| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 239 Registered: 12-2003 |
Here's something you won't see on ebay very often http://cgi.ebay.com/Steve-Cripe-Custom-Stratocaster-7-Jerry-Garcia_W0QQitemZ7354331001QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Jonathan | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 184 Registered: 7-2004 |
Wow - a rare find! Looks like some of the Garcia and Kimock faithful are looking for the reserve. I love the ebony top. Tom | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 240 Registered: 12-2003 |
I threw my hat into the ring, but I don't know how far I'll go. | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 185 Registered: 7-2004 |
Good luck Jonathan. I've heard Steve Kimock's Cripe, which is similar, and it sounds amazing. Of course, Kimock could play a plank with wires nailed on and make it sound good. Tom | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 705 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan, so you're "veenie"! I've been watching this one since it was $2025. I'm very interested but with more than 5 days to go it's a little early for me to throw my hat in the ring. I suspect, however, that this will go for more than I'm willing to go. It looks stunning and the question on the listing about the weight was mine. This would be a good potential investment given the Jerry connection and the rarity. On the other hand, I just can't justify paying as much or even more than I'm paying for my custom Further. No matter how well it's made, it can't be any better than Alembic. Then there's the question of the electronics. Here the Cripe pales in comparison to the Further. The electronics are fairly mundane. Remember, Jerry had Gary Brawer completely redo the electronics on Bolt and Top Hat, the guitars Cripe made for Jerry. It is a fine looking guitar, though. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 241 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, "Veenie" was my nickname in residency. I agree that this thing will probably go for much more than I'm willing to spend. My next Alembic is still in the drawing stages...hopefully to get going very soon... and I don't want to chew up much needed funds. But, I'll see what happens. This could be my first and final bid. I love my custom Resurrection Lightning Bolt, though it would be nice to own a Cripe original. Jonathan | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 807 Registered: 7-2003 |
That is one pretty guitar. I love the way the satin finish shows off the carving around the inside of the horns in front. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 148 Registered: 3-2004 |
Looks like there is another one . . . I guess the real question is, aside from limited production, why doesn't everyone own one at a mere $25,000.00? http://cgi.ebay.com/CRIPE-Stephen-Steve-Electric-GUITAR-LIGHTNING-BOLT-Dead_W0QQitemZ7355936092QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 242 Registered: 12-2003 |
I was outbid today. It's getting a little rich for my blood. The only thing I have to say about the next one for sale is...and award for the world's ugliest headstock goes to... I would definitely want some documentation on this guitar. The body is like a morph between a Bolt and Tiger. For that kind of money, I'd expect one of Steve Cripe's more traditional looking Lightning Bolts. I wonder if this thing will sell? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 708 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: I stayed out of the bidding on the Cripe strat as you were the highest bidder for most of the auction. Over $6500 is a lot for a pretty strat handmade by an essentially novice luthier. Without the Jerry connection, this guitar doesn't get over $1500. As for the second Cripe, $25,000 starting bid??!!! HOLY CRIPES! There's a similar guitar on eBay right now starting at one tenth that price. Anybody ever heard of the builder? http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Jerry-Garcia-Tribute-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7355965297QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on October 07, 2005) | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 149 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yeah Bill, I think that is an Olympic. I think they are mostly known for basses or something though . . . | ||
| smichaels
Member Username: smichaels Post Number: 57 Registered: 6-2002 |
I never really paid attention before, but isn't it ironic that Cripe's logo is an exploding firecraker? Sean | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 243 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, I have to agree and disagree. If the construction of one of Steven Cripe's guitars is anything like my Resurrection (which I assume it is), I'd have to say anywhere in the neighborhood of $5000 is fair. The craftsmanship definitely is there. Plus you get a lot standard on the Bolt that would be extra on an Alembic - bookmatched to center top, continuous wood backplates, bound fretboard, inlayed battery compartment cover etc...He may have been a novice, but he obviously was talented. I can't imagine Jerry would have played one of his instruments otherwise. However, to say that the second guitar is worth anywhere in the universe of $25,000 is insane. I could see a diehard Jerry fan paying maybe half that for a Cripe Lightning Bolt, but this guitar isn't even that. It's some hybrid that, in my opinion, is pretty ugly. Jonathan | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 244 Registered: 12-2003 |
