Down the rabbit hole…
First off, this might get a little weird. If you like exploring the nature of reality, please come along. The discussion below is not really about guitars.
What does the Solstice mean?
I am inspired by the remote beauty of northern Arizona and the turning of our seasons here.
The biannual Solstice event is foundational to the patterns of life on earth. It sets the clock to our perception of time. Our human experience of time, and thus our experience of frequency is defined by it. Let me explain what I mean.
The pulses and cycles created by the rotational motion of our planet are embedded into our very being. Humanity has forgotten how connected we are to these natural rhythms and how fundamental they are to our general paradigm. The angle of the earth’s axis relative to the sun is the reason we have seasons. These fundamentals allow trees to grow the way they do. It’s the reason some trees “grow better” than others, depending on their orientation to these axes.
These embedded patterns weave a canvas on which our experiences are formed. The motions of our planet actively shape terrestrial life and govern its growth.
Music in all forms is a complex tapestry of rhythm, pattern, and frequency. And all these components are vibrational by nature.
Behind the Curtain
The way we experience vibration and frequency is dependent on the framework through which we experience time. This creates a unique window through which we can perceive and enjoy music. The fundamental frequency that we use to define our place in time is set by this natural bifurcation of the year. This fundamental frequency is the solstice, whether you realize or not. Our measurement of frequency itself (cycles per second) is based on this foundation.
Is any of this applicable to guitar building? Well, maybe. I believe that an attempt to understand our place in the universe, and to understand our sentience as conscious beings is worthy of exploration. This is not anthropic futility. All of us are fundamentally connected to the cycles of this planet, and music is such a pure form of our human expression. For me, music has always been the most serene and pure thing to experience.
I also believe there is no such thing as a perfect guitar, only a musical experience itself can be truly perfect. Every guitarist can experience a perfect musical moment. My goal with Solstice is to give you a deep connection to your instrument. I want to help you create the greatest musical experience possible.
-Ryan Elewaut
