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lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1498
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 11:14 am:   Edit Post

I found this guitar at the World Guitar Show yesterday. The seller said he was told when he obtained it a couple of months ago that it was likely a Doug Irwin guitar. The seller was reluctant to claim that to me, telling me that he thought it might be an Irwin neck as the initials "D.I." are written in the neck joint. I took it apart last night and the D.I. initials do in fact appear on the butt of the neck and on an insert in the neck pocket. The neck appears to be purpleheart and has a very unusual design inlaid on the back. The pickups are EMGs with a wood veener on top. I don't think the seller was trying to con me as he was almost apologetic about even suggesting it was an Irwin, and gave me two weeks to return it for a full refund. He also pointed out to me that the workmanship on the body doesn't measure up to that on the neck. He also said he had heard that some of Irwin's workmanship is spotty. Any ideas or info about this guitar would be greatly appreciated.

Bill, tgo








fc_spoiler
Advanced Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 206
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

That is a beauty! Sorry I have no knowledge of Doug Irwin guitars at all... but can tell you it's beautiful!
If it plays and sounds good and you've payed a fair price I don't see a reason to return it, even if it turns out to be a 'fake'

Congrats!
F.C.
grateful
Intermediate Member
Username: grateful

Post Number: 157
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 3:16 am:   Edit Post

Sure is another pretty guitar Bill: how many guitars do you have or is that classified?

Regarding whether or not it's a Doug Irwin....
I assume the truss rod is adjustable at the head as it appears to have a truss rod cover there: that's not Irwin's style. Also the scratch plate is not typical and there's no eagle logo. I would guess it isn't (emphasis on guess!).

Mark
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1499
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 8:17 am:   Edit Post

Mark:

As for number of guitars, I'm not really sure. Do I count my lone bass? A pedal steel? My lap steels? Counting these I think it's somewhere around 45 or so.

What do you mean by "scratch plate"?

As for Irwin's "style", I'm somewhat at a loss to determine if he even has/had a style. I've looked all over the internet and, other than Jerry's guitars and a tele modified by Irwin for Arthur Lee, I've never found another "Irwin" guitar. Mica had a few photos on the site when this discussion came up a few months ago, but they seem to have disappeared. I agree this certainly isn't in the style of Garcia's guitars. The truss rod is, indeed, adjustable from the head. The way this guitar is constructed, however, if it wasn't accessible from the head, it would require removing the neck to make an adjustment. Not very practical. The design and lines on this guitar are almost Dali-esque. Everything is a just a little out of kilter, but it seems as if this is intended. Also, I've read that Irwin had some mental problems as a result of his accident. This could be reflected in the design/execution of this instrument.

I had strong doubts when I first saw this guitar, but after going through it and playing it (it does play very nicely and has tremendous volume and sustain when played acoustically), I'm beginning to think it just might be an Irwin, or at least an Irwin neck on a non-Irwin body that has been modified by Irwin. The workmanship in adding the purpleheart insert to the neck pocket is quite good. And whoever did the neck also did the insert as they are the same wood and both bare the "D.I." initials. The seller certainly wasn't pushing the Irwin connection and, in fact, seemed to shy away from it. (He also wasn't quite clear on who Doug Irwin is ... just knew he had something to do with the Grateful Dead). If someone were trying to do a fake Irwin, I'd think it would have a logo and they would charge a lot more $.

Also, I don't even know if the Eagle is Irwin's regular logo or just his logo at the time of the Garcia instruments. After all, Wolf originally had both an Alembic logo and some indechiperable thing that Irwin claimed to be his peacock logo.

The last I heard regarding Irwin's work is that he was living in a trailer making wooden neck-ties, so who knows what he might be turning out these days? I'd love to contact Irwin and ask him. Does anyone know where he is?

