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HISTORY
In 1999, two friends (Waylon Ford & Belinda Lee) sat in a dimly lit studio while reading over some guitar magazines. The common subject at hand centered on how drastically guitar prices had inflated to the general public. From that moment, the wheels were set in motion and a new company formed with the intent to create guitars both built solid and priced correctly… a company that would not be attacked by the Green-Eyed Monster known as Greed.
The new millennium brought forth HALO Guitars – a company that provides instruments for musicians that are BUILT BY MUSICIANS and PRICED FOR MUSICIANS ®.
Fast-forward 8 years to find HALO Guitars delivering handcrafted instruments with high-performance parts, pure playability, unyielding tone, and an amazing visual style. HALO has continued to evolve year-after-year, offering The Demon Series, Hand-Carved & Art Series, The Select Edition, and the availability of EVERY model built in a 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 string extended-range version.
HALO is here for musicians and maintains an open mind for anything new that is requested.
HALO guitars and basses are BUILT BY MUSICIANS and PRICED FOR MUSICIANS®.
Common Questions
Q: Can I buy HALO parts?
A: Sorry, HALO does not sell any parts.
Q: My HALO guitar/bass is a lefty...where can I get a case for it?
A: Your lefty guitar case can be obtained by calling HALO at 408-873-8606.
Q: I would like to buy a HALO guitar, but want to change some features and customize it. How much would it cost?
A: Send your modification requests to customshop@haloguitars.com and receive a quote within two business days.
The Halo Custom Shop builds custom handcrafted guitars and basses right here in Houston, TX. For those on a budget, you may want to consider ordering through the Halo China Custom Shop. If you are interested in more information regarding custom handcrafted instruments, please contact the Halo Custom Shop at customshop@haloguitars.com.
Q: I want to become a HALO Artist. How do I get an endorsement?
A: Mail in a Promo Kit including press, images, and music (CD or DVD).
Mail to:
Halo Custom Guitars, Inc.
C/O Artist Relations
21621 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014, USA
Or send an EPK to:
artist@haloguitars.com
Q: Can I order a guitar or bass directly from HALO?
A: You may only order directly from HALO if there is not a HALO dealer near you. Direct sales do not affect HALO dealers unfavorably. In fact, HALO gives credit of the direct sale to the nearest stocking HALO dealer.
Q: I did not receive a warranty card or manual with my new HALO guitar. How do I get a warranty card? Can I register my guitar online?
A: All warranty information is covered on the Warranty Section of www.haloguitars.com. Your original sales receipt validates your Limited Lifetime Warranty. Be sure to keep it in a safe place. Halo does not offer online registration.
Q: Which brand strings are used on my HALO guitar?
A: All HALO guitars are equipped with Curt Mangan "FUSION MATCHED" strings.
Q: I would like to order a Custom Shop instrument. What is the best way to do this?
A: Please visit the Halo Custom Shop page and e-mail customshop@haloguitars.com to receive an estimated retail price for your custom guitar. Include all significant specifications for your custom guitar and we will send you a confirmation number and price quote. Average turnaround time is 30 days.
Please Note: You will be charged an additional $100 on top of the price of the modification after the date the order has been placed.
Q: Where are HALO guitars and basses made?
A: The standard line of HALO guitars and basses are manufactured at the Halo China Factory in Weifeng, China. Each instrument goes through five stages of QC at the Halo China Factory and one stage of QC at Halo Headquarters in Cupertino, CA. Finally, each HALO instrument is 100% set up in the USA. HALO USA Custom Shop guitars and basses are 100% handmade in Houston, TX.
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Woods
Mahogany
Mahogany is a heavier and very durable wood, which averages out to be five pounds or more per body. Due to its warm and full tone we use it on mmost of our electric guitar bodies and necks.
Alder
Alder's tone is reputed to be the most balanced with equal doses of lows, mid, highs, and lots of sustain. Alder is a light wood, about four - five pounds per guitar body, which allows the artist to feel more comfort on stage while performing. Its closed grain allows for easy paint finishing as well.
