About the Maker:
Washington State native Dave Bunker. Sr. has been called the "extremist in guitar invention" by prominent guitar magazines such as Guitar World , Guitar Player and others. His (TM)Touch Guitar is rapidly gaining national and international popularity. In 1965 While entertaining in Las Vegas, Nevada Dave started building custom guitars and basses for his band and other top artist.
Dave has been a resident of the Tacoma/Seattle area for over 35 years. He and his father Joe built and patented the first Bunker (TM)Touch Guitar in 1961, it is the second patented string instrument in the USA. The unique instrument was built with two necks; one for playing lead and the other for playing Bass. It is designed specifically for the"tapping" technique. The strings are touched or tapped instead of being plucked or strummed, allowing both necks to be played at the same time.
Dave first introduced his double necked Touch Guitar on Red Foley's "Jubilee USA" an ABC "Ranch Party" TV program which was being hosted at the time by Eddy Arnold who was very impressed with the Touch Guitar even then, in 1989 Dave Performed on the Ralph Emery show in Nashville Tn. Over the years, the design has been updated as new technology became available and is now a very dynamic "New musical instrument for the 21st century".
With three decades if experience as a guitar builder, luthier and musician, Dave Bunker has evolved into a many faceted entertainer. Dave's career includes over two decades as one of Las Vegas Nevada's top lounge acts and performed for military audiences around the world. Dave has performed along side of such greats as Barbara Mandrell, Louise Mandrell, Waylon Jennings, Judy Lynn, Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Merle Haggard and many others. One of Dave's more enjoyable experiences was entertaining on cruise Ships.
Over the past 30 years Dave has not only built guitars and Basses for many top artist, but has also built many thousands of great guitars and basses which are now sought after by collector's. Dave is now the president of Bunker Guitar Technology of Mill Creek Washington. Another notch in Dave's career as a guitar builder was when in 1994 Ibanez Guitar company of Japan contracted for his company PBC Guitar Technology, to build high quality American made guitars for Ibanez. The ATK bass built for Ibanez was voted by the wholesaler/retailer magazine as the best bass of the year in 1995.
In June of 2000 The popular Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine did a cover story(also featured on the front page of the Sunday edition) on the History of Dave and the (TM)Touch Guitar. The Seattle Times picked this story to run with the opening of the Paul Allen Experience Music guitar museum which opened June 24, 2000. This full story can be seen at: http://www.bunker-guitars.com/media_release.html
On September 11th, 2001 Dave was booked into New York to play for the opening of the American Crafts Museum exibit: Objects for use-Hand made by design, only to land at 8:05 on that fatefull morning. This story can be seen at http://bunker-guitars.com/news.html\ .
In early 2002 Dave started a company called "Bunker Guitars and Tone Woods" of Lake Stevens Washington to form the very first from "From Stump to Stage©" Guitar company, We find and log the wood then build them into the finest guitars money can buy and perform with them on stage.
Dave continues to demonstrate the (TM)Touch Guitar along with other of his patented products at trade shows throughout the world and when time permits still performs at special occasions.
More information can be found on the website: http://davebunkerguitars.com/
About the Guitar:
The two guitars in our collection are a matching set consisting of a six string guitar that was made for Tone D. Farkas and used to record his CD, "SteelSoul" and a matching bass.
These were bought directly from Tone himself in June of 2001. This was during his self named "retirement period".
These are great pieces. Not only do they look great - they are extremely innovative in design and super players. Look at the depth of the blue dye, the wood grain was exceptionally good (especially for the guitar) for the dye to "soak and stay" at this depth.
This guitar is Tone D. Farkas's signature guitar with modifications made to the GSXTR model from the early 1990’s. The photo on the back of the CD liner shows him holding this guitar. This is a loud and powerful guitar. It is made to play fast.
Details :
BRAND: PBC GUITARS.
DATE MADE: September, 1994
SN: 0994005
MODEL: TFSX (Tone Farkas SX). Based on the GSXTR.
BODY: Double cut away ALDER BODY with HIGHLY FIGURED “AAA” MAPLE TOP.
BODY FINISH: TRANSLUCENT BLUE.
NECK: ONE (1) PIECE MAPLE. Note: The unique “ring” are the neck near headstock (part of the “tension free” system).
NOTE: THIS PBC GUITAR FEATURES THE BUNKER PATENTED “TENSION FREE” NECK: “At Bunker we believe that the neck is the backbone of a really great guitar or bass. Because of this, we will not build our instruments with anything less than a Tension Free Neck™. These necks use a 3/8" cold rolled steel bar to support the strings at the headstock, thus removing all string tension stress from the neck, leaving the neck free to resonate as it should. This technological advantage eliminates dead spots, and provides much quicker response to the notes you play.”
FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD with DOT INLAYS.
SCALE: 25”
BRIDGE/TAILPIECE: BUNKER GSX TREMELO (another Bunker innovation).
TUNERS: SPERZEL GOLD 6 x 1
PICKUPS: (2) BILL LAWRENCE.
ELECTRONICS: ACTIVE.
More about Tone D. Farkas:
1965- 1973: Being a natural musician; Tone D. Farkas began his musical career performing cover songs with Psychotic Sensation.
1973 – 1979: Farkas opened new avenues for his professional musical career; forming the cover band: Sanctum, performing two executive years as opening act for “Ziggy Stardust/David Bowie.” In addition; Farkas began writing his own material and furthered his career playing for Hotel/Resorts in the Pocono’s.
1980 –1989 Tone D. Farkas formed the thriving Marauder band, which played the local Eastern Pennsylvania circuit.
1989 – 2000 Farkas formed; yet another band: FARKAS (STEELSOUL) who caught interest of an influential musical production president in New York City and from that he played numerous venues, winning several contest and competitions for their new sound; until Tone D. decided to retire for several years.
http://www.myspace.com/farkassteelsoul
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/steelsoul/5488314
2007-2008 Farkas decided to return to his musical career and joined the cover band; “Spontaneous Combustion” performing live at local clubs up and down the Fort Lauderdale, Florida circuit. Not being able to use his original material in this band, Farkas decided to go solo.
2008 – CURRENT Tone D. searched for a woman singer to front his band, someone who was unique and dynamic, after several searches he found “Sw!tch” the precise woman, who had an extensive and recognized musical background, also performing original material. Their music went like hand and glove and together they formed the current, famed band “Sw!tch-Tone.”
http://www.betarecords.com/switch-tone/fans/
http://stores.lulu.com/switch_tone
http://www.twogroove.com/blog/2009/03/11/featured-artist-swtch-tone/
