New Guitar Unveiled: The Handle

Press release
Source: Jim Reed Guitars

Jimmy Hendrix would have tried to destroy it, without success. Keith Richards never played one like this before. Jimmy Page would seek out the perfect chords on its innovative fret board. What are we talking about? THE HANDLE, the most revolutionary electric guitar of our times, produced by Jim Reed and recently presented in a ‘sneak preview’ during the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2006.

Mono-chassis guitar completely in carbon fiber, THE HANDLE, signed by the award winning designer Peter Solomon who innovated every detail of this instrument by combining a striking formal identity with cutting edge technology. It was conceived as a single body from which superfluous material has been removed. The eye of the observer plays over its organic and dynamic lines and the contrast between its positive and negative spaces, while its silhouette recalls familiarity of traditional electric guitars. The end result is a sophisticated slim instrument teeming with high-impact modernity.

A true high-tech design object. Its mono-chassis construction favors direct transmission of acoustic vibrations without sound dampening nor loss. The entire guitar is hollow sectioned, creating a resonance chamber similar to that of a semi-acoustic guitar. The ebony fret board, chosen for its excellent tactile response, distinguishes itself with 24 frets, all perfectly playable. THE HANDLE is made from carbon fiber, developed for the aerospace industry, and used in F1 race cars. This ultra lightweight material is incredibly resistant, it won’t bend or deform under high temperatures or humidity. Surprisingly, carbon fiber offers a much wider harmonic range than wood.

Following the concept of excellence, the handle was designed for comfort. Its concave form anatomically fits the body, its thin profile of the neck for all 24 frets, and its lightweight offer truly pleasing experience to anyone who plays it. The special form of the volume knob and its position under the pinkie were studied for quick action. The ease with which you can take it in hand and carry like an attaché explains the name of this invention, which will technologically change the face of music.

About Jim Reed Guitars
While researching the pureness of sound and maximum quality of its products, Jim Reed has demonstrated its courage to challange the industry. The launch of the revolutionary guitar, THE HANDLE epitomizes the first result of a new innovative market strategy, which unites potent design with research and development of musical instruments for their future product line.

The company was founded in 2001 by Gaetano Iannotti, who since the 60’s has dedicated himself to constructing electric guitars as a partner in various musical instrument factories. This year Jim Reed is aiming for a new market position, following an innovative marketing strategy conceived by its manager, Paolo Storti, it has established an intensive product development collaboration with Peter Solomon Design.

As always the company has been dedicated toward the development of profound sound, and has demonstrated its individuality using wood typologies uncommon to standard guitar construction. Jim Reed has also entered into the tube amp sector, designing and constructing every important component which characterize their unique sounds.

Jim Reed is primarily an artesian based company who examines and refines every detail of its products, and at the same time collaborates with many external industrial suppliers and researchers to achieve its ongoing goal of creating new ideas and concepts in the industry of music.

For more information, please visit www.jimreed.it.

About Peter Solomon
Designing the Hadle, Peter Solomon rediscovered his childhood passion; music, and dived into creating the guitar of his dreams. He studied and conceived an instruent which is technologically advanced, ergonomic, and seductive.

Peter Solomon was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1965. He graduated from Pratt Institute New York Industrial Design in1988.

In California for the next five years he designed museums, computers and peripherals, furniture, lighting, toys and interiors. During this period his work was also represented in five different galleries in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

In 1992 he moved to Milan, Italy to obtain a masters in industrial design from Domus Academy. Since then he has established his studio in Milan and has designed a great variety of products such as cell phones, furniture, lighting, office furniture, sporting equipment, train interiors, etc.

His work is part permanent collection of design at the Chicago Athenaeum Museum, has been published in over seven books on design, various magazines, and has received many awards including; Compasso D’Oro 1998 & 2004, Bio 16 Lubiana 1998, IF Design Award 1998, Athenaeum Good Design 1998, 2000 & 2004, Design Innovations 1999, International Design Yearbook 1999 & 2000.

Peter Solomon presently teaches and gives workshop seminars to both the undergraduate and master courses in industrial design at the Instituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy.

More information may be found at www.petersolomondesign.it.

---