Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RUBIES: Finally…Real substance, real flash!
January 2006 Erickson
Design Associates Introduces Theory “Z” Nut and Bridge
Systems!
Revolutionary, Patented” RUBY” and “SAPPHIRE” Saddles
for
stringed instruments!
While rubies and sapphire have long been sought after
for
their beauty and brilliance, Erickson Design Associates (EDA) now
brings their
infamous allure to the guitar with remarkably dramatic improvements to
sound
quality. Gary Erickson, inventor and chief design engineer at EDA
describes the breakthrough of using precious stones on guitar bridges
and nuts
this way. “Not since the advent of the humbucking pickup has a
breakthrough this big happened to the guitar world! Our patented
practice of
utilizing Rubies or Sapphires at the bridge and nut of a stringed
instrument,
such as a guitar, represents a revolutionary approach because it solves
some of
the most significant problems found in stringed instruments today,
namely the
lack of sustain, frequency loss and poor instrument resonance, all of
which
have been labored over for centuries.” Just as the lens of a telescope
gathers
light and focuses it into your eye, the Theory “Z” ruby and
sapphire component
parts gather the energy from the string's vibratory forces, and focus
it into
the instrument. This fundamental difference allows for 1) The
retention
of greater energy within the string resulting in greater sustain and
effortless
harmonics virtually over the entire fingerboard, and 2) The
instantaneous transference of more energy throughout the entire
instrument
resulting in greater total frequency response, depth and character to
your
sound. This is true whether the Theory “Z” components are
applied
to an inexpensive acoustic or a high tech, recording quality, jazz arch
top
guitar. The Theory “Z” enhancement is remarkable and immediately
apparent, making good guitars sound great, and great guitars sound even
more spectacular
and in a class of their own!
Custom guitar maker Peter Dragge of Dragga Guitars,
tells the
story of one of his first experiences utilizing the Ruby and Sapphire
bridge/nut systems. After a custom guitar he made with a traditional
bridge/nut
system was rejected by Davey Johnstone (guitarist for Elton John),
Peter told
Davey that his friends at Erickson Design Associates may have a
solution and
asked if he would be willing to try something new. He
agreed. One
week later Erickson returned the guitar to him with an integrated
The Theory “Z” Bridge Designs include
Ruby and
Sapphire embedded direct replacement components for standard Gibson and
Fender
style bridges, and most popular tremolo systems such as Fender, Floyd
Rose,
Wilkinson, etc. Erickson explains, "The Theory “Z” Bridge designs
can be utilized on most stringed instruments with the simple exchange
of a
mounting bracket."
The Theory “Z” ruby or sapphire embedded Nut Designs
directly replace traditional bone style designs or locking nut designs
in a
variety of ways. “One of our Theory “Z” Nut systems incorporates
individual
height adjustment, string width adjustment AND intonation
adjustment.
What this means is that with our system, you can use traditional
intonation or
quickly and easily change over to the Buzz Feiten intonation system in
minutes!!!” This innovation by itself is causing quite a stir
internationally!
While
initial designs focus on the guitar market, future
designs will incorporate this revolutionary technology on all stringed
instruments, from violins to grand pianos! Erickson is very emphatic
that in the
near future, “If it doesn’t have rubies on it, your stringed
instrument is
not complete!” With over 100 new and innovative
products, based
on our current patents, Erickson Design Associates is currently seeking
contacts to develop manufacturing and development relationships, joint
ventures, licensing, and direct investment to meet the ever growing
demand.
Theory "Z" Nut and Bridge Systems
The Erickson Advantage
1.) String can carry vibrations past the node
(witness
point) which creates better frequency response
2.) Virtually Frictionless; no scoring or sticking
3.) Strings last longer because there is no nut or string wear caused
by
friction
4.) No loss of tone in high "E" string.
5.) Better sustain. "SJ" material is rated at 9 mohs in molecular
hardness. Compressive Strength = 500,000 psi
Porosity = 0%; Nut will virtually never wear out due to friction.
