Ok, more pics!
This is a summary of my very first post to these forums way back in January, as this was the first thing I actually bought for the project
that up until then only exsisted in my mind (such as it is). :laughing7:
First off let me say this is a very
expensive project (for me anyways). I could have easily bought a Custom Shop strat for the amount I've spent on constituant parts (and the guitar is obviously not finished yet), I only mention the 'funds' issue at all (this is about love, money be damned) because of this: Ruthenium.
http://schaller-electronic.com/hp4750/Ruthenium-the-Black-Pearl-of-Schaller.htm
To quote: "Ruthenium is an extremely hard, shiny metal and is found in association with platinum ores. It is very rare; no more than 120 kilograms are produced per year. This accounts for the high cost of ruthenium; it is more expensive than both gold and platinum."
I didn't set out wanting to use anything expensive or exotic, its all about the looks. Once I saw it, I knew
I had to have it for this guitar. Out of all the parts a electric guitar requires, the hardware was the very first thing I bought for this project... and its been the hardest thing to get.
When I first discovered this rare metal from Schaller back in January, I began my search. When I first started researching Ruthenium it was (is) a 'black-hole' on the 'Net. Other than Schaller itself, a german-only Schaller dealer, and sunglasses coated with Ruthenium on Ebay I found no retail or sales outlets of any kind. After I initally contacted Schaller in Germany they directed me to Allparts. After trading emails with Allparts (who had NO CLUE) what I was on about - they responded with a price list of all the hardware I wanted costing over $800 (we're talking a Floyd Rose and locking tuners here) oh, and a
minimum three month wait.
Unacceptable.
So, long story long - I ended up dealing directly with CEO and owner of Schaller himself. An international bank transfer and a month later - I had this:
Once again, those pics don't do them justice. Some of you may be asking: "Self, that IS a cool color, but its just a trem." Well you'd be right.
However... Ruthenium has some very interesting properties that working musicians will love. First and foremost being, whats wrong with most cool "looking" hardware choices? They fade, tarnish, and otherwise discolor over time - and rapidly when in contact with the acidic sweat of hard rocking guitarists!
Ruthenium does not and will not. And I quote: "At room temperatures, ruthenium keeps its shiny, metallic surface and does not tarnish. Acids cannot damage it when it is deprived of oxygen. Ruthenium plating stands up to extreme mechanical demands and – especially interesting for musicians – it is surprisingly resistant to sweat and other chemical damage.*"
So I now have all my hardware in INDESTRUCTABLE Adamanti...er, Ruthenium. But really, in the end it just looks SO COOL. It interplays and changes in the light constantly, its quite mesmerizing actually - like staring into a bonfire.
ORC
* - See: Hooker Dust(tm)
