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The Great Prototype Debate!
By: MichaelHargis Date: December 7, 2020, 6:40 pm
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The Great Prototype Debate!
So we have a guitar builder that is known for making handmade
guitars that sets out to build a less expensive model, he uses
the same body shape and neck as his more expensive models (that
he has proven works). He uses hardware ; tuners, proprietary
bridge and tailpiece (that he has proven works), he uses the
same electronics and pickups as his higher end models (that he
has proven works), adds his proprietary M circuit and acid
Etched aluminum plates similar to his higher end models (that he
has proven works), and he decides to build four of these New
Named models just like his higher end models but with different
wood combinations (that he has proven works) and different
finishes ie; auto paint, Poly, (proven finishes in the industry)
along with his hand rub like on his higher end models (that he
has proven works).
The question is; If a Master Guitar builder handcrafts a Guitar
with all tested and proven parts is the guitar a true prototype
OR is it a “One Off” Master Made of a new model/Series Guitar?
What does Pre-prototype really mean?
The definition of a Prototype:
A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product
built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a
variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics,
and software programming. A prototype is generally used to
evaluate a new design to enhance precision by system analysts
and users. Wikipedia
MHargis Avatar
MHargis
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Nov 27, 2020 at 2:12pm
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From the Master Teye;
OK Mike, here's my take on the 'Prototype debate': a guitar that
I build to prove to myself that what I will build afterwards to
sell to customers, will indeed 'work' and put smiles on
everybody's faces. In the realm of your beloved Coyotes, I made
(as memory serves) 20 prototypes to display and demo at the big
NAMM show of January 2014. Before that, I built 3 or 4
pre-prototypes in order to convince some investors to put a lot
of money in the company so that I could gear up to build/sell
many Coyotes. I refer to those guitars as 'Pre-prototypes,
because they were made in order to be able to make the NAMM
Prototypes. AKA PRE the NAMMs. Weird? That's my middle name...
And altho the model of my guitar has proven itself and has put
many smiles on many faces, I STILL keep a 'List of Bitchings'
and keep improving on the original design. The best guitar I
ever built? My own 2020 Master 'Gypsy Troubadour', which has
many refinements among them that Ju-Ju-Command. I'm still losing
inhibitions and keep learning, as I'm sure we all do, and I'm
also still making mistakes that need to be fixed with sometimes
simply a better result. My latest fixation is on a box that I
sorely need: something that will fit in my suitcase and that I
can put between any amp and my guitar, and instantly have MY
SOUND for when I travel someplace to demo my guitars and they
put an amp for me that doesn't 'have it'. I started in the late
1960's/ealy 1970's with one-channel tube amps that we cranked to
get 'OUR sound', and nowadays the standard are channel-switching
amps with one channel that is 'too clean' for me and a second
channel that I find 'too dirty'. I've modded many amps (old and
new) and built some too, but I need something smaller and
lighter so that I can travel with it. My next big guitar demo is
planned for Australia, and until they finish the trans-earth
tunnel I will have to fly, hence the 'suitcase-peramp idea. BTW
the shirts are expected in a few weeks...
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MHargis
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Nov 27, 2020 at 2:40pm
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Thank you for your response Teye, this question came to me when
I read that A “Pre-Prototype Coyote was going under the knife
for an upgrade in electronics. One comment was “it’s not a
vintage prototype so who cares?” And one said “ it’ Only a
guitar!”. And I have read and understand that this is totally
reversible and it is his guitar and he can do with it as he
wishes. I’m okay with that. BUT I don’t know if “The #3” is
labeled correctly. And if it was, it would be treated as the
true treasure I believe it is.
Facts are that the 4 Guitars were built by a Master Guitar
Craftsmen to prove a concept. Each handmade top to bottom using
proven methods.
Shouldn’t these four pre-prototypes actually be called “Concept
Guitars”? Each one different in its own way and made by the
Master’s hands?
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MHargis
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Nov 27, 2020 at 6:43pm
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From the Master Teye;
Mike, you look at this from your perspective as a player who
really loves the Teye Coyote guitar. And that was exactly what I
designed that guitar for. Because the all hand-made-by-myself
ones were simply put only for customers with that fortunate
1-per-cent checkbook. And they still are. I've owned many such
expensive treasures: 2 Tony Zemaitis (quite something different
from the factory ones) an original 1957 Gold Top plus 3 Manuel
Reyes (padre) Flamenco guitars; a Gerundino, a Lester Devoe; a
Manuel Contreras classical, and when I installed a Fishman and
later the B-Band undesaddle pickup into my #1 Reyes, Manolo
Reyes (who had become a friend) said literally: "It's only a
guitar, and I can always make you another. All these gentlemen
believe(d) in their work, but still look(ed) at their
instruments in terms of raw materials plus some work.
I did build some Coyotes from the raw materials with my own
hands, but the majority were made by my staff, with me present,
interacting and working on them myself, or not. Please remember,
I was mostly in my own (small) workshop trying to fill my orders
for my Master guitars. The pre-prototype Coyotes are not some
kind of simplified Master guitars, they are pre-prototype
Coyotes, specifically built to keep prices modest with the
quality high. From my standpoint it was very different to
fine-tune a Master and to assemble a Coyote. The Masters always
needed much extra 'massaging' and as a player I can hear and
feel that in the result.
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MHargis
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Nov 28, 2020 at 5:37am
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From the Master Teye;
There are no 'Master' Coyotes. The Coyote was and is a
production guitar, made by the workshop staff to my specs (at
least thats what I hope!) and the 2014 Coyotes were made by my
ex-employees and still (mostly/loosely) cased on my specs but I
was not involved nor was I consulted anymore: the'Dallas' shop
crew knew everything better. I've played many 'Dallas Coyotes:
some of them were quite good and some not so much. With a bit of
massaging by me they all performed to my expectations.
My 'Master' guitars will all be hand-engraved by me, and will
state 'Teye Master' in the engraving. IF EVER YOU HAVE DOUBTS ON
AUTHENTICITY of ANY guitar that says my name on it, please
contact me and I can tell you the story of that guitar. teye at
teye dash master dot com . Thank you and enjoy. Stay safe and
STAY LOUD!
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MHargis
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Nov 28, 2020 at 6:16am
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Yes! I am Guilty! I Love My Teye Coyote!
I have enjoyed it so much I bought a New Emperor Azteca TQ with
the upgraded inlays. And I Love that one too! Yes, I’m Guilty!
I’ve Never held a finer guitar! I have never held a Master
Series though and I have to say I’m a little afraid too. I
digress...back to the question at hand...
Are the first four Coyote Guitars that were made by the Master
Teye miss labeled as Pre-Prototypes?
Or should we ask, Does the term Pre-Prototype Guitar hold the
definition of “a form of a Concept Guitar”? ( conceding to the
fact that this is the first time we have seen the term
“Pre-Prototype” used)
Then to go a bit further, we have four Concept Guitars made by
the Master’s hands. The reason they were made is not in debate
and there is no claim that these four are “Master Series
Guitars”. Only that these first four Coyote Series Guitars
should be held in high regard because of what they are and the
Master that made them.
And we/I and not talking about the Coyote series form NAMM
prototypes and the series build to follow.
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