If things go the way a Kamsack musician hopes they will go, guitar players worldwide may soon be making use of a born-in-Kamsack tool.
The Hangman guitar stand, which was invented by Cole Smith in Kamsack several years ago, is being re-launched to the world at the Regina Guitar Show on May 14.
“The Hangman is such an incredibly simple concept that causes many industry insiders remark, ‘Why hasn't someone thought of this before?’” Smith said on Friday.
Despite the simplicity, the design has been engineered and refined over the years, Smith said. It is designed to fit over an upright, slightly opened, rectangular guitar case. The guitar neck is inserted into the crescent slot, and the guitar hangs down from the top of the case.
“The Hangman name comes from the fact that you allow the device to ‘Hang your guitar by its neck.”
Smith said he received a huge surprise on a recent trip to Las Vegas where he noticed The Hangman on display at a famous music retail outlet. Cowtown Guitars is owned by Jesse Amoroso who regularly appears on the hit TV reality show, Pawn Stars to which he is often called in as an expert to evaluate and appraise a variety of guitars, amps, and other stringed instruments.
“His talents are widely praised in the musical community,” Smith said, adding that when he had seen his invention being used to display one of Amoroso’s vintage instruments, he knew this endorsement could be marketing magic.
Smith was offered a licensing/distribution deal with Levy Guitar Straps, but claims there wasn't enough profit in the deal to make it worthwhile.
“I want as much control as I can keep within a deal,” he said. “One of the first things distributors say is that we should get it manufactured in China. I've looked into that, and you simply cannot use a cheaper plastic on The Hangman. It's not a toy. It's made here in Canada, and while the plastics are expensive, production costs are low, so there is no advantage to go overseas.”
Originally constructed out of MDF (medium density fiberboard) in a shop in downtown Kamsack, the process took too long and the product could be chipped if dropped, he said.
“I took the MDF-made products to the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Los Angeles, and it was well received,” Smith said. “There was a lot of interest, and it encouraged me to keep going. I realized that we needed to keep the weight down for shipping, and to make a more resilient, streamlined product.”
A plastic injection mould was the next step, he said. Thanks to a loan from Ventures Capital, The Hangman is now constructed of a high-quality, nylon polymer that Smith claims will not sag, bend, break, chip, or crack. He says it's virtually indestructible, and will last a lifetime with normal use.
“It took a lot of time testing it in various conditions, and we noticed that under hot lights, the first plastics we used tended to heat up and sag. That's what we wanted to see before we took it to market again. It's got to be perfect.”
Smith, who is a member of Shameless, a four-person classic rock and country band, says the advantages of the Hangman are several.
“There are no moving parts; it won't warp, rust, or bend; it stores inside the guitar case; it sets up in seconds; it makes an awesome display; you don't have to hide your case; and the top of The Hangman can be used as a mini-table for picks, slide, or a beverage.”
The Hangman has been praised by various celebrities over the years including Randy Bachman, Mark "The Animal" Mendoza of Twisted Sister, and Ed Roman, owner of the world's largest guitar store. It's also been featured in various guitar-related publications, including Guitar Player, Guitar One, Vintage Guitar, and Guitar World.
Smith said that marketing is the most difficult, and expensive, part of the enterprise.
“The sales to date aren't going to make me rich,” he said. “I've been waiting for the moment where everything lines up to give The Hangman the push it needs, and that time is now.
“I'm going to use everything available to me such as the media, social media, crowd-funding, and tradeshows such as the Regina Guitar Show in May.
“Now that I've got the product refined, it's time to look for major distributors, and the two biggest are Long and McQuade in Canada, and the Guitar Center in the U.S. Between the two of them there are more than 200 stores in North America.”
The Regina Guitar Show is the first show of its kind in the province, he said. It will be followed by the Saskatoon Guitar Show the following day. Hundreds of enthusiasts are expected to be in attendance to view the various guitar-related booths which will include boutique guitar makers, vintage guitar sellers and collectors, new and used electric and acoustic guitars, amps, pedals, and accessories such as The Hangman.
“For me, the greatest thrill is seeing people using The Hangman for gigs, concerts, and for in-store displays,” he said. “I use mine all the time if I'm playing a gig, and I'll even use it for rehearsals, or just set it up in the house. It's solid, and sturdy, unlike those regular, flimsy guitar stands that can be knocked over easily (and contain) various parts to lose. And they don’t even fit in The Hangman.”