6.) Individually height adjustable saddles to match any neck radius
7.) Less fitting and adjustment time during manufacturing
8.) Finer string height adjustment for better playability, thus a more
marketable guitar. After Market Installers will not have to be as
exacting in
the amount of fingerboard material they remove, unlike standard locknut
systems
where the depth of the cut is crucial. Therefore installations prices
will be
lower.
9.) No hassle with locknut wrenches
10.) Retrofits on guitar necks fitted with Floyd Rose, Ibanez, Kahler,
and Fender/ Wilkinson, nut systems
11.) Mounts from front or back of neck
12.) Can be purchased with or without retrofit allowances for truss rod
adjustment, at the headstock end of neck.
13.) Tremolo bridges do not need to be equipped with fine tuners
14.) Our Theory "Z" Slide Nut will work on most any shape of head
stock, because it has a built in frictionless multidirectional string
tree.
*The advantages these Theory "Z" saddles provide can also be found
onthe new, soon to be introduced, Erickson Design Associates Theory
"Z" Bridge System for acoustic and electric guitars.
Additional note: Our Theory "Z" Slide Nut System works in
conjunction with any quality guitar tuning pegs, but for the best
results we
suggest using Sperzel, Fender, P.R.S., Schaller, or Erickson
Design
Associates, locking tuners or equivalent.
Retrofit components for
Fender Vintage
Style Tremolos
A reprieve for Vintage
Stratocaster
addicts:
There is nothing worse for
a
musician than to play out of tune. It can happen every time you use a
tremolo.
Friction is the enemy! Now you can enhance the great sound that a
vintage
tremolo produces and still play in tune with the Theory "Z" Nut,
Theory "Z" Tremolo Interface and Theory "Z" Bridge System.
Frictionless "SJ" material is installed where most friction takes
place, at the end of the strings, under the string trees, and under the
Stratocaster tremolo pivot point. Now instead of sticking in the nut or
rubbing
on the finished surface of your guitar, your strings glide on pieces of
patented "SJ" material embedded in the bridge saddles, nut, string
trees and pivot inserts. These component are specifically designed to
increase
the sustain and tonal response of a Stratocaster. There are also
designs
available for other tremolo systems, Tune-o-matic style guitar bridges
and most
style bass bridges. As with all Theory "Z" component parts,
these components are completely retrofit, which means no alterations
are
necessary to complete the installation.
Theory "Z" and Tremolo Interface are
registered Trademarks of Erickson Design Associates. Fender
is a
trademark of Fender Musical Instruments Inc.
More
Information on Theory
"Z" Tremolo Interface
One of the Theory "Z" Component System endorsers is Mark Bonilla.
An all around musician, he has thrilled audiences all over with his
beautifully
crafted melodic guitar licks.Guitar instrumentalist Marc Bonilla is to
Robin
Trower what Trower was to Jimi Hendrix, only with a little Jeff beck
and his
own flavor of tangents thrown in for good measure. He is currently
still
writing music for the movies and television.
The picture below is from an interview in Guitar Player Magazine about
writing
soundtracks for the movies.
Photo by Aldo
Mauro, Guitar
Player, April 1997
Excerpts from an article by Andy Ellis & James
Rotundi,
Guitar Player, April 1997
MARC BONILLA
When we first profiled Marc Bonilla in Nov. '92, he was pursuing a
career as
a black-belt shredmeister. His Warner Bros. debut, EE Ticket, proved he
had the
speed and cunning of a fretboard warrior, and his follow-up, American
Matador
oozed soaring melodies over sheets of harmonized guitar. But Marc's
life made
an abrupt turn when film composer James Newton Howard heard him
performing on a
live radio show with Toy Matinee. Howard hired Bonilla to play on his
soundtracks-including, American Heart, Diggstown, Falling Down, Alive,
Waterworld, Space Jam and My Girl. Word spread and soon Marc was
recording for
several composers. "I played live with an orchestra Terminal Velocity
,"he laughs, "Staring down the barrel of a 90-piece ensemble is a
scary, sobering experience." As established writers tuned into Marc's
combination of super chops and street attitude, he began to contribute
original
music to their scores. This led to composing his own film and TV music
including the score for National Lampoons Dad's Week 0ff, a