Maple
Maple is a Dense, hard and strong, offering great sustain and stability. It is excellent for guitar necks because it can handle large amounts of string tension. Maple must be finished to protect against warping. The wood figure varies greatly and at times contain some Birdseye.
Rosewood
Rosewood used mainly in our fingerboards, keeps the guitar at the warm dark end of the tonal spectrum.
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Construction
Neck Thru
This construction starts with a long piece (or pieces) of premium woods. That piece runs from the tip of the headstock to the strap button on the opposite end of the guitar. This means that the headstock, fingerboard, pickups and bridge all are mounted to this single sound foundation. It gives you a sonically different tone that you can hear. The neck-through construction also alows for a more comfortable feel that no bolt-on or set-neck can offer.
Set Neck
A set-neck constructiont consists of a dovetail piece cut in the neck and in the body. This design allows for a tight fit and added sustain.
Deep Socket Neck Joint
Is similar to a set-neck construction, meaning the instrument consists of a dovetail piece cut in the neck and in the body. The difference is the the neck actually goes thru the body till it meets up with the bridge. This design allows for a very tight connection and an almost matched sustain with a neck thru construction.
Bolt On
This construction offers flexibility in the instruments adjustment and allows for easy replacement if the neck is damaged in the future..
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Body Profile
Flat Top
The flat top styling gives a bold and pristine look to the edge of the instrument's shape. A common practice when working with a flat top is to add single or multiple strips of binding in a complimentory color to the body. This finishes off the edge cleanly and gives the instrument a sleek and clean look.
Beveled Top
A beveled edge, is used on many of the HALO instruments. These bevels catch the light and reflect at different angles giving your instrument a three dimensional look. From time to time the shape of the instrument is accented by painting the bevels a with a pen striping technique in an accenting color.
Arched Top
An arch is achieved by increasing the body center and then gently sloping toward the side of the instrument and leveling out just as the slope reaches the edge. A deep arch top when gives a smooth, and sophisticated feature to your instrument. Many of the custom handmade instruments are requested with an arch top style.
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Bridges
Below are a links to the bride companies that we utilize on our instruments.
>> Kahler, USA
The Kahler Tremolo System is bridge with a cam operated tremolo arm system for electric guitar. It was invented in 1979 by Gary Kahler and Dave Storey. Cams and saddles are available in several different types, including brass and stainless steel. Stainless steel models were introduced in 1985. Brass cams and saddles have a warmer, more full tone, whereas steel produces a brighter tone with enhanced harmonics. Aluminum cams, announced in 2004 and released in 2005, have what is described as a "bright, growling midrange with super clean harmonics."
>> Floydrose
The Floyd Rose Tremolo is a full (floating¦ tremolo, pivoting on two large screws in the face of the guitar body, that allow upward movement as well as downward..
>> Tunematic
The tunematic bridge is a classic style bridge system commonly referred to as a fixed bridge.
>> Hip Shot
Hip Shot is a bridge company who machines its bridges from solid brass, it has forged steel adjustable saddles. They make Fixed bridges and tremelo systems.
>> TremKing
The TremKing is a vibrato system for guitars that uses the fixed bridge concept. The bridge plate is fixed to the body of the guitar. The saddles are fixed to the bridge and do not move.
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The N-Tune Tuning System
N-Tune
A tuner on yoru guitar which consists of a switching potentiometer, a wiring harness, plastic display discs, a rigid circuit board, and a battery holder. You pull your volume nob out which activates a true bypass and kills the volume to your amp while activating the tuner, which lghts up around your volume control. When done tuning you simply push the nob back in and your volume comes back to you amp.
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Strings
Curt Mangan "Fusion Matched"
Curt produce strings that are FusionMatched® and create a tone that is pure a perfect. FusionMatched® is his trademarked proprietary method that conbines the highest quality, 100% made in the USA wire and 100% USA workmanship to produce strings with exacting core-to-wrap ratios and tolerances.
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Owners Manual
To view the owners manual to your HALO guitar, pleasedownload by clicking the following link. MANUAL
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