The Innovators of High Performance Guitar Components & Accessories
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Press Kit - 2014 New Product
What Our Players Say
“I was really optimistic about the concept of the Ratio Tuned Machine Heads prior to receiving them, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. The machine heads not only look great but they are accurate and it has been a pleasure using them to tune my guitar and hence enhance the guitar playing experience. Thanks Graph Tech for your innovation, and for producing a great product.” - Chris Shamsher
“I like the lighter weight of the turners it allows the transfer of vibration into the rest of the guitar to happen easier. It gives me a new way to approach tuning my guitar. Thank you for doing what you do.” - Mike Peterson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ixc-vjwRBk “Thank you for the tuners, you have enhanced the playability and The Simple Genius behind Ratio® Tuned Machine Heads value of my guitar! Changing to open tuning has never been easier, retune 1 string and then move the Graph Tech tuned the gear ratio in each machine head to its string position so others the same number of turns (if that every string responds the same to any tuning adjustment. Ratio: Tuned they are changing the same Machine Heads, with industry breakthrough “balanced gear design” make amount) and you’re very close to tuning, on every string a far more “precise and predictable” experience. where you need to be. Unless you Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest have fine tuners, you've never been manufacturer of premium guitar nuts and saddles, is pleased to announce the launch so close to perfect tuning.” of possibly its greatest product innovation in over 30 years - Ratio: Tuned Machine - Donat Leduc Heads.
25 years ago, Dave Dunwoodie, Graph Tech’s founder and head honcho , had the idea Read more testimonials here: www.graphtech.com/ratio-testimonials to develop a tremolo bridge that would also re-tune the guitar to several open tunings.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353
He soon discovered that because each string on a guitar is different, they don’t all tune the same. For example, thin strings like the high e and the d string are very insensitive and require more turns to adjust the tuning, while thick strings like the G and the low E are very sensitive and respond immediately to an adjustment. Dave’s original idea of developing a tremolo "re-tuner" became quite complicated and expensive. “It crossed my mind back then, and I thought, balancing machine head gears to each string would be an awesome way to tune a guitar.” As a fledgling company with little financial resources for R & D, the project went on the back burner but never left Dave’s mind.
Fast forward 25 years -Today Graph Tech, has grown to become a highly respected and successful guitar component and part manufacturer. With this success Dunwoodie now had the resources to finally design and test his balanced gear technology brain child.
The result is Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads; with all strings responding equally to any winding adjustment. One turn is about one tone change on all strings, making the tuning process easier and quicker. Dave explains “When I ask any guitar player what’s the hardest string to tune? Inevitably, they say the G string because it’s so finicky that you have to sneak up on it or the high E because you have to wind it so much. With Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads you won’t have to wind around because every string tunes the same, so tuning gets so much easier and so much quicker. Talking about this and actually using a guitar equipped with a Ratio set really makes you feel and hear how much more accurate and quicker tuning is. Every string feels the same, and after a while, you relax and don't think about which string needs to be tuned, a lot less thinking is involved, just more playing. "
Machine head technology has not changed much in the past 100 years. While manufacturing techniques and methods have become more refined and precise, machine heads basically perform the same function in the same manner. Ratio is the first and only machine head, to incorporate the string core tension into the tuning equation. That’s why Dunwoodie believes Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads is a new component standard for the industry. More than another entry in the machine head market, Ratio has reinvented how machine heads function for the musician.
Ratio machine heads fit most major acoustic and electric models in both a 3 + 3 and 6-in-line headstock configurations. Players can choose from popular button styles: Standard, contemporary, vintage or contemporary mini - all with durable triple-plated finishes including chrome, gold, black or nickel. Graph Tech tuned the gear ratio in each machine head to its string position so that every string responds the same to any tuning adjustment. Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads, with industry breakthrough “balanced gear design” make tuning, on every string a far more “precise and predictable” experience.
Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest manufacturer of premium guitar nuts and saddles, is pleased to announce the launch of possibly its greatest product innovation in over 30 years - Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads.
