SPECIAL HARDWARE EDITION
A special project to convey the "what it looks like now" of a domestic manufacturer.
Writer, Akira Ambo / Young Guitar Editorial Department / Equipment Photography / Hiroshi Takezawa /
dragonfly
-The originality that continues to evolve -
dragonfly has constantly updated itself to match contemporary music while listening to musician’s voices up close. Let's introduce some of the various models of such an evolving brand on page 10 from here.
Tatsuaki Totani Representative Director, Harry's Engineering Co., Ltd.
A sincere attitude that is always close to musicians
Mr.Totani established Harry's engineering's predecessor, an instrument sales company, in 1991, and in 1999 he launched the dragonfly brand to create guitars that embody his ideals. And since 2000 began selling original models in earnest, this year will be dragonfly's 20th anniversary. The great thing about the brand is that it's constantly listening to young musicians’ voices, researching and updating their products. In this special feature, I would like to tell you about dragonfly's "what it looks like now"... I would like to start by first talking about the main guitar lineup from Mr. Totani.
YG: Which is the most basic model for Dragonfly?
Mr.Totani,(TT):HI STA" sold under this brand first, now it is named "HI STA (ORIGINAL STYLE)". The model name means like a high-speed version of the so-called ST shape. In keeping with the high-end custom guitar line that was popular at the time, we created a 400R fingerboard on a small body, stainless fret, and a two-point synchronized tremolo. In addition, we eliminated tension pins and changed the height of the "Magnum Rock" string post from string to string, that allowed players flexible arming. Such specifications are now standard, but were rare at the time. Later, in response to the request "I want a normal size body", I made "HI STA FULL SIZE", there was "HI STA CUSTOM" with maple etc. on the body top, and there was "M STA" pursuing a vintage style like dragonfly ... It is developed by the feeling.
In the order in which the guitars were born, I think the next thing I made was "BORDER". It has been a few years since I've made a loud arrangement like the one I have today. I designed it for something like TL and double cutaway, but at first I thought, "We can't make such a bad-looking body shape." However, it was said that it would be very good if I happened to show it to an instrument store, and when I actually made some, it was very popular.
HI STA CUSTOM
M-STA FULL SIZE
BORDER
B6(792mm Scale 27F)
YG: Speaking of dragonfly, the model that adopted a longer scale than usual is impressive, but the "B6" was the forerunner of that, right?
TT: That's right. I heard that a certain American musician said, "I want to lower the tuning, but I can’t set the pitch correctly", so I tried to make a guitar specializing in down tuning. I think it was around 2001, but there weren't many types of string gauges on the market at the time. About .018 is the limit value of plain strings, and I made a 792mm (31") neck that can be maximized in such a limit. If you put a capo on the fifth fret, it is the same scale as the Fender Jaguar (609.6 mm = 24 inches). However, in the mid-2000s, each string manufacturer began to make various gauges, so if you use thicker strings, we can make stable and low sounds even if the scale is not so long. And a guitarist who has a "B6" user said, "I'm using it with a capo on the third fret", so let's make a neck that shortens the third fret. It is 666mm long.
YG: It's a scale that has become synonymous with Dragonfly now, becoming the 666 (Triple Six).
TT: It's also a scale that used to be used in classical guitars. At first, I didn't aim for loud guitarists, but the reputation of "it's good to drop tuning and use it" spread by word of mouth, and it has been up to now. Another derived from "B6"... When I was talking to PABLO (Pay money To my Pain, POLPO, RED ORCA, etc.), who has been using our guitar for many years, he said, " Low position of B6 is far-off. I don’t use high frets, so it doesn't matter.” So I thought I'd insert the neck deeply into the body, and that became "ZONE-B".
ZONE-B (792mm Scale22F)
MAROON CUSTOM666
SOTTILE CUSTOM648
PREMERO TOM
YG: "MAROON" is also a model with a long history, right?
TT: It may have already existed around 2001, but it used to be one more small. It was like a child between a single cutaway and a double, and I thought it would be better to have something with a Gibson-like feel as a staple. The first thing I made was a laminated body that looked like chestnut steamed bread, so I tried to name it Maroon = "MAROON".
YG: How about "SOTTILE", which is characterized by a small body in contrast?
TT: An old staff member told me that he wanted to make a light guitar. When the mass of the body is lightened, the sound becomes soft and wide and large, and the bass comes out unexpectedly. In other words, I thought that it would be good to make it with ST shape using an idea like SG, so I set it to a body thickness of 35 mm and made it. The model name means "thin" or "slim" in Italian.
YG: And as the latest model called "PREMELO" was announced this time.
TT: dragonfly is used by a variety of hard and loud guitarists, but PABLO suggested that you have to develop a guitar that is cute in pop and everyone wants. The name comes from the Spanish word "premero", and it is the guitar that I first designed before the brand was launched in the first place. Many of our products are larger, so 648mm is easy for women and petite people to have ... So, I pulled it out again. Right now, it's just a tune-O-matic bridge in the SSH layout, but I'm going to make 3 single coil pickups and tremolo equipped versions.
Q:Harry's Engineering
Interview with artists on dragonfly
Yuto (Earthists.) Profile
Guitarist of Earthists., A metal core band who signed a contract with the US label "Tragic Hero Records" shortly after its formation in 2015, and has also experienced numerous overseas tours. Last June, a live audience broadcast featuring video projection on a splash-proof transparent screen became a hot topic.
Yoma (The Winking Owl) Profile
Major debut in 2015 as a guitarist of The Winking Owl, a mixed-sex rock band formed in 2010. The latest work "Thanks Love Letter" (2019) contains a variety of songs, from emotional aggressive tunes to ballads with electro elements.
衍龍（RAZOR)Profile
Guitarist of RAZOR, a rock band that debuted in 2016. It's been a few years since it was formed, but it's been a prolific work to release two full albums and three mini albums, and the latest work "OKITE" (2020) develops a sound full of catchy and aggressive originality.
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