I got this interesting e-mail from ebay regarding the Steven Cripe guitar that I was bidding on. Bill, as the site's reigning legal counsel, can you explain what this means? The following listing: 7354331001 - Steve Cripe Custom Stratocaster #7 - Jerry Garcia was removed because the intellectual property rights owner notified eBay that the listing potentially infringes its copyright, trademark or other rights. Due to this claim, and the fact that the feedback system is no longer available, we strongly urge you not to complete this transaction. | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 245 Registered: 12-2003 |
Got another interesting e-mail regarding the guitar, from the guy I think I was bidding against: hey there..i am not bidding anymore because udemon wants to gift this instrument to steve kimock..if you wanted to verify that you could email him but it sure would be nice to see steve get this guitar.. aloha-j | ||
| zappahead
Intermediate Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 119 Registered: 10-2002 |
Cripe was a novice luthier, but thats not really fair to him. Steve Cripe was a woodworker by trade and from all accounts he was highly skilled. His handy work on his very first guitar blew Garcia away. This is the same guy who built the guitar that Garcia laid his Irwins' down for. Cripes guitars are collectors items and I would place the wood working on his guitars with anyones. Theres also a lot of Tributes floating around and you can still buy one anytime you want to. Cripes guitars are obviously no longer available. I can guarantee you that a "Bolt" copy would be worth a pretty penny. From what I remember he charged 5k+ for his Bolt's back when you could still get one from him directly. Considering hes passed away Id place the value far beyond the original price. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2435 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jonathan; pretty interesting couple of emails!! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 710 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: Well, the listing provides three possibilities of who might complain: 1. Cripe's estate 2. Fender, or 3. Garcia's estate. I can see number 1 if either this was a fraudulent auction to begin with or it wasn't really a Cripe guitar in the first place. Number 2 would surprise me. First one sees the term "stratocaster" used quite frequently as a generic name, like "kleenex". Fender isn't known for complaining about this. Given her past actions, it wouldn't surprise me if Deborah Koons might be the complainer. But if I had to pick, I'd pick the first and suspect it was a fraud in some manner. Now I fell better about not putting in that $7000 bid! As for Cripe, I didn't mean to belittle him. Obviously the guy knew how to work with wood, but everything I've read seems to indicate that he got Bolt right by luck. And don't forget, Garcia had the electronics completely re-done. At the price it went for, one is buying the Jerry connection and a potential investment. As a "player", I seriously doubt the guitar is up there with similarly priced instruments from experienced luthiers. As for the "Lightning Bolt" Cripe currently on eBay, I just looked at the picture of the headstock - OUCH!!!!. Not only is it really ugly, but doesn't the firecracker logo look like a sticker that came in a box of Cracker Jacks? And is it my imagination, or do the oval fretmarkers look like colorforms? (You know, the stick-on rubber/plastic forms we played with as kids?) This is one I will be passing on. Bill, tgo | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 187 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan - those are interesting emails. As far as the Kimock connection goes: the story is that his first Cripe was a gift from some fans. The guitar was acquired with no hardware, assembly completed and given to Kimock during the time he was playing in the Other Ones. He plays the Cripe among many other guitars on tour. Recently, (according to the Kimock discussion board) he recieved a 1954 walnut Fender Stringmaster from some fans. Coincidentally, the subject of the email you recieved, udemon, recently purchased a 1954 walnut Fender Stringmaster on ebay, lending credibility to the claim that udemon wanted to give the Cripe guitar to Kimock. Now, having written all this - I don't see why that should stop anyone from bidding on a Cripe guitar. I'm a big fan of Steve Kimock but I don't think he's entitled to a particular guitar any more than anyone else. As to the craftsmanship and spirit of Cripe's guitars, here is a link to information posted from folks who own or have played them. There does seem to be something very special about his guitars. http://online-discussion.dhenderson.com/SteveKimock/viewtopic.php?p=1332 Hope I haven't muddied the waters here - just wanted to pass on some info I ran across. Tom (Message edited by tom_z on October 07, 2005) | ||