25 years ago, Dave Dunwoodie, Graph Tech’s founder and head honcho , had the idea to develop a tremolo bridge that would also re-tune the guitar to several open tunings.
New Product
He soon discovered that because each string on a guitar is different, they don’t all tune the same. For example, thin strings like the high e and the d string are very insensitive and require more turns to adjust the tuning, while thick strings like the G and the low E are very sensitive and respond immediately to an adjustment. Dave’s original idea of developing a tremolo "re-tuner" became quite complicated and expensive. “It crossed my mind back then, and I thought, balancing machine head gears to each string would be an awesome way to tune a guitar.” As a fledgling company with little financial resources for R & D, the project went on the back burner but never left Dave’s mind.
Fast forward 25 years -Today Graph Tech, has grown to become a highly respected and successful guitar component and part manufacturer. With this success Dunwoodie now had the resources to finally design and test his balanced gear technology brain child.
The result is Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads; with all strings responding equally to any winding adjustment. One turn is about one tone change on all strings, making the tuning process easier and quicker. Dave explains “When I ask any guitar player what’s the hardest string to tune? Inevitably, they say the G string because it’s so finicky that you have to sneak up on it or the high E because you have to wind it so much. With Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads you won’t have to wind around because every string tunes the same, so tuning gets so much easier and so much quicker. Talking about this and actually using a guitar equipped with a Ratio set really makes you feel and hear how much more accurate and quicker tuning is. Every string feels the same, and after a while, you relax and don't think about which string needs to be tuned, a lot less thinking is involved, just more playing. "
Machine head technology has not changed much in the past 100 years. While manufacturing techniques and methods have become more refined and precise, machine heads basically perform the same function in the same manner. Ratio is the first and only machine head, to incorporate the string core tension into the tuning equation. That’s why Dunwoodie believes Ratio: Tuned Machine Heads is a new component standard for the industry. More than another entry in the machine head market, Ratio has reinvented how machine heads function for the musician.
Ratio machine heads fit most major acoustic and electric models in both a 3 + 3 and 6-in-line headstock configurations. Players can choose from popular button styles: Standard, contemporary, vintage or contemporary mini - all with durable triple-plated finishes including chrome, gold, black or nickel.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 New Product
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 New Product
What Our Players Say
“It's an excellent pick which seems to give me great tone with little to no pick 'noise', floats very smoothly across the strings and it's easy to hold as well. I am frankly quite amazed at how good this pick seems to be and in forty years of playing guitar it's one of the best picks I have ever used! It may be the perfect pick and I plan on buying more immediately and telling my friends about it as well. Thanks so much for a great product!” - Kim Young
“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the excellent product that is the Graph Tech Tusq guitar pick. I have used the same nylon picks for 15+ yrs and likely would not have changed. They are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce_Nx0WIMBU superior to my old picks in every way...tone, feel, and a new sense of Graph Tech Launches World’s First Picks with Built-in Tone authority against the string. Thanks!” By formulating their highly resonant TUSQ material, Graph Tech has engineered - Stephen Kramer a whole new class of guitar picks with three distinctive tones-Original TUSQ “All I can say is WOW! They truly do Bright, Warm and Deep make a difference, especially when Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest I'm in my home studio. They help guitar nut and saddle manufacturer, is excited to announce the expansion to their line deliver a clear, clean and vibrant of harmonically-rich TUSQ Picks at NAMM 2014. tone that is hard to describe.... Thanks!!!!!!!!" Dave Dunwoodie, Graph Tech’s founder and head honcho, believes the type of pick - Jim White you use affects the tone you create. That's why he created TUSQ picks, the world's first and only pick with built-in tone. “By formulating our proprietary material, Read more testimonials here: www.graphtech.com/tusq-picks-testimonials Dunwoodie says we created a whole new class of picks, with highly resonant
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353
characteristics that produce three distinctive tones: Bright, Warm and Deep”.
