1976 [not Alembic] Matsumoku "Skylark" QUESTIONS and story about it.

[WildeGeist]

In 1976 at the JC Penny Outlet store in the San Fernando Valley California Fallbrook Mall Jc Penny's sold stuff at a great discount. I was passing by the electronics and the worker was hanging up four gorgeous guitars. I froze dead in my tracks. My girlfriend tugging at me. I asked who makes those, how much are they going for? Dude says they are no names, junk guitars somebody tried to sell Alembic Guitars through JC Penny. $200 Bucks if you want one. I was like hell yeah! Mine had gold inlaid serial number ( I no longer have the number ) and an alembic inlaid emblem. It had two DiMarzio pickups. A 9 Volt battery went into the back to give the electronics some super powers. I never seen any other Alembic's called Skylark like mine. In 1981 I was blown up in a rifle explosion. My left hand was blown to pieces. I got some jewelers files and carefully made her a lefty. One day when I had money I took her to a shop and the shop folks went gaga over my guitar. A guy offered me $10,000 for her. I said no way. I just wanted them to " professionally " tune her up. They did a nice job of it. Turned me on to better strings and so on. I used a Fender VibroChamp 5W Tube Amp. And played with an Oscilloscope and things my pops had laying around to create FX. My first experience being shot at was for experimenting with backfeeding my guitar through my tape deck ( fried the Heads ) into my Amplifier and out of my big Studio Monitors. Someone in the neighborhood shot my windows out. I thought the DB's did it at first. It was LOUD! Finally in 1990 I let a homeless guy into my place to use the shower and crash for the night. In the morning my baby was gone. Many times I have looked at the Alembic website for a guitar like her, and nothing Skylark but some other configurations come close, and cost way more than I can afford. Before I die I want to shred on another Alembic. She was a neck-through laminated nicely and blue see-thru. I wish I knew the story how these beauties got into JC Penny's. They were not toys or junk guitars. Even in 1976 I would put them in the $2k range guitars. I might just say that because I have yet to run across anything that nice in any shop yet. Alembic might deny they were Alembic? I dunno? Pulling the plates off and looking at the electronics, my pops was impressed even. He was an Electrical Engineer for AMPEX Corporation making custom machines for AMPEX Corp. So I highly doubt these were some counterfeits. I do remember 4 only on the rack at Penny's. They were all identical? Different Serial Numbers. Short, maybe 5 or 6 numbers kinda large 3/8 inch maybe. Real Gold too. Anyone with a story to explain these. I miss mine terribly. I play guitar a lot still, just can not afford another Alembic just yet. Working on it though, among other things 

[lbpesq]

If the DiMarzios were original equipment, it wasn’t an Alembic.  Also, I’ve never heard of Alembic selling to J.C. Penny and doubt it ever happened.  If I recall correctly, there was brand called “Skylark” that built Alembic-like neck-throughs in Japan, probably at either the Matsumoku or Yamaki factory, in the mid-late 70’s.   They were very nice guitars.  A google search should bring up some pics of Skylark neck-throughs.

Bill, tgo

[adriaan]

That's quite a story! You must be confusing some various guitar histories - the Skylark guitars sold by JC Penny were definitely not Alembics but Matsumoku guitars  - see http://www.matsumoku.org/models/skylark/skylark_info.html

[David Houck]

Welcome Georg; thanks for sharing your story.  I hope you are able to get an Alembic soon.  When you do, you'll love it.

[WildeGeist]

That's quite a story! You must be confusing some various guitar histories - the Skylark guitars sold by JC Penny were definitely not Alembics but Matsumoku guitars  - see http://www.matsumoku.org/models/skylark/skylark_info.html

You are absolutely correct. Man! My memories of it are glorified. I sure was fond of it. But after looking at this site Adriaan ( below ) linked, it was exactly as in the pictures Matsumoku Skylark Model 857-2588 .  I sure hope I did not insult any real Alembic folks. I am kind of embarrassed. In my defense I do have multiple TBI's of the serious kind. Thank you for getting my story aligned.

[WildeGeist]

Welcome Georg; thanks for sharing your story.  I hope you are able to get an Alembic soon.  When you do, you'll love it.

Thank you. I seen the one in the link Matsumoko Skylark Model 857-2588 and that was it. Far cry from an Alembic. It was my first, and I was truly fond of it. Making it into a lefty, I put my heart into it. It made some noise alright.

[WildeGeist]

That's quite a story! You must be confusing some various guitar histories - the Skylark guitars sold by JC Penny were definitely not Alembics but Matsumoku guitars  - see http://www.matsumoku.org/models/skylark/skylark_info.html

Thank you very much! You nailed it! Matsumoko Skylark Model 857-2588 . My heart dropped when I followed your link and I seen it. I would swear it had an Alembic emblem and Gold. But now I think its my memories are fried from drooling on the Alembic Website building my dream guitar for 100's or 1,000's of hours. Two Fiance's left me because I spend more time drooling over my dream Alembic online than them. One of these days before I die I will get me one.

