| Author | Message | ||
| jorge_s
Junior Username: jorge_s Post Number: 33 Registered: 8-2002 |
I had not heard about these bases before. What do you guys think?http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3735173661&rd=1 | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 300 Registered: 1-2003 |
Initially I thought this looked highly dodgy - then I checked the Lieber site and the SC connection looks real. Susan, this is a Lieber design guitar. On his site (http://www.lieberguitars.com/opener.htm) there is a "Garcia Design" guitar which looks remarkably like a tribute (including inlay) - do you know what the story is? | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 495 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wow! How blantant is that? Well, if you're going to copy something, copy the best! Sam | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 61 Registered: 12-2003 |
David, In addition to Lieber Guitars, there are a few companies out there that will build Jerry Garcia replicas. Although they specialize in Lightning Bolts, Resurrection Guitars will make a Tiger replica on request. Reuter Guitars has something they call a Jerrycaster, which is very similar to Tiger's body in overall shape, but seems to fall short in every other respect. Matt Moriarty from Moriarty Guitars in NY builds what is considered to be the difinitive Tiger replica - exact in every respect, if ordered as such...from the tiger inlay on the coverplate to the intricate wood inlay work on the back of the guitar. As I understand it, Alembic's mission, if you will, when it came to the Tribute was just that...to pay tribute to the memory of Jerry Garcia and the music he created, not to create a carbon copy of his instruments. I originally considered having Matt build me a Tiger, and may still do it one day. Jonathan | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 302 Registered: 1-2003 |
So who designed and built the original Garcia guitar (on which the Tribute is modeled) with tiger inlay? I always assumed it was Alembic. | ||
| billy_v
Junior Username: billy_v Post Number: 45 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jonathan, don't you have a Resurrection Lightning Bolt? What can you tell us about it? I like what Jerry is said to have said about Bolt, "the guitar I've always been looking for," or "the guitar my hand has always been looking for," or something like that. Would love to read your impressions of yours. Thanks! | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2003 |
David, Doug Irwin built Tiger and Rosebud, the two guitars upon which the Tribute body style is "based" as well as Wolf, which served as the influence for the Further guitar. Those are the three most famous, though in interviews, he says he bulit 5 for Jerry. He worked for Alembic for a couple of years during the 70's. While I believe he strated Tiger while still employed at Alembic, it took him somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 years to finish, so he was no longer working there by the time it was finished. Rosebud was entirely post Alembic. Billy, My Lightning Bolt has been in production for going on 10 months now. I should have it by the end of July. It has some Alembic hardware on it, so I'll definitely be posting pictures once I have it in my hands. Jonathan | ||
| susan
Moderator Username: susan Post Number: 49 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jonathan , Thanks for your post but it's hard to know the history of some things when there are so many versions flying around. People just can't seem to resist rewriting history. I know that Alembic should write such a book but we're so busy with new designs, custom inlays and building instruments for all of you, who has the time? Before Ron and I kick off we will do it but for now, perhaps the following can shed some additional light. Doug Irwin worked for Alembic when the instrument now known as the "Wolf" guitar was built. He was an apprentice with no previous guitar buliding experience. The instrument was designed and built at Alembic, originally sporting the Alembic Headstock and logo that Doug later replaced with his own. It did not have the Wolf inlay at first that was added by Doug years later. There were other guitars made at Alembic for Jerry, of the first dozen instruments made, 5 were guitars for Jerry. He wanted a guitar that had the smallest body imaginable, I called them "peanut" guitars. Those guitars eventually evolved into the Guitar that later became known as Wolf. BTW we currently have a peanut guitar number 6 made for Jerry that we are refurbishing for sale. Variants of the Tiger and Rosebud designs were also begun at Alembic, loosely based on SG bodies, however we did not make the actual instruments and I had let Doug go for various reasons not available to this site. Doug bought the neck laminates from us as well as various other parts i.e. pick ups, electronics and hardware for Jerry's as well as other instruments. Those instruments have had a myriad of changes done to them since their original construction. In General: Don't you just love Urban Legends? In all the years that stories have been written about Jerry's instruments ( as well as many others) or the origins of Alembic, who founded the company, who designed what, the number of people who actually contacted Alembic to verify facts wouldn't fill one hand. Afterall, we are not that hard to find or talk to. Even in later years to recent publications, some of the people knowing that past facts they put into print are erroneous are either unwilling or not in any hurry to