Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: gnatman on October 26, 2020, 07:37:29 AM

Title: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 26, 2020, 07:37:29 AM: Hi all, I just registered here to see if you could help me find any information about the guitar Stephen Stills is playing here(1), here(2), and here(3). I thought initially it looked like a cross between a Travis Bean (body) and an Alembic (neck), but couldn't find anything about it online. I felt like the distinctive headstock was the best clue, and I eventually found reference to Alembic's occasional "knobby" pegheads.

I searched the forum and saw reference to Stills owning a Series-1 in the 70s, but I think that's a different guitar altogether (or a bass).

I'd love to hear any input you have! Thanks in advance.

(1): https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/stephen-stills-plays-guitar-in-concert-with-his-band-crosby-stills-picture-id635759907
(2): http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/stephen-stills-performs-at-auditorium-theater-chicago-illinois-march-picture-id158517250
(3): https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/musicfestnews/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20022533/stills-air.jpg
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: lbpesq on October 26, 2020, 08:33:05 AM: I don’t believe that is an Alembic. While it is a “knobby” headstock, it is different from the usual Alembic knobby. The logo isn’t Alembic. The pickups aren’t Alembic, and Alembic rarely did bound fingerboards. Looks like someones else’s custom to me.

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 26, 2020, 09:28:45 AM: Thanks Bill... the search continues!
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: David Houck on October 26, 2020, 11:40:40 AM: I'm wondering if it might be a Gary Cooper build.
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 26, 2020, 12:52:17 PM: I concur with Bill, but I will add that I would be at least mildly surprised if the builder didn't spend at least some time employed as an Elf.
I do like it.

Peter (who will resist the temptation to tell Dave it looks more like Randolph Scott to me.........)
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: elwoodblue on October 26, 2020, 01:24:20 PM: Dolan? maybe

Mark Johnson?

What a beauty !!
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: elwoodblue on October 26, 2020, 01:51:21 PM: Quote from: elwoodblue on October 26, 2020, 01:24:20 PM
Dolan? maybe
Mark Johnson?
What a beauty !!
Cooper? Thompson? Irwin?

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=528.msg3370#msg3370

[changed link to current Club]
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 26, 2020, 04:08:08 PM: Some good clues posted in here, thank y'all!
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 26, 2020, 04:23:52 PM: A friend of mine emailed Rick Turner about the guitar:

"No, I did not build that one, but it sure looks like one an ex-employee at Alembic would have made.

I'm going to guess that it was built either by Frank Fuller or Alan Thompson.

Perhaps Larry Robinson would know. I'll Cc him on this. Larry, did the photos come through?

Best,

Rick Turner"

I'll keep y'all posted!
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 27, 2020, 10:28:32 AM: "Larry Robinson thinks that guitar was made by Alan Thompson, a luthier who worked for Alembic and then Semie Mosely of Mosrite...and is famous in retrospect for having ripped off both companies for quite a few valuable parts...

Nobody knows if Thompson is active or even alive these days.

Best Regards,

Rick Turner"

Juicy!!!
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: gnatman on October 27, 2020, 10:44:46 AM: Anyone have any clues on Thompson?
Title: Re: Stephen Stills Alembic? Pics Inside
Post by: sonofa_lembic on November 08, 2020, 10:10:22 AM: I vote for Bruce Becvar-Ex Alembic employee.