No Truss Rod
Set it and forget it! The strength of the neck and straight-through design holds better tuning for a stress free performance.
Maximum Strength
Silver soldered construction withstands changes in humidity and temperature without warping.
Tubular Design
Superior tone, sustain, and resonance. No heel at the joint allows easy access to your highest frets and the curve in the lower body is designed for optimal comfort. Even the wiring is securely housed in the durable copper!
Eco-friendly
Absolutely no wood! Each guitar features a hand made copper body and a Richlite fiber composite fretboard.
Endless Customization
Multiple hardware and finish options make every Tone.a.cane guitar completely unique.
Our Story
Tone.a.cane was named by my 9 year old son, who said the guitars sounded like a “hurricane of tone”.
After I was fortunate enough to perform at a club on Beale Street on a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, I was inspired to start building cigar box guitars. Ultimately I discovered that I wanted a unique design for the neck of the guitar and started using copper pipes to create a tubular construction. I’ve always loved the unique properties of copper; it's a metal that can be 100% recycled (copper pipe in your basement could have been recycled out of a ring that Cleopatra once wore!) and is a fantastic green alternative to using endangered forest products.
When I realized the potential for exceptional tone and sustain when resonated through the copper pipes, I began designing guitars solely out of copper. Thoughts of how to create the world’s finest copper guitar consumed me, and I would lay awake at night thinking about how to improve playability, sound quality, and aesthetics. It took more than three years and dozens of iterations to design the guitar you see today, and I couldn't be prouder to share them with the world!
The Ultimate Lap Steel
Hands free pitch changing, endless possibilities!
Smash through the slide guitar roadblocks with The Ultimate Lap Steel G Lever! Minor chords have never been so easy to play!
What is a G lever?
When tuned to open E tuning, your G# string will quickly lower to G, creating a true minor chord. Our patent pending device will double your chord options making it an extremely effective tool for any beginner or seasoned slide playing musician!
How does it work?
Simply tune you’re guitar to open E or Open D tuning. Once tuned, the lever is engaged, and tuned half a step down to G using our fixed tuning key. It’s that simple and your ready to play major and minor chords like never before!
As raw as it gets. We do not brush or polish. These are made from raw copper stock, then protected with a heavy clear coat. Tone.A.Cane's signature sound with a vintage modern vibe.
Locking or standard tuners
Dual humbucker pickups
3-way toggle switch
2 tone knobs
1 volume knobs
Aluminum Wrap Around Bridge
Richlite fingerboard
Tusq XL nut
Locking strap buttons
Stainless steel mounting hardware
Engraved with serial/model number and Patent # 9,147,381
A nice and bright hand-brushed finish protected with a heavy clear coat. Tone.A.Cane's signature sound!
Grover locking or standard tuners
Dual humbucker pickups
3-way toggle
2 tone knobs
2 volume knobs
Tune-o-matic or roller bridge
Stop or vibrato tailpiece
Richlite fretboard
Chrome or gold hardware
Tusq XL nut
Locking strap buttons
Stainless steel mounting hardware
Engraved with serial/model number and Patent # 9,147,381
Natural patina is created and sealed with a heavy clear coat. No two are exactly the same. Other colors available by request.
Grover locking or standard vintage style tuners
2 humbucker pickups
3-way toggle
2 tone knobs
2 volume knobs
Tune-o-matic or roller bridge
Stop or vibrato tailpiece
Richlite fretboard
Chrome or gold hardware
Tusq XL nut
Locking strap buttons
Stainless steel mounting screws
Engraved with signature and Patent # 9,147,381
Owner and Founder T.J. Dlugasz performing with his Ultimate Lap Steel Guitar!
Q: How much do they weigh?
A: 7.5 - 8.5 lbs depending on hardware selection.
Q: Does Copper sound better than tone wood?
A: The simple answer is that copper naturally resonates and sustains much better than wood. This characteristic is preferred by most players.
Q: Am I at a greater risk of electrical shock with a copper guitar?
A: No. There is no big risk of electrical shock. Just like on wooden guitars all of the electronics are grounded. The risk is no different than that of a wooden instrument.
Q: How does it react to change in temperature?
A: Copper gets warm quickly and gets very cold. For comfort, It is recommended to bring your instrument up to room temperature before playing. The changes in temperature will not damage your instrument however. We have tested our guitars in many extremes.
Q: Are other body styles available?
A: Yes. We can design and accommodate most shapes and styles.
Q: Do they age and patina naturally?
A: They are sealed with a heavy clear coat to prevent oxidizing and protect the desired finish. Like most guitars they will age and parts of the clear coat can wear away over time. Some customers request a light clear coat to speed up the aging process.
Q: Can the clear coat be re-applied?
A: Yes. The clear coat we use is called Protectaclear by Everbright. It is self annealing and self leveling which makes it very user friendly when applied properly.
Q: What happens if I dent or scratch my guitar?
A: Light scratches in the clear coat can be annealed by carefully applying Protectaclear. Dents and deep scratches are permanent. We recommend using our locking strap buttons appropriately.
Q: Do they dent and scratch easily?
A: They are metal and some parts are thin. The thinner areas of the body are more prone to dents like that of a metal bodied dobro. Think of it like the outside of your car.
Q: Does the neck dive or fall forward?
A: No. We have designed our center of balance to allow for ease of playing.
Q: Are they made in the USA?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you offer a discount for touring artists?
A: Yes. We love to work directly with artists.
Q: Do you offer bulk discounts?
A: Yes
Q: Do you offer a warranty?
A: Yes. We offer a limited warranty on all of our frames and craftsmanship.
Request a Quote
Ready to order your own one-of-a-kind copper guitar? Contact us for pricing and options!