I've invested significant time, effort, and research over the years to insure the reliability of my guitars. The parts, materials, and the processes I use all factor in to making a glass guitar that is as durable as many other stringed instruments.
The glass I use is commercial grade annealed float glass. Unlike art glass, the glass I use is produced with material strength as a top priority. It is made in a quality controlled environment to be used in construction applications. Perfect for sculpting into a guitar made of glass.
The adhesives I use to build my guitars are probably the most important component of all. The quick cure time and overall strength makes building glass guitars possible. The adhesives are made by CRL, a company that manufactures commercial glass industry products and materials. I use three different adhesive formulations which have bond tensile/shear strength ratings ranging between 1450-2968 psi. My guitars and parts used are secured by incredibly strong bonds. It could be considered overkill but also adds a significant “WOW” factor.
While I accommodate requests for other tuning machines I have Grover tuners as the standard option. They've been around for 100 years and guarantee their tuners for life. My own acoustic guitar is 30 years old and has Grover tuners that still function perfectly. Stainless steel frets were a must. Being much harder than nickle silver frets they can withstand heavy playing for many years with little to no wear. Seymour Duncan pickups are my personal preference. The SH-4 JB bridge humbucker being my favorite pickup. They are highly regarded pickups and their wiring diagrams are top notch. I use Pure Tone Multi contact output jacks as they are designed better than standard output jacks minimizing the risk of shorting out.
On the back of mirrored bodies I apply a protective layer of Hyxtal epoxy dyed blue. It not only protects the mirror finish but also improves the aesthetics since the mirror back is a dull gray color.
Glass can be surprisingly strong. A glass guitar neck being over ¾” thick and 1-3/4” wide is rock solid. Any instrument if not handled properly can become damaged. I have made sure that my guitars are fully capable of withstanding the occasional bump and bruise. Some guitarists seem to have little respect for their instruments. However I know that my past customers and those that join me in the future have the right attitude with how a guitar should be handled. If you can respect your instrument then a glass guitar is nothing to worry about.
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