Dave Mason: The Rock Legend You Knew… and the Genius You May Not Have
A Legacy That Defined an Era
The world knew Dave Mason as a rock legend.
He was the co-founder of Traffic, later honored through the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He wrote classics like Feelin’ Alright and Hole in My Shoe. He built a solo career that gave us We Just Disagree and decades of unforgettable performances. He was a guitarist’s guitarist, a songwriter’s songwriter, and one of those rare musicians whose fingerprints seemed to appear everywhere classic rock was being made.
He played with Jimi Hendrix, adding 12-string guitar to Hendrix’s immortal version of All Along the Watchtower. He worked with George Harrison on All Things Must Pass. He performed alongside Eric Clapton and was part of the early orbit of Derek and the Dominos. He also recorded with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, and other giants of the era.
That alone would be enough for most lifetimes.
But there was another side of Dave Mason the public rarely saw.
The Genius Beyond the Stage
Long after becoming a household name, Dave still wanted to invent. Still wanted to challenge convention. Still wanted to build something the world had never seen.
That is the Dave I knew.
When Dave joined me to create RKS Guitars, he did not come in as a celebrity endorsement. He came in as a true creator.
He rolled up his sleeves and went to work.
Together, we set out to reinvent the electric guitar — not cosmetically, but fundamentally.
We developed one of the first guitars built from fully sustainable, farm-raised materials. We explored cellulose-based plastics derived from wood pulp that delivered rich, musical tones competitive with traditional tonewoods sourced from endangered forests. We reimagined body forms, comfort, control placement, resonance, and modular construction.
Hundreds of Hours. Dozens of Prototypes. One Relentless Mind.
Dave dedicated hundreds of hours to the process.
He tested prototypes during rehearsals and soundchecks. He scrutinized weight balance, hand position, tonal response, and player comfort. He pushed us through revision after revision, prototype after prototype, because “good enough” was never enough.
He understood something only a true road warrior can understand:
How an instrument feels after two hours onstage.How a knob placement affects a split-second decision.How resonance changes emotion.How design can free creativity — or limit it.
Dave brought the instincts of a world-class musician and the curiosity of an inventor.
What Made Him Rare
Many legends protect their past.
Dave Mason kept building the future.
He had already written the songs people would sing forever. He had already stood shoulder to shoulder with Hendrix, Harrison, and Clapton. He had already secured his place in rock history.
And yet he still walked into workshops, challenged assumptions, raised capital, marketed ideas, and helped bring thousands of instruments into the world.
That takes more than talent.
That takes hunger. Vision. Courage.
A Tribute
People will rightly remember Dave Mason for the music.
For the voice. For the songs. For the guitar lines. For the legends he played beside.
But I hope they also remember this:
He was a brilliant creative force offstage too.
A builder. A disruptor. A designer. A businessman. A fearless imagination that never retired.
Dave Mason didn’t just help soundtrack an era.
He kept creating long after the applause.
And for those of us lucky enough to build with him, that may be the most extraordinary legacy of all.