Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Aug 23, 2018 15:45:01 GMT -6
For a few years in the new century, Switch Music made a revolutionary line of one-piece solid-body guitars and basses. Basically, these were made entirely (including the neck and headstock) from a unique plastic, cast to shape under tremendous pressure. To the surprise of everyone who's tried one, the result is a fantastic guitar. They received striking paint (sometimes outright gaudy) and were generally loaded with top-end components. The line even went so far as to create three models of plastic acoustic guitar!
Formally, the registered name of the company was SwitchMusic.com.
Designer Trevor (Trev) Wilkinson (now behind Fret-King and Vintage) was fundamental in creating the unique Switch designs, and the better models bear some Wilkinson-branded hardware. As far as I can tell, all guitars bore Grover Rotomatic tuners.
A few years ago, I saved what appears to be a press release (undated) --
I found out about the Switch brand only belatedly. I am a HUGE fan of UK guitarist/composer Bill Nelson, whose review of the Line 6 Vetta II modeling amplifier and the Variax 700 appeared in Sound On Sound (September 2004). Nelson (who relies on the Line 6 Pod for recording) greatly enjoys unusual guitars, but expects them to perform well in the studio, and had some interesting comments about his recently acquired Switch --
There was some rebranding at the tail-end of the Switch lines. By 2006, they had removed the block inlays and most of the radical 3-D shaping, renamed the resulting all-Vibracell guitars "Stealth" (rather unfortunate considering the Schecter models by the same name) and created lower-priced bolt-neck (probably all wood) "Drive" versions with similar shapes. They were also attempting to move into standard wooden jazzboxes (Fusion Blues) and acoustic guitars (Cedar Ridge), though I have yet to see any of these in the marketplace.
Sadly, Switch appears to have made some unfortunate marketing deals, and before the line had a chance to catch on, the company was bankrupt. Their remaining stock was dumped on music stores for pennies on the dollar, where the instruments often languished. One source reported buying his new Switch from Musician's Friend for $129.
The company attempted to maintain multiple websites. The main site switchmusic.com first appeared 29 May 2002, and still looked viable 27 Feb 07 but was entirely unchanged 13 May 08 and never touched again. There was switchguitars.com that was active from at least 12 Dec 03 through 12 Feb 05. And switchmusic.net first showed up 27 Mar 03 (though it was little but an “Under Construction” spaceholder until 13 Jun), was moribund after 28 Jan 07, and survived (ignored) until at least 31 May 08.
At a guess: tooling up in 2001; going public in 2002; getting attention in 2003; making a splash in 2004; dialing back the “weird” in 2005; overexpanded and overstocked in 2006; putting their remaining chips on Stealth and wood in 2007 (at latest); dead in 2008.
Formally, the registered name of the company was SwitchMusic.com.
Designer Trevor (Trev) Wilkinson (now behind Fret-King and Vintage) was fundamental in creating the unique Switch designs, and the better models bear some Wilkinson-branded hardware. As far as I can tell, all guitars bore Grover Rotomatic tuners.
A few years ago, I saved what appears to be a press release (undated) --
New Switch guitars brighten up British Music Fair
The British Music Fair saw the UK launch of Switch guitars: a new brand of instruments made from a revolutionary material called Vibracell.
Designed by well known UK designer Trev Wilkinson, the range consists of seven models with shapes ranging from conventional to radical and with many of the colour options being striking 'dayglo' colour finishes.
Although having conventional fret formats, neck profile, rosewood fingerboard and popular pick-up configurations the Switch series presents some revolutionary new concepts.
The guitar bodies have three distinct surface levels, Level 1 is on the top bouts and is the highest surface. This allows the playing hand to access the strings at the same height as the bridge, making a smooth transition for the picking / strumming hand. Level 2 is slightly lower and is the normal level you would find on conventional guitars. Level 3 is lower again: here is where the conrols are mounted, taking them out of the strumming arc and making it more difficult to catch them accidentally.
Two of the Ultima and Innovo models have a tone chamber in the back of the Vibracell body which accommodates wooden tone-modules that offer ifferent voicings. Replacing the Alder block with Ash, or vice versa, alters the tonal character of the whole instrument by modifying the guitar's resonance.
The Wild, Strav, Stein and Oscar models all have options which are 'Roland-ready' as they incorporate the Roland GK-2A guitar synthesizer pick-up into their conventional pick-up configuration.
Designer Trevor Wilkinson said, "being able to start with a clean sheet of paper to, not only design uniquely styled guitars, but also to create a totally new identity including image, brand name, logos, headstocks etc is a guitar designers dream. The advantage of "Vibracell" is that we have complete control of the density and consistency of what we build an instrument from. The key word here is consistency. Certain species of wood can vary by as much as 300% in weight alone!"
The Switch range starts from only £199 and will be available in October.
The British Music Fair saw the UK launch of Switch guitars: a new brand of instruments made from a revolutionary material called Vibracell.
