| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2003 |
I guess a little Alembic is better than none at all. The bridge on this Resurrection guitar might look vaguely familiar. Not aware of Alembic's devotion to their clients, I went with a smaller company for my first custom guitar. I did, however, want an Alembic bridge and bird tailpiece. (The bird was abandoned towards the end of construction). The attention I received from Val and Mica for those two, simple, pieces convinced me to go with the folks in Santa Rosa for my next project...which should be done within the next month or so. I just thought I'd share some pictures of the guitar that, inadvertently, led to what will surely be a lifelong relationship with Alembic. Jonathan | ||
| son_of_magni
Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 80 Registered: 1-2004 |
sweet... | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 515 Registered: 7-2003 |
Great looking guitar, Jonathan. Funny how things work out. Glad you found your way to Alembic: The Valhalla of rock and roll dreams!! Bill | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 76 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks, Bill. Tim at Resurrection did an unbelievable job...every detail the way I had imagined. It was well worth the wait which, by the way, is quite a bit longer than with Alembic b/c it's only Tim and his dad at Resurrection doing all the work. Jonathan | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 266 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jonathan, Nice guitar. Resurection changed just enough to keep the Alembic and Doug Irwin Lawyers away, LOL! I didn't know you were a Deadhead. There's quite a DeadHead contingent here on the Alembic club. No surprise really, based on Alembic's origin(s). Good on ya, mate! | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 77 Registered: 12-2003 |
Kevin, I enjoy a lot of the Dead's music, but what really brought me in this direction were Jerry's custom guitars. I've loved them all since I first saw Tiger all those years ago. As far as I'm concerned their beauty and uniqueness of design are unparalleled. There's something about rich toned wood and brass hardware that can't be beat. The body shape here is pure Cripe Lightning Bolt. Most of the rest I "borrowed" from Tiger, except for the oval inlays a la Alembic and the bridge. Then, of course, there's the pickup ring which was on Rosie and Beyond Further, two of the old Featured Customs. I thought the somewhat lyre shape of that ring echoed the overall body contour of those guitars better than anything I'd ever seen. I would have loved to have done those wonderful Alembic Scrolls as well, but my family needs to eat! LOL. Maybe next time. Jonathan | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2004 |
Congrats! A little bit of everything.... I hope you enjoy it!!!! | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2004 |
Congrats! A little bit of everything.... I hope you enjoy it!!!! | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 267 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jonathan: You have quite the collection going there. Are there any more gems you have lurking in the shadows, or is that the extent of your magic bag 'o tricks? LOL! (J/K). Man, I just have a couple of 20-something yr. old Fenders and Guilds, a couple of Jackson/Charvels, and a Les Paul. I need to "Jonathanize" my collection with some off-the-beaten-path guitars. Oh well, my new Orion 4 Custom will have to be the start (I hope). Jerry was quite an inspiration for a lot of us, and on many levels. He was constantly pushing the envelope as he was never satisfied with the status quo. He was always experimenting with different guitars, instruments, sounds, styles, etc. That's one of the many things that made his music, and that of the Dead's, so ecclectic and interesting. As a side note, I'm going to see the Dead next week in Joisey. It's not Jerry, but it's still the same feel and vibe, so it's ultimately cool. This time it's Warren Haynes assuming Jerry's duties so it should be interesting. Cheers | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 519 Registered: 7-2003 |
I saw the Dead last weekend at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. Great show. Warren Haynes adds a lot of guitar excitement that was missing before, both with his slide work and Les Paul blues riffs. It added back some of the freshness and electricity Jerry brought the band. His vocals were also a good fit. He and Weir traded vocal riffs and complimented each other quite well. Oh yeah, the rest of the band showed up too (LOL). Actually, all played very well. A real Deadhead's show, though. Mostly classics and old stuff (Morning Dew, Half Step, Doin' that Rag, Lovelight, Music Never Stopped, Cryptical Envelopment/Other One) and a few wierd but cool surprises (Tomorrow Never Knows from Sgt Pepper). It surprises me to say this, because Jerry is irreplaceable and I miss him badly, but...It was one of my top 10 best Dead shows ever! Have fun. Hope you too are pleasantly surpised with what you find. Bill | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 78 Registered: 12-2003 |
I had several opportunities to see the Dead in College (85-89), but always put it off. I figured there'd always be a next time. I wasn't aware of his health problems back then. Had I been, I certainly would have gone. Soon after, medical school hit and there wasn't much time. I remember pulling out of the parking garage during residency and hearing that Jerry had passed. I got teary eyed for a minute, both for the loss to millions of fans, but probably more at the realization that I'd never get to experience one of the true wonders of my generation...a live Dead show. To this day, one of my most sincere regrets. Jonathan | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 268 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jonathan: If you get the chance, go see the Dead this summer. It's not Jerry, but it's still cool. You'll still get that "there's nothing like a (Grateful) Dead concert" vibe. It's all good. Bill: I was