contradict themselves in new writings. I think it may have something to do with their egos. Who wants to admit errors in print? The problem stems from creating something as special as Alembic. People want to be associated with that feeling of being special, who can blame them for that? I can, when they bend the truth to the breaking point. One needs only to believe the truth of their eyes and ears to decern where the truth lies and the fiction begins. Of all the people who claim affiliation with Alembic( and some never even worked here) from those who claim to be an original founder or those who claim design credits, none bear any resemblence to what Alembic has done and continues to do both in the physical design of the instruments or in the electronics superiority. Because when all is said, written and done, the rhetoric pales and fades away to the evidence that none of these claims can be supported with anything they have produced since leaving the creative umbrella of Alembic. No one person ever has built an Alembic Instrument. It always has been and always will remain an Alembic Community effort. I think that is part of the magic. So the historical thread and future consistency is safe at Alembic with the founders and original designers, Ron and myself and of course the heir apparent Mica along with our dedicated staff of artistic craftmen and luthiers. I also want to give much credit to all of you, the musicians, who have continued to support Alembic through all the years. We are a customer driven company, you all inspire us to go "Further" than we would on our own. With Thanks to you all, -Susan | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 65 Registered: 12-2003 |
Beautifully put, Susan. Regards, Jonathan | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 303 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thanks, Susan. As the saying goes - "Success has many parents, but failure is an orphan." | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 66 Registered: 12-2003 |
Susan has the same wonderful quality as my mother of not making you feel the fool when all of your facts aren't quite right...it's all in the delivery. I never considered such stories the stuff of urban legend, but I guess they are. Clearly Alembic's wonderful inlaid logos are a testimony to their colorful past. I consider myself fortunate to be a small part of this collective effort to which Susan refers, if even for only a short time thus far. Jonathan | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 259 Registered: 11-2003 |
Susan, Thanks for clearing that up... It is as I hoped it was. Sadly, there will always be those who feel the need to rewrite history. One of the many things I love about Alembic is that you folks let your work do the talking for you. Thanks, Hollis | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2004 |
That peanut guitar is a very interesting piece! Susan, can you please post some pics when it is complete?!?!? Of the 10-15 minutes I spent in Susan's office the other week, most of the conversation touched on the disputed "truths".... As interesting as it all is, verifying all the hearsay is not my trip (last thing I wanna do is argue w/ a bunch of brainwashed deadheads, lol)~ besides the instruments will always speak for themselves!!!! So..... did Doug start that luthier school w/ all the money from the auction of Wolf & Tiger?!?!?!? | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 489 Registered: 7-2003 |
Susan: Is the guitar in this photo one of the peanut guitars?  Bill | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 489 Registered: 7-2002 |
That does look like a peanut guitar. Too bad the shot is so grainy. Valentino | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 493 Registered: 7-2003 |
Odd looking little shape, ain't it? Of course, the picture tells next to nothing about how the guitar actually looked. Will we have a chance to see pix of the Peanut Susan referred to? | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 191 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow, I've been a Dead Head for 27yrs. and have never seen (in pix or in person) Jerry play anything that looked like that. Far out, man! LOL! BTW, just for the connection to the Dead alone, I feel like Wayne and Garth meeting Alice Cooper in "Wayne's World" when it comes to Ron and Susan....(say while genuflecting) We're not worthy, we're not worthy! | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 494 Registered: 7-2003 |
Don't feel too strange, Kevin. I've been a Dead Head for even a few years longer than you. I'd never seen or heard of these Peanuts. That is until Sunday, when, within 1/2 hour I stumbled across an interesting site purporting to chronicle all the guitars JG played AND read Susan's note. That site (http://www.nii.net/~obie1/deadcd/garcia_guitars.htm) was where I ran across the picture I posted. Wierd,huh? | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 194 Registered: 9-2003 |
I'm gonna guess that because of the color of Jerry's beard and the relative lack of girth that this pic is ca. '70 -'73 or so. I would kill to be able to shoot the s**t with Susan for an afternoon and hear all her Dead Head recollections. Susan, if you're out there, the dinner and drinks are on me if you'll spill your guts, LOL! (Message edited by kmh364 on July 13, 2004) | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 195 Registered: 9-2003 |
Cool site, Bill. I hope Susan ck's it out for authenticity's sake. I'd be interested to hear her take on Doug Irwin's statements. She's very passionate about Alembic's history, as is rightly so. | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2004 |