Designed by well known UK designer Trev Wilkinson, the range consists of seven models with shapes ranging from conventional to radical and with many of the colour options being striking 'dayglo' colour finishes.
Although having conventional fret formats, neck profile, rosewood fingerboard and popular pick-up configurations the Switch series presents some revolutionary new concepts.
The guitar bodies have three distinct surface levels, Level 1 is on the top bouts and is the highest surface. This allows the playing hand to access the strings at the same height as the bridge, making a smooth transition for the picking / strumming hand. Level 2 is slightly lower and is the normal level you would find on conventional guitars. Level 3 is lower again: here is where the conrols are mounted, taking them out of the strumming arc and making it more difficult to catch them accidentally.
Two of the Ultima and Innovo models have a tone chamber in the back of the Vibracell body which accommodates wooden tone-modules that offer ifferent voicings. Replacing the Alder block with Ash, or vice versa, alters the tonal character of the whole instrument by modifying the guitar's resonance.
The Wild, Strav, Stein and Oscar models all have options which are 'Roland-ready' as they incorporate the Roland GK-2A guitar synthesizer pick-up into their conventional pick-up configuration.
Designer Trevor Wilkinson said, "being able to start with a clean sheet of paper to, not only design uniquely styled guitars, but also to create a totally new identity including image, brand name, logos, headstocks etc is a guitar designers dream. The advantage of "Vibracell" is that we have complete control of the density and consistency of what we build an instrument from. The key word here is consistency. Certain species of wood can vary by as much as 300% in weight alone!"
The Switch range starts from only £199 and will be available in October.
I found out about the Switch brand only belatedly. I am a HUGE fan of UK guitarist/composer Bill Nelson, whose review of the Line 6 Vetta II modeling amplifier and the Variax 700 appeared in Sound On Sound (September 2004). Nelson (who relies on the Line 6 Pod for recording) greatly enjoys unusual guitars, but expects them to perform well in the studio, and had some interesting comments about his recently acquired Switch --
I initially tried the Vetta out using the Variax and went 'Hmm...'
The amp immediately sounded more convincing when I put one of my own guitars through it. Not an expensive instrument either but a Chinese manufactured 'Switch' guitar, designed by UK designer Trevor Wilkinson, made from a plastic called Vibracell. The guitar cost less than £200 but is amazing value for money. This guitar sounded tremendous through the Vetta, much sweeter, less 'brittle' than the Variax.
I think the Variax would benefit from a more expensive, up-market approach to perfect it. Either that or Line 6 should talk to Trevor Wilkinson and make a 'Switch-Line 6' collaboration/hybrid.
The amp immediately sounded more convincing when I put one of my own guitars through it. Not an expensive instrument either but a Chinese manufactured 'Switch' guitar, designed by UK designer Trevor Wilkinson, made from a plastic called Vibracell. The guitar cost less than £200 but is amazing value for money. This guitar sounded tremendous through the Vetta, much sweeter, less 'brittle' than the Variax.
I think the Variax would benefit from a more expensive, up-market approach to perfect it. Either that or Line 6 should talk to Trevor Wilkinson and make a 'Switch-Line 6' collaboration/hybrid.
There was some rebranding at the tail-end of the Switch lines. By 2006, they had removed the block inlays and most of the radical 3-D shaping, renamed the resulting all-Vibracell guitars "Stealth" (rather unfortunate considering the Schecter models by the same name) and created lower-priced bolt-neck (probably all wood) "Drive" versions with similar shapes. They were also attempting to move into standard wooden jazzboxes (Fusion Blues) and acoustic guitars (Cedar Ridge), though I have yet to see any of these in the marketplace.
Sadly, Switch appears to have made some unfortunate marketing deals, and before the line had a chance to catch on, the company was bankrupt. Their remaining stock was dumped on music stores for pennies on the dollar, where the instruments often languished. One source reported buying his new Switch from Musician's Friend for $129.
The company attempted to maintain multiple websites. The main site switchmusic.com first appeared 29 May 2002, and still looked viable 27 Feb 07 but was entirely unchanged 13 May 08 and never touched again. There was switchguitars.com that was active from at least 12 Dec 03 through 12 Feb 05. And switchmusic.net first showed up 27 Mar 03 (though it was little but an “Under Construction” spaceholder until 13 Jun), was moribund after 28 Jan 07, and survived (ignored) until at least 31 May 08.
At a guess: tooling up in 2001; going public in 2002; getting attention in 2003; making a splash in 2004; dialing back the “weird” in 2005; overexpanded and overstocked in 2006; putting their remaining chips on Stealth and wood in 2007 (at latest); dead in 2008.
similarly, I'd rather put a Switch in a well-padded gigbag than in a "neck-break" hard case, especially one of the TOO-COMMON "universal fit" cases where the weight of the guitar actually rests behind the nut