apprehensive seing the Dead last year after not having seen them since Jerry's post-diabetic coma days ca. '89. It was different, but still the same. It was cool seing them again and I dug that different dead members were taking a crack at the vocals on old Jerry tunes. At my show, the addition of Steve Winwood and Joan Osbourne was unexpected but cool nonetheless. BTW, Yeah, I cried when I heard Jerry died in '95. It definitely felt like the world had been changed forever, and not in a good way. | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 286 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jonathan, Beautiful guitar. Does it sound as sweet as it looks? I saw the Dead with the Allman Brothers at the Gorge over the 4th of July weekend. The show started on the 3rd, but ended in the wee hours of the 4th. It was a great show. They were very polished. It was the first time I've seen any of these guys since Jerry's passing, and I a little tentative about seeing them without him. Any trepidation that I may have had vanished once they started playing. They were fantastic. It was such a wonderful show. It was a very positive experience..... It was very high energy! I was glad to hear new tunes written by Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter. As good a Dead show as I could have expected, and when it comes to the Dead, my expectation level is through the roof! It was just what I needed. If you don't get a chance to see them, or even if you do, all the shows from this tour are being recorded and are for sale on Deadnet.com. I got my copy of the Gorge show last week, it's an excellent live recording. I highly recommend it. Enjoy | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1850 Registered: 6-2000 |
Jonathan: The guitar is beautiful - glad you received it and are enjoying it. I can see how the bird tailpiece would not fit in with the box cover. Kevin: Alembic lawyers? What planet are you on? Anyway, the Cripe guitar is their original design, and I don't think anybody's lawyers would contact them for doing their thing. | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mica, thanks a lot. Yeah, in the end, the bird just wasn't the right fit. Tim kept it and said he'll put it on some other guitar they build. He really liked it. So someday, they'll be another Resurrection guitar with a little Alembic in its blood. The pickup ring you guys did for Rosie and Beyond Further is my all time favorite shape for those body styles. I never quite understood why Tiger, Rosebud, Lightning Bolt, Top Hat, etc...all have those rectangular ones. Such incredible detail on each one and then these drab, lifeless pieces of metal. They just don't complement the wonderful, flowing body contours at all. It's like Beethoven ending a symphony with da da da, da da da! As always, Jonathan | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 269 Registered: 9-2003 |
It was just a joke....tough crowd! | ||
| pace
Junior Username: pace Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2004 |
FWIW~ I saw a Phil & Friends show a couple of years back where Warren played a standard point Series guitar for most of the night.... Very odd considering that he is mainly a Gibson buff..... It can also be seen in a studio snip from the "Rising Low" documentary..... Any info on this guitar? My first impression is that it once belonged to the late great Allen Woody..... Anyone know?!?!?!?!? | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 270 Registered: 9-2003 |
Having seen Warren with both the Bros and Mule, I'm anxious to hear what he can add to the Dead. Both his playing and singing are awesome, so it should be interesting to say the least. I have heard some of his solo live "Bonaroo" performances, including Dead covers (Stella Blue comes to mind as a particular stand-out). I'm psyched! | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 522 Registered: 7-2003 |
You won't be disappointed with Warren's contribution to the Dead. He fits snugly in and fills an energy void. Jimmy and Warren, together add the measures of excitement and texture it takes to move (Grateful) Dead music to its best level. Neither sounds much like Garcia (why would they try to do that anyway?), but they fit well together and add much. I'd love to hear your reactions. Bill | ||
| dadabass2001
Intermediate Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 199 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've loved the interplay of styles between Jimmy and Warren on the Phil & Friends studio CD (There and Back Again) as well as several live recordings. Mike | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 272 Registered: 9-2003 |
I would have liked to hear Warren do his solo warm-up thing as well, but Robert Hunter(!) is opening up for the Dead. I haven't seen him since the JGB tour hit the Passaic Theatre in '80. Hearing the main lyricist for the Dead perform his own renditions of songs he co-wrote is special in it's own right. RH must be up there in age as well: he wasn't young when I saw him in '80. | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 289 Registered: 11-2003 |
He was funny at the Gorge; He come out on stage and said he felt like a teenager who's parents weren't home and he "gets to drive this thing". It was great to see him for the same reasons. His lyrics have always deeply impacted me. He has been a huge influence on my writing style as much as Jerry's and Bobby's guitar work has been inspirational to my music. Out of tune guitar and all, it was great to hear him. | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 273 Registered: 9-2003 |
RH was never a great musician. I think he freely admits that. But as a songwriter in general, and a lyricist in particular, he is outstanding. There is a reason why the Dead has always played well to an intellectual crowd, and RH's mystical conjuring of words is a large part of that. | ||
| effclef
Advanced Member Username: effclef Post Number: 237 Registered: 1-2004 |
Pace, where is that guitar on Rising Low? Can you give the elapsed time when it comes on? I watched that video only once and didn't spot it! EffClef |
