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lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4753
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 1:21 pm:   Edit Post

I found this pic while cruising around the net with KPFA Berkeley's 16 hour Grateful Dead Marathon on in the background. It is purported to be the first ever guitar made by Alembic back in 1970 for Bob Weir. I don't think I've seen it around here before.

Bill, tgo

sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1626
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 2:02 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Bill how are you ? Not that long ago someone sent me this same pic along with another pic of another early ALEMBIC guitar that has trapezoidal pickups. Unfortunately the Guitar with trapezoidal pickups is being held in the pic by someone who might not want their picture posted on the net and therefore I can not post that at this time , perhaps I can crop it and post it later.
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 376
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 7:38 pm:   Edit Post

"Florentine" style instruments were made 3 on guitar, 2 on bass at 1972. (except # 100 Jonny Winter's Dragon gtr)
# 2 gtr was made for Bob Weir, # 10 gtr is now owned Bill, and # 11 gtr is no info.
# 4 bass was made for Jim Young, # 14 bass is now owned dannyj.

This guitar looks totally old fashioned just like first few products.
Clear pickups were very eary one.
The circuit may update because pu selector knob. (# 10 and # 14 bass have toggle SW)
The tree of life inlay was started 1972. Is this the first one !?

By the way, I found Bob Weir's early Alembic picture on Hardrock cafe's window.
I remember it was not florentine style.

Eiji

(Message edited by room037 on February 19, 2011)
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 887
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 8:53 pm:   Edit Post

Here's the picture 72-02 of guitar Eiji refers to at Hardrock; not a real clear shot, but it looks to be the same one (when I first saw it, I thought it was a single-cut, but looking closer now, I can just make out the scroll . Very groovy.
Eiji, I'm not familiar with Jim Young; can you enlighten me on him?

Peter
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 377
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 9:35 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Peter !
Yes, It is !
I also thought the guitar is single-cut, but now we know about it.

I don't know Jim Young, the name is wrote with Alembic product records.

Eiji
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1627
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 1:15 pm:   Edit Post

What are the " Peanut Guitar" serial numbers ?
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 379
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 7:58 am:   Edit Post

I'm also interested serial number mapping.

Jerry's another "Peanut guitar" was captured at 1971, maybe he used it in short period. (There are only few pictures.)
And no one use such style guitar, "Peanut guitar" is Jerry's original design.
I believe "Peanut" was ordered by Garcia, or made for exclusive to him.

Alembic "Peanut guitar" has 2 humbacking PU now, but there is no humcancel PU cavity on body top.
# 73-28 has humcancel PU, because it was made 72' or early 73'.
Only 18 instruments were made at 1972.
2 guitars (# 3 and # 13) were reported made for Garcia.
# 13 guitar has double cutaway body.
Because I think "Peanut gtr" is # 3.

This story is only my imaginary thing.

I don't know # 5, 6 and 7's info.

Eiji
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 808
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 12:34 pm:   Edit Post

Peanut guitar


http://www.alembic.com/club/messages/395/11103.html

(Message edited by CRobbins on February 21, 2011)
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 380
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post

And this is "Alembic Peanut".

I look the pictures carefully.
There is small wood tip under PU rings.
These looks symmetrical cavity.
# 10 and 13 PUs are asymmetrical, # 15 PUs are almost symmetrical.
I correct the serial# of Peanut are arround # 20 that I think.
(# 10 to # 17 are different, after # 28 (Santana Gtr) has humcancel PU.)

Eiji
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 381
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 9:15 am:   Edit Post

I found the article on "Rolling Stone 1973 Sep." in the club archives.
Factory 73'.jpg
Small standard body and double cutaway body hung leftside.

The Peanut gtr hung on the factory !
peanut gtr L.jpg
This Peanut gtr has slightly sloping shoulders than the link on last my post.

The article included this florentine style gtr.
Florentine gtr.jpg
This guitar has very early controls.
I think serial# is 72-11.

Eiji
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 1069
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

That small standard in the picture from the factory is 73-33.
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 382
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 3:16 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Michael,

That's right !
Always you know oldies that I like.
Double cutaway body that far side under small standard is John Mcvie's 73-27, isn't it ?

I think double cutaway on right side from small standard is this one. (I don't know the serial#.)


Eiji

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