Fernandes Guitars - Innovation and Tradition Since 1969 - by Ultratone Guitars

Fernandes Guitars 

Innovation & Tradition Since 1969

For over 4 decades, Fernandes Guitars have dedicated themselves to building quality guitars and accessories.  Since its inception in 1969, they have sold a quality line of products, making Fernandes the largest manufacturer of gutiars in Japan today.  Enjoy this brief history of the Fernandes Guitar.

Fernandes began in Japan in 1969 as a Flamenco guitar builder.  As the company flourished over the years, the company expanded its production line to include an extensive line of both acoustic and electric guitars, basses, amps, and accessories.

After the turn of the decade, "the 1970's", the company name established itself through building guitars that challenged the quality of other professional level guitars built in the United States and Europe.  Artists began to come on board during this decade as well.  Artsists such aas Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Robert Fripp of King Crimson, and Steve Hackett of Genesis are just some of the musicians that have played these early models.

The company continued its success throughout the 1970's and 80's.  In 1992, following the company's reputation and history of success throughout Asia, Fernandes USA opened its doors in Los Angeles, California.  Following the tradition started in Japan, it quickly established a presence within the American guitar market by offering quality instruments at affordable prices.

In 1996, the Fernandes USA Custom Shop made bold moves in expanding its scope by advancing development within its guitar craftsmanship.  Through models like the Ravelle and Nomad, which introduced the Sustainer System technology, the Research and Development team at Fernandes sought out how guitar players of the future would play.  Catering to everyone from the first-time buyer to the seasoned pro, Fernandes offers many options to meet their needs.  An invaluable understanding of the player fuels our strong commitment to the consumer and the quality they demand.  This is the approach that helps establish Fernandes as the leading guitar manufacturer in Japan and to become a competitive manufacture in the American market.

The company has drawn strong acclaim for building quality bass guitars too.  As testified by Robert Trujillo, one of Rock Music's greatist bass guitarists.  One of its most popular models is the Tremor Deluxe, which is played by Tony Campos of StaticX and Asesino.  Sticking to the company's trademark look, this model has the feel of models of the past, but include many of the modern specifications that would attract today's top players.  

Using the elements for today's musician, pushing the limits of guitar manufacturing with innovative body shapes and hardware configurations, Fernandes continues to provide a unique voice in music.  Guitar players demand a vintage feel with a modernized look.  Fernandes supplies the best of both worlds without any compromise.  Fernandes is the key to defining your sound and taking it to the next level.

Every Fernandes Instrument is set-up by professional technicians in the USA and is protected by a lifetime warranty.*  

* Warranty specifications are subject to change without notice.  Warranty is guaranteed in the USA only.  For the most up to date information regarding warranties and specifications contact Fernandes Guitars International, Inc.  11044 Weddington St Suite 13 North Holloywood, CA 91601

The Making of An Acoustic Guitar - Tone Woods

The Making of An Acoustic Guitar - Tone Woods

  

When you are looking for an acoustic guitar to purchase, you will find that there are a number of different types of woods or tonewoods used in the construction.  Different types of woods and different species of these woods are used in various parts of the instruument.  It is beneficial to the acoustic guitar consumer to understand that woods sound and perform differently and it is even more important to know the basic tonal qualities of these woods.  This article will help you better understand the making of an acoustic guitar and to help you make a wiser decision in purchsing your next acoustic guitar.

The Tonewoods

Mahogany >>  In the world of acoustic guitars, mahogany is most often utilized in the construction of backs, sides, necks, headstocks and can be found used as a top wood too.  Mahogany delivers a snappy tone with generous boosts in the mid-ranges.  As a top wood, mahogany tends to project the high range tones prominently.  When the wood is used in structural elements of the guitar like necks, bridges, and headstocks, mahogany proves to be strong and stable.

Spruce >>  Some of the finest acoustic guitars ever construced have spruce tops.  There are a number of different species of spruce that are used such as Sitka and Englemann.  In general, guitars on the higher end of the market will denote the species of spruce used in the top of the guitar.  Spruce is the titanium of the tonewoods being very lightweight but Spruce also proves to be a very strong wood.  Tonally, Spruce provides excellent clarity and sustain, but its most revered characteristic is resonant qualities of the wood.

