The Handle

The Handle is the name of an electric guitar created by the award-winning designer Peter Solomon and produced by the company XOX Audio Tools.

The Handle is characterized by its hollow sectioned Monocoque chassis which construction favors direct transmission of acoustic vibrations and creates a resonance chamber similar to that of a semi-acoustic guitar.

The Handle is made from carbon fiber, a material developed for the aerospace industry, and used in F1 race cars. This ultra lightweight material is incredibly resistant, it won’t bend or deform under high temperatures or humidity. Surprisingly, carbon fiber offers a much wider harmonic range than wood.

The guitar won the "Good Design" 2006 award from Chicago Athenaeum Museum has been selected by the acclaimed ADI Design Index.

It was designed taking inspiration from musician’s needs, the handle was designed for speed and comfort; its concave form, thin profile, slim neck, and light weight offer a truly pleasing experience to anyone who plays it. There's a baritone version (Billy Sheehan signature) which is called "Billytone"

Rory Gallagher

William Rory Gallagher (/ˈrɔːri ˈɡæləhər/ GAL-ə-hər; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and brought up in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste during the late 1960s. He was a talented guitarist known for his charismatic performances and dedication to his craft. Gallagher's albums have sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide. Gallagher received a liver transplant in 1995, but died of complications later that year in London, UK at the age of 47.

Early life

Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal in 1948. His father Daniel was employed by the Irish Electricity Supply Board, who were constructing a hydro-electric power plant on the Erne River above the town. The family moved, first to Derry City, where his younger brother Dónal was born in 1949. His mother, Monica, and the two boys then moved to Cork, where the brothers were raised. Rory attended North Monastery School. Daniel Gallagher had played the accordion and sang with the Tír Chonaill Céilí Band whilst in Donegal; their mother Monica was a singer and acted with the Abbey Players in Ballyshannon. The Theatre in Ballyshannon where Monica once acted is now called the Rory Gallagher Theatre.