TUSQ pick tones are all coded by color. White is our Bright tone with a clear, crisp tone with lots of top end. The vintage colored picks deliver a Warm, smooth tone and TUSQ charcoal colored picks Deep to give you a full raw tone when you need it.
Response to the initial launch of TUSQ Picks has been phenomenal, with unit sales exceeding a million picks in the first year. The successful launch of a tone enhancing pick prompted Graph Tech to test the tonal range of their TUSQ material and created picks with 3 distinctive tones – Bright, Warm and Deep.
“Guitarists understand that every component of a guitar that is chosen brings out certain characteristics, creating their sound and their tone. Picks are an important link to the tone and how you actually play,” says Dunwoodie. “It’s not often when some significantly new and truly different, in pick comes along but this is one of those times. The tone, the feel, the stiffness, the weight, the thinness; the articulation is unlike anything on the market now. They are truly something you just have to try.”
TUSQ picks also have a high stiffness to thickness ratio like real tortoise shell, but with a harmonic content that TUSQ has built its brand reputation on. Players experience a smooth, balanced feel and a clean articulate attack. In 2013, “Tear Drop” and “Bi Angle” shapes and heavier gauges were added to the product line.
New “Mixed” packs now make finding the perfect pick easier. By formulating their highly resonant TUSQ material, Graph Tech has engineered a whole new class of guitar picks with three distinctive tones-Original TUSQ Bright, Warm and Deep
Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest guitar nut and saddle manufacturer, is excited to announce the expansion to their line of harmonically-rich TUSQ Picks at NAMM 2014.
Dave Dunwoodie, Graph Tech’s founder and head honcho, believes the type of pick you use affects the tone you create. That's why he created TUSQ picks, the world's first and only pick with built-in tone. “By formulating our proprietary material, Dunwoodie says we created a whole new class of picks, with highly resonant
New Product
characteristics that produce three distinctive tones: Bright, Warm and Deep”.
TUSQ pick tones are all coded by color. White is our Bright tone with a clear, crisp tone with lots of top end. The vintage colored picks deliver a Warm, smooth tone and TUSQ charcoal colored picks Deep to give you a full raw tone when you need it.
Response to the initial launch of TUSQ Picks has been phenomenal, with unit sales exceeding a million picks in the first year. The successful launch of a tone enhancing pick prompted Graph Tech to test the tonal range of their TUSQ material and created picks with 3 distinctive tones – Bright, Warm and Deep.
“Guitarists understand that every component of a guitar that is chosen brings out certain characteristics, creating their sound and their tone. Picks are an important link to the tone and how you actually play,” says Dunwoodie. “It’s not often when some significantly new and truly different, in pick comes along but this is one of those times. The tone, the feel, the stiffness, the weight, the thinness; the articulation is unlike anything on the market now. They are truly something you just have to try.”
TUSQ picks also have a high stiffness to thickness ratio like real tortoise shell, but with a harmonic content that TUSQ has built its brand reputation on. Players experience a smooth, balanced feel and a clean articulate attack. In 2013, “Tear Drop” and “Bi Angle” shapes and heavier gauges were added to the product line.