Rosewood >>  Most acoustic guitar fretboards and bridges are constructed of Rosewood. Rosewood is also a common wood used in the back and sides of an acoustic guitar.  In years past, Brazillian rosewood was the common used wood, but due to diminishing supply and higher market costs, most Brazillian rosewood has been replaced with Indian Rosewood.  Brazillian rosewood is darker in appearance than Indian Rosewood.  Tonally, however, both woods act the same.  When rosewood is used for the back and sides of the guitar, rosewood will provide a warm low end, enchanced mid ranges, and resonance that seems to get more rich with age.  Rosewood can be ebonized to give the wood the slick feel of Ebony.

Cedar >>  Cedar is a beautiful tonewood.  It is a soft wood that delivers sparklling highs and tends to be the ideal top for lighter playing techniques like classical and latin traditional styles.  Many classical and fingerstyle acoustic guitars will feature cedar tops, backs and sides.

Ebony >>  Ebony is a very strong wood that feels smooth and slick.  This wood is revered by guitarists when used for fretboards because it is so smooth and hard.  Ebony is also well known for its use in the construction of pianos.  Many guitarists identify a guitar as high quality when Ebony is used for the fretboard.

Koa >>  Koa wood is a tonewood native to Hawaii.  This wood has a distinct golden color and beautiful grains.  Tonally, Koa performs much like mahogany by projecting a large mid-ranmge.  Koa is generally a very expensive wood because it is scarce.  Many top line ukuleles feature koa tops, backs and sides.  Acoustic guitars on the boutique end and high end professional acoustics will sometimes feature Koa tops, back and sides.

Maple >>  If you are looking for a guitar that has a dry tone that emphasizes the upper tonal ranges, an acoustic guitar with a Maple top may be the one you are looking for.  Maple can be flamed, tiger eyed, quilted, and figured in many ways making it a beautiful wood used in acoustic guitar tops, back, and sides.  When used as back and side wood, Maple allows the top to generate its natural tone without the added figured coloration from the rest of the acoustic guitar's body.

Ovangkol >>  Acoustic guitar makers have been incresing their use of the African tonewood, Ovangkol.  This wood is usually used in the construction of the back and sides of a guitar.  The natural tone of Ovangkol resembles the warm tones of rosewood with a ringing mid-range much of the effect delvierd by Koa or Mahogany.  Some of the finest acoustic guitars in the world are constructed with Ovangkol back and sides.

Sapele >>  Another African tonewood is Sapele and this wood too is gaining popularity by guitar luthiers.  Sapele can also be named African Mahogany, Sapele is comonnly used for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar.  Sapele acts much like Mahogany delivering a strong midrange and it supports the natural projection of the top wood of the acoustic guitar.

Walnut >>  Walnut can be used as an alternative to Mahogany in the guitar building process.  It has similar tonal properties as Mahogany and boosts the mid-range of tones.  When Wanlut is used in the back and sides, it enchances projection of the top wood's natural tone.

Searching for the right acoustic guitar is always fun and as musicians, we are always looking to improve our playing and sound. Try to be sure that the guitar you pick is the guitar you are comfortable with.  Sit down with your guitar and stand up and play it or play it anyway you commonly play the guitar.  A decision to buy an acoustic guitar is a personal decision. So, whether it is a $200 Washburn or a $1000 Boulder Creek Guitar, you are going to enjoy playing an acoustic guitar that produces the sound you want.

Ultratone Guitars is a perfect place to find the right acoustic guitar for you.  We have a 7-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and that means you can choose an instrument and take 7 days from the delivery date to try to develop a relationship with your instrument.  If its not the gutiar for you, ship it back to us for a refund, credit, or exchange for another guitar.

Ultratone Guitars Product Spotlight on Fernandes Shin Series Electric Guitars

Fernandes Guitars at 

                                                                

                                       

Custom Designed Graphics By Airbrush Pioneer...Shin! 

The Fernanes Shin Series guitars feature the trademark body shapes of the Ravelle and Vertigo, with amazing and exclusive Japanese paintbrush art, achieving top-notch tone with only the finest wood available. A solid mahogany body and neck with a 22-fret ebony fingerboard, Locking tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge w/stop tailpiece, Graph Tech Trem Nut, Abalone inlays, Seymour Duncan Pickups, and black hardware.  

