Construction Methods
Some of the design innovations of the signature Tonedevil models include:
Guitar designs
Spanish Heel Neck Construction
The Spanish heel is a neck design from classical guitar construction traditions which has been successfully integrated into modern steel string models. It is a superior neck heel glue joint that integrates solidly from the neck into the body of the instrument and is preferred to the industrial-revolution era manufactured dove tail joint used in mass production factories.
Neck through construction
By utilizing a Spanish Heel construction, the heel of the guitar neck integrates inside the body of the guitar which keeps the structure more solid and maximizes sound transfer.
Bracing
Tonedevil Guitar X braces do not tuck into the edge linings. Tucking the top and back braces into the lining around the edge of the rim of the instrument produces rigid points at the edge of the soundboard and back plate which otherwise can vibrate freely along with the outer edge of the sound board much like a speaker cone. This gives the guitar a richer harmonic overtone and more robust fundamental tone.
Finishing
In finishing a musical instrument, it is less important what the material is and more about how much is applied. By applying stains directly to the wood and minimum numbers of topcoats, a durable and protective finish can be acquired without over applying. Whether satin or gloss, a beautiful and protective finish doesn't need to be thick. With an open grain finish some wood grain can be visible through the finish.
Dual action truss rod
Using a dual action truss rod allows neck relief to be adjusted in both directions to achieve the optimal setup.
Mandolin and Octave Mandolin Design
Violin inspired construction
Our mandolin models are another way we create a loud and aesthetically pleasing simple design concept using construction techniques refined from the violin family instruments.
Revealed top and back plate overhanging edges
Our simple violin purfling edge treatment to the top and back plate is a beautiful way to not only protect the edge from cracking but also allows the natural construction to be on display with an overhanging and revealed top to rim edge joint. This will allow very simple repair techniques used for hundreds of years in the violin world to be utilized, if they are ever needed.
Mortise and Tenon neck joint
Borrowing again from the violin family construction, the neck joint of a Tonedevil Mandolin or Octave mandolin is built with a traditional mortise and tenon instead of the industrial-revolution era manufactured dove tail joint used in mass production factories. It is a very structural, yet elegant and simple way to create a solid resonant and sound transferring neck to rim joint.
Solid slab cut rim
The rim of our mandolin and octave mandolin is precision CNC cut from a solid slab of hardwood and is thicker and more stable than the typical thinly bent sides of acoustic boxes. This allows the scroll area and points to be completely hollow and without blocks. This also allows the top and back plates to be glued directly to the rim without the use of a lining material. This simple and more rigid rim structure allows maximum driving energy from the strings to the top plate.