Tom Ribbecke's innovative new archtop design that will literally blow your mind when you play it!
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Because of our special relationship with Tom Ribbecke we can get this as fast, or faster than anyone in the industry. In some cases, we even have preferred build slots we can offer you.
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The Halfling is an amazing feat of luthierie. As soon as you put one in your hands you realize this. Immediately you notice the wealth of acoustic sound from the soundhole close to your ear. The guitar almost breathes on you as you play it. It makes for a connection between player and instrument never before dreamt of. It's so even and balanced top to bottom that you have to pinch yourself because you think you are dreaming.
Tom Ribbecke's Halfling Archtop Guitar is one of the most impressive instruments we carry. This particular guitar is made with a spruce top and flamed maple back and sides. It has a very balanced sound and is very versatile - great for single lines or chording. The sound hole is unique in that it is closer to the player's ears. This way the natural acoustic resonance is fully experienced by the player. If you are interested in the Ribbecke Halfling, other guitars by Ribbecke, or any other guitars, amps, or recording gear we carry, please don't hesitate to contact us. Call us at 919.682.5552.
The Halfling is a unique and proprietary design of guitar or Bass that uses the concepts of advanced luthiery design to create a more versatile and efficient stringed instrument by combining the flat bass side of a "Steel string" or "Classical" guitar top with the carved or arched treble side of the soundboard, to create an instrument that is capable of large full fundamental bass response with the separation of course (ability to hear and distinguish all the notes of a complex chord when ringing together.)
The traditional way of looking at the soundboard dictates the concept of either a flat thin top as in the Martin style steel string guitar, or the arched top for Jazz like the D'Angelico or Gibson instrument. We have combined the best of both worlds for the contemporary guitarist whose literature now crosses over into both worlds.
This is the logical conclusion of years of research and development beginning with the "Sound Bubble" guitars in the 80's and when Paul Szmanda gave me the opportunity to build something that I always wanterd to do. The first Halfling was created.
I also had the opportunity to work with the incredible Bassist Bobby Vega for whom I could not just build an oversize guitar with four strings, this is an artist who really required something special and he was patient enough for me to build the Bobby Vega model Halfling bass!
All of this led to the founding of a new company : the Ribbecke Guitar Corporation , wholly a separate entity from my private practice(Ribbecke Guitars)
This new company was founded to bring a domestically built less expensive instrument to be built on a production basis. Dealer inquiries are welcome and the Bobby Vega Halfling Bass will be ready to ship by June of 2005. Available in either a fretted or unfretted model watch the site and we will update the project regularly. These instruments are identified as Hafling guitars and basses. The Bass will be the only model available for the next year or so with guitars coming on line in about 18 months.
The Halfling project The Halfling is a unique and proprietary design of guitar or Bass that uses the concepts of advanced luthiery design to create a more versatile and efficient stringed instrument by combining the flat bass side of a Steel string or Classicalguitar top with the carved or arched treble side of the soundboard, to create an instrument that is capable of large full fundamental bass response with the separation of course (ability to hear and distinguish all the notes of a complex chord when ringing together. The traditional way of looking at the soundboard dictates the concept of either a flat thin top as in the Martin style steel string guitar, or the arched top for Jazz like the DAngelico or Gibson instrument. We have combined the best of both worlds for the contemporary guitarist whose literature now crosses over into both worlds( see artist quotes in the testimonial section) This is the logical conclusion of years of research and development beginning with the Sound Bubble guitars in the 80's and when Paul Szmanda gave me the opportunity to build something that I always wanterd to do The first Halfling was created. I also had the opportunity to work with the incredible Bassist Bobby Vega for whom I could not just build an oversize guitar with four strings, this is an artist who really required something special and he was patient enough for me to build the Bobby Vega model Halfling bass!
All of this led to the founding of a new company : the Ribbecke Guitar Corporation , wholly a separate entity from my private practice( Ribbecke Guitars) This new company was founded to bring a domestically built less expensive instrument to be built on a production basis. Dealer inquiries are welcome and the Bobby Vega Halfling Bass will be ready to ship by June of 2005. Available in either a fretted or unfretted model watch the site and we will update the project regularly These instruments are identified as Hafling guitars and basses. The Bass will be the only model available for the next year or so with guitars coming on line in about 18 months. A Halfling model guitar or Bass can be ordered from my own private practice as well and of course these are direct order instruments built to your specs and with all hand processes at a substantially higher price point. They are hand voiced and fussed over as are all my private practice instruments! And are only available direct from me?. We have a quartet under construction! A true collectors group!
Spruce Top
Flamed Maple Back and Sides
17" Lower bout
Tinted Blonde finish
Hardshell case
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar playing "Stella By Starlight" into AER Alpha amp(all controls 12 o'clock) mic'd with Peluso 22 251 into A Designs Pacifica feeding Lynx Aurora 8.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar playing "Stella By Starlight" into AER Alpha amp(all controls 12 o'clock) mic'd with Peluso 22 251 into A Designs Pacifica feeding Lynx Aurora 8. (view less)
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar played into AER Alpha amp(all controls 12 o'clock) mic'd with Peluso 22 251 into A Designs Pacifica feeding Lynx Aurora 8.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar played into AER Alpha amp(all controls 12 o'clock) mic'd with Peluso 22 251 into A Designs Pacifica feeding Lynx Aurora 8. (view less)
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar played into Evans JE200 mic'd with Peluso VTB into Avalon AD-2022 preamp feeding Lynx Aurora A/D converters.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar played into Evans JE200 mic'd with Peluso VTB into Avalon AD-2022 preamp feeding Lynx Aurora A/D converters. (view less)
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 9am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 9am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800. (view less)
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 11am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 11am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800. (view less)
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 9am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.
Tom Ribbecke Halfling guitar played into Henriksen JazzAmp 10R(all EQs 12pm, Reverb 9am) mic'd with Coles 4038 into AEA TRP preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800. (view less)
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