At the heart of what we offer here at Bluewater is a desire to create new things, whether that’s solving a challenge that was presented to us or breaking out of box to reach new audiences.
So, when we were brainstorming new, creative ways that we could connect and open the door with more clients, instead of opting for a traditional marketing mailer or email, we decided to create something that was a little more… well, rock ‘n roll.
Our team decided that custom branded guitars would be hard to miss if they showed up at a client’s door. But rather than modifying a product off the shelf, our team decided to build a one-of-a-kind playable guitar that was shaped like the Bluewater logo icon and named after our furry office mascot, Kaiya.
Not only would these ‘Kaiyacaster’ guitars provide something extremely unique and eye catching to our marketing efforts, but it also offered our team the opportunity to document the journey, from pencil sketch to a playable guitar, to be sent out with each guitar and tell the incredibly interesting story on how these guitars came to be.
The process started with a hand-sketch of the guitar which was then digitized to vector. We went through 4 different physical iterations before we were satisfied with the build quality. In each revision, we made updates to the details that drastically improved the overall fit and finish, and then converted the model to 3D, with more accurate measurements being applied from the individual components being used. The 3D model was then programmed into our CNC machine, which cut the body out of MDF or a veneer core plywood.
Once sizing was locked in and all components passed test fit, the guitar bodies were milled in bulk. The MDF bodies were coated with candy-colored catalyzed paint in 5 different color combinations, and veneer core bodies with catalyzed clear coat. Next up, the electronics and technical components were installed, which included custom strap hooks, machined tuning pegs, Ernie Ball Super Slinkys, and more to make up a fully functional 22 fret limited edition Kaiyacaster guitar.
We view the Kaiyacaster as a functional piece of art. Whether you decide to play it, or just hang on the wall, we hope it at least leaves our audience inspired and excited by what we create here at Bluewater. Want to learn more about our story and similar services we offer our clients? Reach out! We can’t wait to see what concepts we can bring to life together!
