bolin is proudly offering a limited edition, 30th Anniversary Guitar. After supplying artists like Jimmy Page, Steve Miller, Lou Reed, Doc Watson, Albert King, Bo Didley, Joe Perry, Keith Richards & Ronnie Wood, John Bolin may be best known for supplying the outrageous guitars for ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons and Dusty Hill. John is famous for saying, “It’s about the music”. So when it came time to create his special edition guitars, he chose TiSonix titanium hardware for the bridge, saddles and tailpiece. We at Tisonix were please to provide custom laser engraving. (Please note: the Blue color is not painted or applied - it is part of a proprietary laser combustion process.)
For more information about John Bolin’s guitars please check his website.
For more information about TiSonix’s ABR-1 titanium bridge and tailpiece please visit our webpage.
TiSonix components on Bolin's 30th Anniversary Special Edition.
There is ‘titanium’ and then there is ‘TITANIUM’.
There is a grade of titanium called ‘Commercially Pure’ (CP). It is a malleable form that is used in stampings and can be formed into shapes. It has the advantage of being corrosion free. Its ability to transfer acoustic (vibrations) energy is superior to many other metals, but it is not optimal. It has a Rockwell hardness around B90. This hardness is compromised for the convenience of forming.
To improve these acoustic properties, titanium can also be cast. These titanium alloys may be more rigid - perhaps Rockwell hardness of C25. This will improve acoustic energy transfer, but cast titanium has its drawbacks. While casting, titanium reacts with atmospheric gases and creates porosity within the casting. Microscopic voids are inescapable in titanium. These voids interrupt the grain of the material, providing a sponge-like structure which restricts its efficiency.
TiSonix machines their parts from a forged titanium billet. This means that the material has an extremely tight grain structure without any voids. It is also much harder. Rockwell ratings are C35 to C45. While it makes this material very hard to machine into a finished part for your guitar, the tightly uniform grain of the titanium molecules provides the greatest efficiency to transfer the sound of your strings into the music we hear.
TiSonix is committed to producing the finest sounding guitar component possible. That is why we machine our parts from titanium billet instead of lesser materials.
TiSonix - Simply Superior Sound.
For those who have wanted a definitive, illustrative example of how Tisonix Acoustic Bridge Pins improve the sound of your guitar, we have posted a short video on YouTube to provide a side-by-side comparison. We took a well respected, high quality guitar (by Martin) and recorded a series of notes using their stock bridge pins. Then, we restrung the same guitar using TiSonix pins and recorded the same notes. By creating a split-screen image of both notes, you can see how much longer TiSonix bridge pins improve the sustain.
To view the video go to www.YouTube.com and search on ‘TiSonix’ - or view it here…
TiSonix Bridge Pins superior!
Now…
We have followed it up with a side-by-sie comparison of Telecasters. One has the origianl Fender bridge, saddles and ferrules. The other one has the TiSonix Bridge, Titanium saddles and Ferrules.
See the difference here:
Titanium Telecaster Test
TiSonix - Simply Superior Sound
TiSonix is sponsoring their first-ever, Demo Day. Scheduled for Nov 15th at World Music in Santa Clarita, CA. Customers coming into the store will be able to play a number of guitars with TiSonix titanium hardware installed. Identical instruments with stock hardware and TiSonix Titanium will allow players to A/B test how TiSonix improves sustain, and sonic quality.
Lori Martinez, co-owner of World Music, is pleased to host this inaugural event. “It is a way for customers to come in, try new products, and know they are buying the best”. While the Demo Day permits testing many products made by TiSonix, it is focused on their Acoustic Bridge Pins. It allows customers with stell string acousitc guitars to purchase a set of strings and get free re-stringing. They can install titanium Bridge Pins on their guitars with a ‘no-obligation’ test-play.
This first-ever event is shaping up to be an exciting time with local, professional players planning to stop in, demo the products and talk with customers about the amazing sound of TiSonix products. Initial interest in the event may develop into a regualr, touring event for TiSonix at music stores around the country. For more details about wat is planned on Nvember 15th at World Music, please call their store at 661-288-2616 or visit their web-site.