SHIN was born in 1965 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. In 1990, SHIN followed his dreams as an aspiring musician to study to Los Angeles. During his brief stay there, he was exposed to various forms of Airbrushing street performances, which changed his outlook on art.


Airbrushing is an art form that requires a real eye and a keen sense to create something special. Unlike painting by a normal brush, when creating an airbrushed picture, you have to have distance from the original picture. The main characteristics of airbrushed work are great color graduation and its expression.


By many artists, airbrushing is better known as painting by a machine rather than by hand. Hand painting is a lot more of a sensitive art form than airbrushing, which traditionally uses molds. Instead, SHIN created a new technique by capturing the strokes of a paint brush in traditional paintings. This freehand technique was what amazed people about SHIN’s work.



After returning to Japan, he educated himself and started producing Airbrushing work himself, using the same techniques used in other industries such as Automobiles, Bicycles, Leather Apparel, and Guitars. However, he began questioning the airbrushing technique in Japan, so he shifted his outlook towards the international market.


After some time, SHIN picked Erotic Art to be his specialty, always wanting realism and seeking evaluation of his brush techniques by other artists. This is when he established a relationship with Mr. Sorayama, who is the master of Erotic Art, and introduced SHIN into the world of Erotic Art. Through his mentorship, SHIN’s work began to be recognized by people around the world.


In December 2001 and February 2002, SHIN had his first own exhibitions at Echo Gallary in Chicago. 
In April 2002 “The Art of SHIN” was published by MR Publishing. Since then, original pictures have been displayed at several galleries. SHIN’s original works were also displayed at SEMA Show in Las Vegas, three series from 2005.
In 2005 SHIN released “SHIN Real Airbrush Technique VL 123” and he has also worked as instructor of Iwata Certified Airbrush.


In 2005, SHIN began collaborating with Fernandes Guitar Co. to create his DRAGON Guitar model. Because SHIN’s heart was originally in music,he felt that Guitar Art is another one of
his great strengths along with airbrushing. He has been influenced by a variety of artwork that many popular guitarists over the years have used.


He has designed and produced guitar art for other famous artists, such as (any names we could use here?). This motivated him into art of “DRAGON,” which his artwork was used for automotive companies such as Lamborghini and Ferrari. He has recently expanded his brush work into other areas such as Nail Art and Body Art, and his work is well recognized at historical temples, for expressing not only tradition, but brilliance and solidarity. 


Through SHIN´s work, he strives to bring out the unexpected and an element of surprise out of people. This is what he strives for out of his work. We look forward to seeing what he creates in the future.


Fernandes Shin Series Deluxe Electric Guitar Features: 

Mahogany Body
Set In Mahogany Neck
Ebony Fretboard
24 3/4" Scale Length
22 Jumbo Frets
14" Radius Neck
Abalone Split Trapezoid Shape Inlays
Graphtech Trem Nut
Locking Tuners
Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece
Shin Paintbrush Artwork
3-Way Toggle Switch
1 Volume and 1 Tone Control
Seymour Duncan '59 Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SH-4JB Bridge Pickup




   



  


                    

 

 

Ultratone Guitars Presents - Jay Turser JTA-550S-N Solid Spruce Top Acoustic Guitar

Jay Turser JTA-550S-N Solid Spruce Top Acoustic Guitar

Advanced Bracing and A Solid Alaskan Spruce Top!




The advanced bracing on the Jay Turser JTA-550S combined with its solid Alaskan Spruce Top makes this guitar the value minded professional's choice in acoustic guitars. Quarter Sawn Alaskan Spruce scalloped braces deliver a tone all its own. In addition to a great top tonewood, this gutiar features the highly resonant catalpa wood for the back and sides. With a gorgoous natural finish, this guitar looks great and sounds beautiful.


Jay Turser JTA-550S-N Solid Spruce Top Acoustic Guitar Features:


Solid Alaskan Spruce Top
Catalpa Back and Sides
Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
Mahogany Neck
Quarter Sawn Alaskan Spruce Scalloped Braces
Adjustable Truss Rod
Dot Inlays
Custom Soundhole Rosette
Chrome Diecast Tuners
Natural Gloss Finish

Only

$239.99

Jay Turser acoustic guitars are the finest value in an acoustic guitar on the market. Quality and value are Jay Turser's top priorities.