<img src="http://www.24stgeorge.com/images/bobby_vega.jpg" align="right" alt="Bobby Vega" />Ribbecke Guitar Corporation (RGC) announced the completion of investor funding and the launch of their new Halfling Bass product line based on Tom Ribbecke's arch top guitar artistry and technologies. RGC was formed in early 2005 by Tom Ribbecke and partners, dedicated to bringing a production version of his technology to the marketplace at a more affordable price. Tom Ribbecke's private practice making handmade arch top guitars continues unchanged. The first RGC product, a production acoustic bass guitar, was shown in prototype form at NAMM in January and is now in production for dealer orders. The bass uses a new patent pending top plate technology designed to produce superior projection and frequency response, according to the company. <a href="http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM05/Content/Ribbecke/PR/Bobby-Vega-Halfling-Bass.html">Read more.</a>