How many peanuts are there?!?! The one in the photo definitely has a different neck than the one at the factory (it has some nice pinstripe inlays that run the length of the fingerboard around the A & B string positions). If the one above is a Les Paul Custom neck, then the construction is different too. Neat stuff! (btw guys, please take no offense to the brainwashed deadhead comment~ but I cant bare to read the gospel according to Scully, Harrison, McNally & Jackson).... | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 495 Registered: 7-2003 |
Yeah, the pictures are great. But the multiple accounts don't always read quite the same. Very much like the varying accounts of Messers Scully, Harrison, etc. At least whoever put the site together posted more than one viewpoint where he did. It's all pretty much a good example of what Susan was talking about. I respect the fact that Alembic doesn't spend much time rehashing what everyone did in the past. It must be frustrating when there are so many gossips about. On a pleasant note, I'm curious about the peanuts too. I'd like to know more about the thinking and experimentation that went into them. Bill | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 196 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ck out Jerry's "Harley" Strat as well. It's clearly been Alembicized. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 496 Registered: 7-2003 |
Yes. That Strat was the first guitar I heard Jerry play. What a blend of Fender and exotic. It was always my favorite. | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 198 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jerry was always pushing the envelope with everything he did and was never statisfied with the status quo. Guitars were no different. I think that Strat was used almost exclusively for the "Europe '72" tour and album (Susan would know best,I think). I love the sound of Strats, and I loved Jerry's sound on that tour. (Message edited by kmh364 on July 14, 2004) | ||
| billy_v
Junior Username: billy_v Post Number: 46 Registered: 9-2002 |
That body looks for all the world like an ancient Rickenbacker Electro, doesn't it? I remember seeing Robbie Robertson playing a similarly-shaped guitar on Saturday Night Live a long while back. | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 |
What first drew my attention to the one in the shop was the similarity in shape & proportion to the Turner's built for Lindsay Buckingham..... | ||
| susan
Moderator Username: susan Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey Mike, I haven't heard those names tossed about for awhile. Here's a short list of folks associated in one way or another that went to work for the Dead that started at Alembic: "Kid" Candelario Jackson Sparkie Herd John Cutler Steve Parrish Johnny Hagen Bob Matthews Ahh, the stories I could tell, oh well someday when I'm not making instruments I'll write that book. -Susan | ||
| susan
Moderator Username: susan Post Number: 51 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mike, Can't say that I agree with the statement that Lindsay's guitar and the "peanut" guitar are similar. Since the prototype for Lindsay's guitar was made at Alembic and still resides here, I can stand them side to side. Other than they are both made out of solid Mahogany, the peanut is a neck through and much smaller in proportion. -susan | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2004 |
Hi Susan, It was just the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw it. Being seated on a stand on the floor, my perspective was askew~ but originally I thought it could be a spin on the Beatle bass or an early Turner design. It's a neat shape & I imagine a doubleneck based on it would be comfy, though maybe a little neck heavy.... Im sure once #6 is refinished and out of the closet you'll end up w/ some orders for replicas..... Did you or Mica get a chance to run that TRS / effects loop for my order by Ron yet?!? -Mike | ||
| dreambass
New Username: dreambass Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2002 |
I had an opportunity to play one of these basses a couple of years ago when it was for sale....asking price was $2,700 in excellent condition. The workmanship was fine but it sounded horrible. I'm into graphite basses, currently with 12 full construction or graphite neck in my collection, and this was by far the worst sounding graphite bass I've ever played. Thin, honky....I couldn't fine a usable tone. I know someone will take me to task for picking on this bass like I am but I was thrilled to find it and almost paid the asking price before I played it. Thank goodness I played it first. | ||
| jagerphan84
Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 57 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, if the winning bidder's feedback is any indication, we will see that bass relisted in a few days, likely at a slightly lower price. | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 72 Registered: 12-2003 |
Found another picture of Jerry playing one of the "peanut guitars." Still not the greatest image...oh well. Jonathan  | ||
| mdrdvp
Intermediate Member Username: mdrdvp Post Number: 125 Registered: 7-2002 |
You were right Adam, here it is again: http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3739221271&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW A couple of weeks ago I found another Spellbinder for sale, don't remember the shop name but it was listed for 3800 USD. Manfred |