On a more serious note its important for my own progress in serious brain injuries to get my historical facts straight. I am doing a lot of PTSD stuff as well as recovering from brain injuries. They ( VA & Vet Centers ) do a lot of " Talk Therapy " and I spend a lot of time yapping but under my breath I get to wondering was it really like that, or was it like this, or? So getting anything out of it aint happening. Guitar for me is Therapy. In Hawaii at my West Oahu Vet Center we got one of my Counselors excited about Guitars For Vets. https://guitars4vets.org/ Travis ( he should still be there ) and I had to bust tail getting even Senator Mike Gabbard and other House People to get the red tape peeled back to launch this Program. I hope its cool to mention Pignose here. I think his name is Howard. I got hold of Howard at Pignose Amps and he sent donated Amps to our Vet Center. And Mike noticed we were serious.Then Senator Mike Gabbard who plays too forked over some money ( he gets money from somewhere, nobody knows where? ); a really cool dude choke full of real Aloha. I love that guy. And in a nutshell I asked Mike to tell the top tier VA to somehow cut back some of the red tape for us Veterans to get useful programs like G4V going. The VA did, but it cost us Service Dogs. The VA no longer supports Service Dogs; but we can get G4V going at the Vet Centers. Politics. Ugg. And all the guitars now are Acoustical for issue. I pushed for Electric because most of us with PTSD are not doing well financially and learning guitar with headphones on on an electric causes none or little wall pounding or arguments when couch surfing or renting a closet. But its all good. Music does wonders.

Since I am story telling I will add another. I used to migrate annually to San Diego California to the Veterans Stand Down since the first one. I think it was mid 2000 I was there, angry Veteran with my Walker and canes and attitude. I just got out of jail for beating three thugs down with my walker when one stabbed me and the others tried to rob me. I was like screw this circus, I am out of here! My Brothers said hold on Nut, there is a good band coming on you will like. I was in no mood. But sure enough as I was headed out come some nice guitar shreds. I turned my Walker into the crowd and slowly run over folks to get to the stage. I could see a drummer and a Bass Guitarist but no singer or Lead? I shoved further. People were like WTF! In my amazement I see a guitar fly up in the air and a foot reach out for it! I was like I gotta talk to my shrink about these meds man. Then I see this head singing, and knees flailing. Dude had no arms! And shredding this guitar and singing! It was Mark Goffeney of Big Toe Band http://bigtoerocks.com/ I was catatonic. I had to meet Mark. I busted a path through the crowd to the back of the stage. Mark and I talked story. He threw a T Shirt with one foot at me and said hold it. And grabbed a marker and signed my shirt. He said Georg, vent in Music. They cant put you in jail for bad music.

My Pops recently died then and left me $500 to buy a guitar with, and his watch. He was a WWII Veteran Guadalcanal & Solomon Islands PTSD and all that junk. I went and bought me a guitar and a MacBook with Garage Band. I had an old Shure Commando 420 Mic ( sold it for $20 like an idiot! I did mention I have brain damage ) and hung it from the ceiling on a bent nail. Terrible Mic except for harmonica. I was going into one of my psycho modes and snatched up my guitar and hit record. I beat my guitar to death for 36 minutes and 36 seconds. The words just came to me as I beat the guitar up. Playing it back I was like OMG I suck. It was never meant to be anything. And it really is not. But it did prove to me that what Mark Goffeney said was correct. Ever since my Skylark went gone, I never put much heart into trying to play. Not until I recorded this horrific 'song' and realized the therapeutic value in music did I start to get more serious. So long as its still not a felony to play unorthodox guitar I keep striving to make my own sound.

My most recent Fiance that absconded on me is hanging out with a Country Music guy that started out as a heavy metal player. She caught me jamming last week when she dropped in to steal some more things from me. I am in Austin Texas now. All kinds of eccentric players out here. But she complimented me. I about spotted my skivvies. I do not think she ever complimented me on anything before. I am getting better. And fixing to get me an interface and do some online stuff with some folks in the scene here. I realize there are real Musicians in this Forum. I hesitate to post this link because it really was never intended to be for human ears. I was not even sure it was recording. It is terrible and not for the faint of heart. I do not think any words came out of my mouth until about the 17:30 minutes mark. https://archive.org/details/WildEndeavorAnger_0 When I do painfully listen through it I can see for my own self how that little guitar saved my life. A few months before I did this I got into a fight at the VA with the Federal Protective Services Police. A Homeland Security Sergeant joined me to fight these guys, and he told me to scoot, " I got this Georg get out of here! ". I went and got a rope and went to the field by Sea World and hanged myself in a 40' roll off dumpster. How I survived that is fixin's for a whole 'nother noveI. I had a lot of dismal years. But this horrific recording reminds me to trudge onward. Keep practicing, and VENT IN MUSIC!

