RKS Open Architecture Design

roachello · Post by **roachello** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:24 am

This is interesting, even though it is from 2005. CEO and founder Ravi Sawhney designed and won an award for "re-inventing the electric guitar" with his open architecture guitar.

According to the article, the design was "driven by designers looking for better ergonomics". They tested bodies by using polyurethane, celluloscics, and then settled on Tenite which is a wood-pulp-based material.

I attended a designer's conference last week where he gave a short presentation (which I missed

) but I got to talk to one of his employees and got a business card. Looking for internships and inspiration to pursue a career in instrumental product design

RKS Open-Architecture guitar article

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:59 am

Floating single lace alumitones- interesting. I wonder what the mesh underneath is doing.

I think the problem is that guitarists are by nature very conservative. Even moderately innovative stuff (USA Reverends, Travis Bean, Parker) always struggles in the marketplace. However (some Reverends aside, and these weren't actually that groundbreaking) no-one has ever made a really cool-looking composite/weird materials guitar. They usually end-up looking like the jarring 50s/80s clash up there, or the goddamn bird/fish guitar.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:03 am

i actually really like the way they look.

green one is win.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:11 am

reminds me of those alienware computers

roachello · Post by **roachello** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:49 am

Das my major.

I think that tower is cool

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:53 pm

This is the future of guitars, simply for practical material purposes. Mahogany doesn't grow on trees.

CODOG · Post by **CODOG** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:29 pm

Yeah, i have two, the rks wave in red, and the rks darkstar, sadly the company is out of buisness if you have any questions i can answer them
here's a pic of the darkstar

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m412 ... 010067.jpg

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:47 pm

Quite the thread resurrection, there.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:00 pm

Give the poor fella a break - he has a rare as hen's teeth guitar and has stumbled upon a thread about them.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:10 pm

yea, that's wild. where'd you get the guitars? how much did they cost? if you don't mind me asking.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:11 pm

This is very true.

Post pics and stuff, then.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:14 pm

You mean like he already did?

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:14 pm

the update about them going out of business is worth the resurrection. bit sad considering they had only just presented at a major design convention months ago.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:17 pm

why cant ergonomics and new materials still consider aesthetics?

CODOG · Post by **CODOG** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:40 pm

I purchased the darkstar back in 2005, it was the first one purchased from dealer (not direct from the company) out of la music. I bought thinking that rks might be the next fender or gibson but sadly they went out of buisness

mellowlogic · Post by **mellowlogic** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:00 am

when they say wood-pulp.... does that mean like particle board? I hope not.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:34 am

BacchusPaul wrote:Quite the thread resurrection, there.

if it was about a jag/stang/jagstang, i would agree, but this has quite immense bearing on the future of what i put in my hands (st. jimmy?).

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:00 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:Quite the thread resurrection, there.
if it was about a jag/stang/jagstang, i would agree, but this has quite immense bearing on the future of what i put in my hands (st. jimmy?).

UR PENOR!

Narco Martenot · Post by **Narco Martenot** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:06 pm

Interesting.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:10 pm

I really want their glasses that they do, but I can't find them anywhere.

http://rksdesign.com/work/what_if/Optigami/