Bill, tgo
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 598
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

This is a cool looking axe Bill.
45?!!! I need to let my wife read this post so she'll stop complaining about my little collection of basses/guitars.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1500
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 8:43 am:   Edit Post

Olie:

Believe me, my wife isn't too happy about it, either. I've been moving some out of the house and down to the studio. I'm giving her the spare bedroom closet back for her birthday in 2 weeks! LOL

Bill, tgo
hb3
Intermediate Member
Username: hb3

Post Number: 131
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post

Scratch plate=pick guard
grateful
Intermediate Member
Username: grateful

Post Number: 158
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 2:38 am:   Edit Post

Bill: I too have only seen three Doug Irwin instruments: Tiger, Rosebud and the Phil Lesh Tiger-like bass of 1980-81 (I consider the Wolf to be an Alembic). These three, and the Wolf after the 76/77 repair all feature the Eagle logo. Also, the picture Mica posted of a fourth Doug Irwin did have an Eagle logo too.

The lams on the neck are very Alembic like, however: and Doug certainly learned his craft at the Mother ship.

I repeat, I am only guessing here, and I'm certainly not saying "it's not an Irwin".

Mark
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4167
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 5:28 pm:   Edit Post

"A closet! On my birthday! Just what I always wanted!"

Does it come with coat hangers?
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1504
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 6:15 pm:   Edit Post

Dave:

Huh?

Bill, tgo
tom_z
Senior Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 433
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 6:49 pm:   Edit Post

Wow - I'm not even going to mention bikes or beer -
that thread derailment just can't be topped.


TZ
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4172
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 8:34 pm:   Edit Post

"I'm giving her the spare bedroom closet back for her birthday in 2 weeks!"

I was guessing at her reaction to receiving such an unusual gift. <g>
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1201
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 9:03 pm:   Edit Post

hey bill
you tell me you dont like the batwing tribute bouts and you bought a guitar with pick your nose bouts?
:-p
byoung
Advanced Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 322
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 11:45 pm:   Edit Post

No accounting for taste, I guess.

:-)
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1204
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post

its just my way of showin some love and of course being the facetious ex new yorker,.

btw
facetious is the only word in the dictionary where the vowels are in order

class dismissed......
:-)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4181
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 12:55 pm:   Edit Post

I suppose it depends on the dictionary in use. <g>

caesious
Of the color of lavender; pale blue with a slight mixture of gray.

arsenious
Of or containing arsenic, especially with valence 3.

abstemious
1. Eating and drinking in moderation.
2.
a. Sparingly used or consumed: abstemious meals.
b. Restricted to bare necessities: an abstemious way of life.

abstentious
self-restraining; not indulging an appetite especially for food or drink; "not totally abstinent but abstemious"
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1514
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 1:01 pm:   Edit Post

Dave:

You came up with all those in under 15 minutes? WOW! I'm impressed!

Bill, tgo
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4183
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

Well it wasn't like I was sitting here thinking them up off the top of my head. <g> The computer did all the work. I've never used or even heard any of those words before.
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1205
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 5:41 pm:   Edit Post

everyone's a critic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
ok
so shoot the teacher who told me
iilii
zappahead
Intermediate Member
Username: zappahead

Post Number: 133
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

Ive seen 5 or 6 Irwins (in pics) and all of them did have the eagle on the headstock. The neck does look like something he would do though and the rest of the guitar is pretty dang interesting. Cant say whether or not its and Irwin, but its a really interesting piece either way. I like it.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1533
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

I brought the guitar in to my luthier, Gary Brawer, yesterday. As many of you know, Gary worked on Jerry Garcia's guitars, including the Irwins. He checked it out and thought it was very possibly an Irwin as the construction and decoration was consistent with Irwin's work. He also agreed that, even if it isn't an Irwin, it is a very cool guitar that is easily worth the $ I paid. So anyone out there have Irwin's phone number?

Bill, tgo
phylo
Junior
Username: phylo

Post Number: 27
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

Bill,

The image of your guitar is stuck in my head, therefore it must be an Irwin.

Congratulations
elwoodblue
Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 64
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 8:02 pm:   Edit Post

phylo,
...like a good contact high from an old guitar, holding vibrations from past playing,
or maybe the neck is soaked in Dmso ,
and other illicit LetterS . . .

Some mojo.

congrats bill
hcs
New
Username: hcs

Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2006
Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 7:59 pm:   Edit Post

Bill,
Acme guitars in St Louis had an Irwin for several years in the early 90's. I played it several times. It had similar appointments as the guitar in your photo. Also, it did not have an eagle inlay. As I remember, the price was about $3000.
My guess is that the guitar in your photo is a Irwin
That is an amazing looking guitar.

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