Touch Guitar™ History

Washington State native DAVE BUNKER was called an “extremist in guitar invention” by prominent magazine Guitar World in the early 1960s. And it’s still true today. Bunker’s innovative Touch Guitar™ simply exploded the traditional boilerplate guitar model way back in 1961, and it has attracted a loyal following ever since.

There is an intriguing history behind this unique invention, which remains the only American stringed instrument to be patented since the five string banjo. That history centers on its craftsman/designer, Dave Bunker.

Ground-Breaking Ideas Years Ahead of Their Time

Dave’s unusual instrument was built with two separate necks: a wide, top neck for playing lead, and a traditionally sized bottom neck for playing bass. From the beginning Dave’s Touch Guitar was envisioned as a“tapping” guitar.

This means that both the strings on each neck are touched or tapped instead of being plucked or strummed. By flipping a switch the instrument can be turned on like a normal strumming guitar and both necks can be played in a normal style.

Dave first introduced his double necked Touch Guitar to a national audience on Red Foley’s “Jubilee USA”, which was an ABC “Ranch Party” TV program hosted at the time by Eddy Arnold. In 1989, he performed on the Ralph Emery Show in Nashville, Tennessee and later landed on the stages of many other great Nashville artists. These gigs resulted in Dave building some of his special hand crafted guitars for greats such as Waylon Jennings and Johnny Paycheck… among many others.

A Half Century of Innovation and Design In a Bunker Guitar Best: The Touch Guitar

Over nearly fifty years, the design of the Touch Guitars has been updated and improved as new technology has become available. Today’s design is dynamic and high tech, but retains the quality of early models.

Dave builds his guitars and basses for top artists, but he has also built thousands of other hand crafted instruments which are now sought by collectors and guitar purists around the world.

Award Winning Designs and Industry Recognition

In clear recognition of Dave’s superior craftsmanship, Ibanez Guitar company of Japan in 1993 contracted Dave to build high quality American made guitars under the Ibanez name. The ATK Bass built for Ibanez was voted the Best Bass Guitar of the Year in 1995 by Musicians Wholesaler/Retailer Magazine, beating out all other major guitar companies including Fender and Gibson to name just a few.

In June of 2000 the popular Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine did a Sunday Edition cover story focusing on the History of Dave and the Touch Guitar™. The newspaper spread was titled: “Why Dave Bunker is Not Singing the Blues”. The Seattle Times picked this story to run with the opening of the Paul Allen Experience Music guitar museum on June 24, 2000 where Dave’s guitars were on display. The full story can be read at: http://www.bunker-guitars.com/media_release.html

On September 11th, 2001 Dave was booked into New York to play for the opening of the American Crafts Museum exhibit, Objects for Use-Hand Made by Design, only to land in New York City at 8:05 on that fateful 911 morning. More on this story can be found at http://bunker-guitars.com/news.html.

Bunker Guitar Guitar Reformation Dave Bunker

In early 2002 Dave started a company called “Bunker Guitars and Tone Woods” in Lake Stevens, Washington and formed the very first “From Stump to Stage” Guitar company. The “From Stump to Stage” moto guarantees that Dave and his company not only build the guitars but also pride themselves in finding and logging the quality natural woods from which every guitar is built. Bunker Guitars and Tone Woods has a decades long history of building individually crafted guitars that carry the highest accolade of any guitar manufacturer: enthusiastic recommendations from their proud owners.

Dave has been a resident of the Seattle/Tacoma area for over 45 years. With decades of experience as a guitar builder, luthier and musician, Dave Bunker has evolved into a multi-faceted entertainer working along side such greats as, Barbara Mandrell, Louise Mandrell, Waylon Jennings, Judy Lynn, Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Merle Haggard and other musical icons. Dave’s own groups have also entertained on cruise ships, played for military audiences worldwide, and for many years appeared as one of Las Vegas’ top lounge acts.

Dave continues to demonstrate the Touch Guitar™ along with his other patented guitars and ancillary products at trade shows throughout the world. When he finds time, he still loves to pick up his Touch Guitar and perform for enthusiastic audiences.