Photos from the Dec 3, 2010 prototype debut

"The Beaver" being played at Nick Sibley Music

Les Brown Jr. played "The RandY" at the debut of the Cleaver Guitars

The Cleaver Guitar Logo

Please come play our guitars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE

29 November 2010

Cleaver Guitars Introduces Two New Electrics At The December First Friday Art Walk

Cleaver Guitars invites the public to play two new electric guitars at the December First Friday Art Walk. We will be at Nick Sibley Music, 412 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, Mo.

The guitars were designed by four Springfield men, Dunham Henry, James Radke, Kelly Cox, and Andy Cline.

“We had no idea that we would create Cleaver Guitars on an early summer morning in 2010,” said Radke. “Our usual gang of cronies were sitting around the Mudhouse jawboning about this-n-that. I said something about how cool it would be if there were a guitar with headstock and a body shaped like a cleaver.”

That prompted a lot of riffing on possible names for such a guitar — a string of bad puns and baby-boomer cultural associations followed.

Something else followed. They actually followed up and built two guitars based on two designs by Henry – the “Randy” and the “Beaver.”

“We still don’t know enough to wonder if this is crazy or not,” Cox said. “But this we do know: The first two models are seriously cool. They play well. The action is sweet. And the sound is awesome.”

To introduce the guitars to Springfield and get feedback on the initial designs, Cleaver Guitars invites the public to play them at Nick Sibley Music, 412 S. Campbell Ave. from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk on 3 December.

“The Randy” has a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position with a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck, a top loading hard-tail bridge with Gotoh style tuners. The “Randy” is great instrument for Rock and Blues.

“The Beaver” has Seymour Duncan 59′s in the bridge and neck position. A top loading hard-tail bridge with Gotoh style tuners. The “Beaver” is great instrument for Country, Pop, Classic Rock and general playing.

For more information,
Please contact

James Radke
417-569—7169
jamesradke@gmail.com

“The Beaver”

 

"The Beaver"

 

 

A photograph of “The Beaver” on the stage at Lindberg’s

 

A photograph of "The Beaver" on the stage at Lindberg's

 

 

We are doing the final setup on “The Beaver”

 

"The Beaver"

 

We are finally having “The Beaver” setup. This guitar will have Seymour Duncan Humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions. The guitar will come with a three-way switch, a top-loading fixed bridge, a volume and a tone control.

There is a possibility that we will have ”The Beaver” in our hot little hands early next week. Please comment if you would like to play or look at any of our instruments. We welcome all inquiries.

Dave Painter of the Fabulous Unexpected played a great scorching version of Ophelia on “The Randy”

 

Dave Painter of the Fabulous Unexpected played a scorching version of Ophelia on "The Randy"

 

The infamous founders of Cleaver Guitars

 

Dunie Henry, Kelly Cox, Andrew Cline, James Radke and the two interlopers Bill and Kyle bringing up the rear.

 

Tim White tuned “The Randy” the first playable prototype from Cleaver Guitars

 

Tim White tuned "The Randy" the first playable prototype from Cleaver Guitars at the Mudhouse

The initial conversation that led to creation of  the Cleaver Guitar began at the Mudhouse in Springfield, MO.

 

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