Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: steavis on March 05, 2008, 06:19:59 PM

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on March 05, 2008, 06:19:59 PM

Hi,
 
I am a new member, and I would really appreciate any info folks could give me on how to get a brige and tailpiece similar if not identical to the Alligator strat played by Jerry Garcia circa 1972.  Looks like the bridge might be Alembic, and I'm also told the electronics probably include a stratoblaster.  
 
At any rate, this is a real obscure question, and any hel (even just reading this without rolling your eyes) is greatly appreciated.
 
I was to build a replica of this guitar for my own use  
 
Cheers,
 
 
Steve

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: David Houck on March 05, 2008, 08:03:34 PM

Hi Steve, welcome to the board!  It does look like (picture (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8201)) the bridge and tailpiece were probably made by Alembic.  You may want to contact Alembic directly to see if they could make them for you.

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on March 05, 2008, 09:05:19 PM

Hi Dave (if I may call you that),
 
What's the best way to get in contact with them?  Just go to alembic.com and look for contact info?

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: David Houck on March 05, 2008, 09:10:31 PM

Yes, the contact page is here (http://www.alembic.com/family/contact.html).

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on March 05, 2008, 10:44:19 PM

Thanks...just sent them the note, and als asked about the electronics.  Rumor has it that it was standard strat wiring, but with a stratoblaster that was always on.  I found a pcb on line for this device in stomp box form, but I'm not sure what you'd do about the potentiometer that controls the gain (the switch I assume you just hard-wire to on).  At any rate, I asked them about that as well, and any info I get from them I wil;l re-post in this thread for others to share if they wish.
 
Thanks a bunch!
 
 
Steve

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: lbpesq on March 06, 2008, 07:40:57 AM

Dave's pic is of Wolf, the Alembic that Irwin rebranded as his own, and upon which the Further is based.  Steve asks about Alligator, which is a  1957 Strat (http://dozin.com/jers/guitars/Strat.htm)  given to Jerry by Graham Nash.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: adriaan on March 06, 2008, 08:17:42 AM

Bill, Alligator is pictured on the 4th post on the thread that Dave posted.

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: lbpesq on March 06, 2008, 10:00:53 AM

Ooops!  Too early!
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: David Houck on March 06, 2008, 06:12:33 PM

Bill; all I know is that it has really thin strings.

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: elwoodblue on March 07, 2008, 12:58:49 AM

did you see this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/CHARVEL-SAN-DIMAS-LES-PAUL-BRASS-BRIDGE-RR-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ250222916819QQihZ015QQcategoryZ41434QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem target=_blank) ?
 
...is the wolf bridge from an sg (harmonica bridge)?
 
I thought about bidding...I think I'll sit this one out ...

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on March 08, 2008, 03:49:04 PM

I am watching that aution now.  Thanks for the hads up!

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: elwoodblue on March 09, 2008, 01:23:59 AM

if you don't get it I'll part with a very similar one I just won...cuz I know it'll be put to good use
cheers

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: dfung60 on March 09, 2008, 09:05:22 AM

That definitely looks like Alembic hardware, not particularly different than what they build now.  If this is what you're after, I think you can just have something made now (I'd be curious how frightful the price might be).  
 
These Alembic tune-o-matic style brass bridges are highly customizable.  You can specify the width and string spacing.  This is used to set the drill pattern on the side rails, so you get exactly what you want when the bridge is assembled.
 
David Fung

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: jerryme on March 11, 2008, 05:19:36 PM

If I specified the nut width would Alembic build me a bridge? That would be sweet. Is the nut width the only consideration when looking for a bridge?

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: adriaan on March 12, 2008, 02:03:03 AM

Fingerboard radius!

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: David Houck on March 12, 2008, 08:37:18 PM

Fingerboard taper.

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on March 12, 2008, 11:11:25 PM

Just an update...have called Alembic once and e-mailed them once over the last week with no response.  Part of me wonders if someone reads my message and thinks uh-oh...another Jerry freak and puts it at the bottom of the pile.  It isn't a real big ticket item, either, at least not compared to their instruments...so perhaps it's not worth their time.  Or perhaps I am paranoid and they are just busy or out of the office ;)
 
At any rate, I pinged them again via e-mail and telephone.  This time I e-mailed the sales department, so maybe that will help.  I will let everyone know the outcome of this, so if you don't hear from me it's becasue I don't know anything. Yet

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: David Houck on March 17, 2008, 09:51:02 PM

It's not you, they're just busy.  It's a small shop that gets a ton of email and phone calls.

Title: Looking for Old Bridge
Post by: steavis on April 07, 2008, 10:48:38 AM

Hey...an update here.  I won the auction that elwoodblue turned me on to (thanks for that).  In addition, it turns out that you can get the tailpiece, the pickguard brass piece and the stickers from jackofroses.com.  It was buried in the site a bit, but I found the tailpiece.  That was really the last thing I needed.  I now have a body, neck, tuners, pups would to '57 spces, stratoblaster and the aformentioned items are on order and should show up in a couple weeks.
 
I am a very happy man...except that now I actually have to DO the work