New “Mixed” packs now make finding the perfect pick easier.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 New Product
Bright TD 0.88 Tear Drop TONES SHAPES Warm ST 88 Standard
Deep BA 1.00 Bi Angle
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 New Product
What Our Players Say
"Just wanted to let you know I've been using the Chops lotion you gave me at NAMM for all shows/rehearsals and its been great and have noticed my string life has improved due to the lack of acids on my hands before I play so thanks again!" - Justin
"This stuff is better than advertised. I used it at a couple of gigs and couldn't believe how well it worked. My hands felt great and I had almost no grime on my strings afterward. Also prevents your hand from sticking on the fingerboard. Highly recommended" - Dave Iannopollo
"At first I was very skeptical about it. First impression was that this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdJSSSnEHtc was a thicker dry hand wash in the vein of Purell. Being a guy that does One of the Most Damaging Things wipe the strings on my guitars You Can Do to Your Guitar is Play It. before and after playing I did took notice of a difference on how things felt under my fingertip and overall I Your hands are naturally acidic and the oils transfer dirt and grime to your have to say I was pleased and guitar. That gunk SHORTENS string life, and EATS away at your guitar’s surprised that it actually did make a hardware and finish. difference in feel and comfort. I`ll Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest be looking for it in local stores to guitar nut and saddle manufacturer, is thrilled to announce the continued release of grab it." PrePlay™ - hand care for your guitar - Benoit Champagne
Most seasoned pros know what your hands can do to your instrument, hardware and Read more testimonials here: strings. Normal hand acidity (approx. 5.5 pH) attacks and deteriorates a guitar’s www.graphtech.com/preplay-testimonials finish, shorten string life and eat away at precious hardware. PrePlay is formulated to
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353
balance skin pH to a neutral 7pH; thereby neutralizing hand acid and protecting the instrument. The lubricating nature of this product also adds slide, glide and a comfortable feel to the neck for improved playing performance.
“There are products on the market that try to help, like coated strings, sprays, wipes and lotions but they all treat the symptom, not the problem… and the problem is – YOUR HANDS!” says Graph Tech founder and head honcho Dave Dunwoodie.
That’s why Graph Tech created, PrePlay, hand care for your guitar. PrePlay is a hand cleaner, conditioner and pH balancer that instantly makes your hands “guitar friendly.”
PrePlay is different from anything on the market and you can tell as soon as you rub it in. It absorbs quickly, and your hands won’t feel greasy or sticky. A small dab, rub it in and be ready to play in 30 seconds. PrePlay also reduces friction to give your hands a nice slide and glide feel up and down the neck and strings. Pre-play not only helps PRESERVE your guitar, it gives you a better guitar playing EXPERIENCE.
PrePlay contains natural ingredients and oil extracts including sandalwood, lemongrass, black tea, mallow, clove, Irish moss, rosemary and chamomile. No nasty chemical smells either. PrePlay has a fresh, clean citrus smell. While Dunwoodie admits “there has been some resistance for players to put stuff on their hands, the response from those who have tried PrePlay has been extremely positive”. (see testimonials link)
PrePlay is hypoallergenic and has never been tested on animals. PrePlay comes in a 30ml pump action bottle that contains up to 200 uses. Suggested retail price is $19.95 or about 10¢ per application.
PrePlay is a must for guitar shops where customers are constantly touching and picking up guitars. Give them a little dab of PrePlay before they try out a guitar and make their hands guitar friendly. You guitars will look newer and sound better.
Chops PrePlay is available in selected music stores and Graph Tech web store. Your hands are naturally acidic and the oils transfer dirt and grime to your guitar. That gunk SHORTENS string life, and EATS away at your guitar’s hardware and finish.
Delta, BC Canada - January 2014 - Graph Tech Guitar Labs, the world’s largest guitar nut and saddle manufacturer, is thrilled to announce the continued release of PrePlay™ - hand care for your guitar
Most seasoned pros know what your hands can do to your instrument, hardware and strings. Normal hand acidity (approx. 5.5 pH) attacks and deteriorates a guitar’s finish, shorten string life and eat away at precious hardware. PrePlay is formulated to
New Product
balance skin pH to a neutral 7pH; thereby neutralizing hand acid and protecting the instrument. The lubricating nature of this product also adds slide, glide and a comfortable feel to the neck for improved playing performance.
“There are products on the market that try to help, like coated strings, sprays, wipes and lotions but they all treat the symptom, not the problem… and the problem is – YOUR HANDS!” says Graph Tech founder and head honcho Dave Dunwoodie.
That’s why Graph Tech created, PrePlay, hand care for your guitar. PrePlay is a hand cleaner, conditioner and pH balancer that instantly makes your hands “guitar friendly.”