| glocke
Member Username: glocke Post Number: 73 Registered: 9-2002 |
hmmmm...I just took a look at the $25,000.00 cripe guitar, and dont see any justification for that price at all...For one thing, the connection that Cripe made guitars for garcia is weak...Alembic made basses for Lesh and guitars for garcia also..Yet their prices are not inflated by such claims (although the instruments from Alembic in the $10k+ ramge are worthit from a qaulity standpoint)... I also have to agree that aestheically, it is not an attractive guitar... I wonder what the guy who thinks that is worth $25k is smoking???? I want some... | ||
| zappahead
Intermediate Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 120 Registered: 10-2002 |
Im not sure theres justification for the price on that Cripe Boltish guitar on auction now, but if its the real thing then it is probably worth close to that if you just simply take in mind that someone, somewhere would pay a lot for that guitar. Personally I havent read a lot of first hand reviews of Cripes guitars, but everytime I have read anything the reviews are stellar. As for Garcia ripping the electronics out, lets keep in mind that he also ripped the guts out of his Wolf guitar (many times over) and that he had his personal preference for DiMarzio pickups which most people can attest are not rare, not particularly "high end" and are not the usual pick up on any high end guitars I see for sale. Id say a real Cripe Bolt guitar could fetch in the 20k range. Keep in mind that most of his guitars are not being bought to be played, they are strictly collectors items at this point. | ||
| smichaels
Member Username: smichaels Post Number: 62 Registered: 6-2002 |
I had always heard mixed reviews on the playability of these guitars. The main criticism I heard was that they weren't consistent...I also heard the same thing about his interior cabnet work for custom yachts. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 712 Registered: 7-2004 |
IMHO Alembic has benefited greatly from the Dead connection. That's how I first became aware of them, as is the case with many in this club, I would suspect. (Probably the Dead/S.F. Era, Stanley Clarke, and John Entwistle have brought the most people to Alembic with whomever is 4th very far back). There are also many who hold the opinion that Alembic prices are quite expensive and are reflective of the Dead/Jerry/Phil connection. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford one, (who needs food?), and I believe it is worth the price. As opposed to the Cripe, I don't feel like I'm buying a pig in a poke. I am confident that Alembic will build a guitar that will be both top notch as a piece of art and as a player. Also, if there are any problems, I am confident that Alembic will be around and will be willing to put in the effort to make it right. The same certainly can't be said for the late Mr. Cripe. Bill, tgo | ||
| zappahead
Intermediate Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2002 |
Id say that any one man shop luthier is gonna have consistency issues. I also heard that Cripe went out of his way to not make a guitar the same exact way each time so Im sure it wasnt always perfect. A company like Alembic who has a group of people and a successfull system with decades of testing behind it is gonna have a more consistent product. Alembic makes some of the finest of the finest, theres no denying that. At this point though, Cripes stuff is being bought for speculative reasons by collectors who want either an investment or who want to own a guitar made by the guy who built guitars for Garcia. If I wanted a player guitar or a super high end work of art type instrument then I would most likely go with Alembic. If I were buying the instrument purely for the collectibility I would be more inclined to buy a Cripe. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 629 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill, As a guitarist you are forgiven, but #4 would be Mark King. For most European Alembic fans, the Grateful Dead would be #4 on that list, if not further down ... | ||
| grateful
Member Username: grateful Post Number: 97 Registered: 12-2004 |
Adriaan, Not for this European! But then I'm another guitarist. Mark, ago | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 631 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mark, You are a rare breed indeed. Whoever heard of a Brit calling himself a European? | ||
| grateful
Member Username: grateful Post Number: 98 Registered: 12-2004 |
Adriaan, I prefer European to Brit actually, but I know I'm a rarity. Mark, ago |