A Doctor of Music Jorge Pastrana, who is an awesome Spanish Guitarist among other instruments took me under his wing to do computer music. I got mad in Hilo Hawaii over Proprietary Licensing and walked away from all my goodies Proprietary Apple, Line 6, ZT etc.... I regret it now. A LOT !!!

Anyway, I hope to get some fit for ears stuff out there. I appreciate all y'alls help in solving my Alembic riddle. I will keep on keeping on playing and when I pull the trigger on an Alembic and when I accept her hopefully it will be a mutual honor exchanged.

Cheers,

Georg Curnutt
Wilde Geist

[WildeGeist]

If the DiMarzios were original equipment, it wasn’t an Alembic.  Also, I’ve never heard of Alembic selling to J.C. Penny and doubt it ever happened.  If I recall correctly, there was brand called “Skylark” that built Alembic-like neck-throughs in Japan, probably at either the Matsumoku or Yamaki factory, in the mid-late 70’s.   They were very nice guitars.  A google search should bring up some pics of Skylark neck-throughs.

Bill, tgo

I just found one ( Matsumoku Skylark Model 857-2588 ) for sale on Reverb. I need to read the Rules here, not sure how cool links and stuff are? https://reverb.com/item/4476791-matsumoku-skylark-857-2588-electric-guitar-mij-high-end-shredder-varitone The seller posted a bunch of images and even a video playing it. I cried. Now I am wondering if 1976 was right? 1981 I had the girlfriend coinciding with my memories of being tugged. 

Sure was not an Alembic. I am sorry to pollute Y'all's Forum with a non-Alembic, but I was convinced it was, emblem and all. I sure hope I did not offend anyone with my confusing this with an Alembic. I know there is a huge difference. Its just the overall importance to me personally of getting my facts to jive with my memory and back is very important to me. Long story and most of it is in this thread of responses and replies. I appreciate your helping me get things in their proper orbit.

Sincerely

Georg Curnutt
Wilde Geist

[David Houck]

No offense taken.  We're glad the mystery was solved.

And yes, music can indeed be healing.

[WildeGeist]

No offense taken.  We're glad the mystery was solved.

And yes, music can indeed be healing.

I do not mean to keep beating this to death but the Healing Effects of Music is quite interesting. I have no doubt its therapeutic value. The proof is in the pudding, I am still alive. And here I go again treading waters probably not universally accepted but sitting side by side with Dr Jorge Pastrana and him showing me on a keyboard how to do Computer Music I paid attention and watched closely, and as his hands went for the Keys he stopped! I thought time stopped for a second. Everything froze for about a second, but a long Texas second. I had to blink to see if I did not stroke out or something. Then it was like this energy came from outerspace. That old movie Plan 9 From Outer Space crossed my mind. I could not tell if I was frightened or in awe.

Then he proceeded to play. It was immaculate. I have no other words to describe it. Like a Spiritual thing happened. One day he called me to his office. Mind you I am with a Walker, and carried two canes for if I had to go where my Walker could not. I was starving too of course; a College student. And also I seen Dr Pastrana on drums and other instruments; a master of musical things. I asked him how in the world did he get so good with music. He says Georg, I actually am no good at all with music. I was like cool, humble, I like that. Then he shocked me and spooked me both with this sentence. " I ask God to Play through me. It is not me Playing, it is God. "

Now I am terrified. Then he apologizes about possibly offending me with spiritual stuff. I says no Sir, of course not. Shivering scared. He says then, do you mind if I pray for your knees ( I had some bad low altitude parachute accidents. Extremely low altitude like hit the ground kind. ) which are bad. I agreed because I was paralyzed in my seat. He did this Hands thing just like he did on the Keyboard. I could feel like a heat. And that was it. Or so I thought.

He was done in seconds and says hey Georg, I know you are starving lets go eat I am buying. And gets up and holds the door open for me. We head to the chow hall. Grab our trays and chat. I am starting to eat and he ate just a little. He says hey Georg, I gotta get to a meeting, you can have my plate and if its okay with you I know you are hungry. I was so grateful. I gorged! I cleared the table and froze solid! I LEFT MY WALKER AND CANES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN HIS OFFICE !!!

I am not totally cured. And still have a Walker and Cane. But do not use them all the time. Only when absolutely necessary. And to music specifically, I do not think it is possible for music itself to have a truly detrimental effect. Even the most radical Punk or Hip Hop " Gangsta " stuff in the long run eventually these messages bring about a Positive change. Sometimes sooner. It took me a long while to appreciate ALL Music. And in a nutshell tend to think musical notes are not possible without some kind of Plan 9 From Outer Space alien influence or Spiritual thing that in the end has a Positive motive behind that vibration. Just my opinion of course, through observation and experience.

So now I am kinda wondering about the folks that make instruments. Are ye of the Mother Ship or Angels?