PrePlay is different from anything on the market and you can tell as soon as you rub it in. It absorbs quickly, and your hands won’t feel greasy or sticky. A small dab, rub it in and be ready to play in 30 seconds. PrePlay also reduces friction to give your hands a nice slide and glide feel up and down the neck and strings. Pre-play not only helps PRESERVE your guitar, it gives you a better guitar playing EXPERIENCE.
PrePlay contains natural ingredients and oil extracts including sandalwood, lemongrass, black tea, mallow, clove, Irish moss, rosemary and chamomile. No nasty chemical smells either. PrePlay has a fresh, clean citrus smell. While Dunwoodie admits “there has been some resistance for players to put stuff on their hands, the response from those who have tried PrePlay has been extremely positive”. (see testimonials link)
PrePlay is hypoallergenic and has never been tested on animals. PrePlay comes in a 30ml pump action bottle that contains up to 200 uses. Suggested retail price is $19.95 or about 10¢ per application.
PrePlay is a must for guitar shops where customers are constantly touching and picking up guitars. Give them a little dab of PrePlay before they try out a guitar and make their hands guitar friendly. You guitars will look newer and sound better.
Chops PrePlay is available in selected music stores and Graph Tech web store.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 New Product
The pH Scale ACID NEUTRAL ALKALINE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Hydrochloric Lemon Soap Drain acid cleaner
(on average) +
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 History
Here are just a few highlights from our history of innovation
1983 World’s first self-lubricating nut. Among the industry’s first black colored nuts.
1990 Patented self-lubricating guitar saddle. Proven to reduce string breakage by over 90%.
1992 Introduced TUSQ, man-made ivory nuts, saddles and bridge pins. Proven to double the volume of harmonic richness.
Improvement on original design. 1997 Increased harmonics and durability.
Launched ghost modular pickups with authentic acoustic guitar tone. Industry-best tracking and easy, hidden 2003 install. The ghost Hexpander MIDI interface system adds MIDI capability to almost any guitar or bass.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 History
2009 World’s first white self-lubricated nut
2010 Introduced superlight, high-tensile strength ResoMax® alloy bridges with patented Auto-LockTM mounting.
2011 Innovative material specifically designed to boost bass response (XB = Extra Bass).
2012 TUSQ Picks, the world’s first pick with built-in tonal range, tortoise shell feel, and clean, articulate attack.
2012 First 2-in-1 hand and instrument care formulated to not only protect instrument, but also improve playing performance.
2013 Innovative gear ratio design that makes tuning, retuning and open tunings a precise and predictable experience.
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 Our Brands
Nuts, Saddles & Bridge Pins
Hardware Accessories Electronics
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 Customers
Over 100 Manufacturers Worldwide Use Graph Tech Products!
Artists That Use Graph Tech products
Alex Lifeson Rush Chad Kroeger Nickelback Chris Allen Neon Trees Dan Spitz Anthrax (Co-founder) DJ Ashba Guns & Roses Guthrie Govan Erotic Cakes James Valentine Maroon 5 Jennifer Batten Guitarist Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck Jonn Gomm Guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Reprise Records Paul Neta Big Wreck Randy Bachman Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who Roger Fisher Heart (founding guitarist) Sam Roberts Sam Roberts Band Sean Paden Linkin Park Sebastien Lefebvre Simple Plan Steve Stevens Billy Idol Tim Reynolds Dave Matthews Band ...and many more!
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353 Team GT
It’s a Great Day At Graph Tech Everyday, we are dedicated to elevating the playing experience for our artists, manufacturers, dealers, and distributors. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
Dave Dunwoodie Tarina Dunwoodie Head Honcho VP Operations & OEM Sales [email protected] [email protected]
Niko Condonopoulos Gray Bramwell Project Manager Customer & Product Support [email protected] [email protected]
Where To Find Us
/GraphTech @GraphTechGuitar /GraphTechGuitarLabs
Graph Tech Guitar Labs www.graphtech.com #5-7551 Vantage Way Delta BC V4G 1C9 Canada Phone: 604-940-5353