Alembic's First Guitar?

[lbpesq]

I found this pic while cruising around the net with KPFA Berkeley's 16 hour Grateful Dead Marathon on in the background.  It is purported to be the first ever guitar made by Alembic back in 1970 for Bob Weir.  I don't think I've seen it around here before.
 
Bill, tgo
 

[sonicus]

Hello Bill how are you ?      Not that long ago someone sent me this same pic along with another pic of another early ALEMBIC guitar that has trapezoidal pickups. Unfortunately the Guitar with trapezoidal pickups is being held in the pic by someone who might not want their picture posted on the net and therefore I  can not post that at this time  , perhaps I can crop it and post it later.

[room037]

Florentine style instruments were made 3 on guitar, 2 on bass at 1972. (except # 100 Jonny Winter's Dragon gtr)
# 2 gtr was made for Bob Weir, # 10 gtr is now owned Bill, and # 11 gtr is no info.
# 4 bass was made for Jim Young, # 14 bass is now owned dannyj.
 
This guitar looks totally old fashioned just like first few products.
Clear pickups were very eary one.
The circuit may update because pu selector knob. (# 10 and # 14 bass have toggle SW)
The tree of life inlay was started 1972. Is this the first one !?
 
By the way, I found Bob Weir's early Alembic picture on Hardrock cafe's window.
I remember it was not florentine style.
 
Eiji
 
(Message edited by room037 on February 19, 2011)

[cozmik_cowboy]

Here's the picture 72-02 of guitar Eiji refers to at Hardrock; not a real clear shot, but it looks to be the same one (when I first saw it, I thought it was a single-cut, but looking closer now, I can just make out the scroll .  Very groovy.
Eiji, I'm not familiar with Jim Young; can you enlighten me on him?
 
Peter

[room037]

Thanks Peter !
Yes, It is !
I also thought the guitar is single-cut, but now we know about it.
 
I don't know Jim Young, the name is wrote with  Alembic product records.
 
Eiji

[sonicus]

What are the  Peanut  Guitar serial numbers ?

[room037]

I'm also interested serial number mapping.
 
Jerry's another Peanut guitar was captured at 1971, maybe he used it in short period. (There are only few pictures.)
And no one use such style guitar, Peanut guitar is Jerry's original design.
I believe Peanut was ordered by Garcia, or made for exclusive to him.
 
Alembic Peanut guitar has 2 humbacking PU now, but there is no humcancel PU cavity on body top.
# 73-28 has humcancel PU, because it was made 72' or early 73'.
Only 18 instruments were made at 1972.
2 guitars (# 3 and # 13) were reported made for Garcia.
# 13 guitar has double cutaway body.
Because I think Peanut gtr is # 3.
 
This story is only my imaginary thing.
 
I don't know # 5, 6 and 7's info.
 
Eiji

[crobbins]

Peanut guitar

 
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=15162.msg155432#msg155432
 
(Message edited by CRobbins on February 21, 2011)

[room037]

And this is Alembic Peanut.
 
I look the pictures carefully.
There is small wood tip under PU rings.
These looks symmetrical cavity.
# 10 and 13 PUs are asymmetrical, # 15 PUs are almost symmetrical.
I correct the serial# of Peanut are arround # 20 that I think.
(# 10 to # 17 are different, after # 28 (Santana Gtr) has humcancel PU.)
 
Eiji

[room037]

I found the article on Rolling Stone 1973 Sep. in the club archives.
 
Small standard body and double cutaway body hung leftside.
 
The Peanut gtr hung on the factory !
 
This Peanut gtr has slightly sloping shoulders than the link on last my post.
 
The article included this florentine style gtr.
 
This guitar has very early controls.
I think serial# is 72-11.
 
Eiji

[dela217]

That small standard in the picture from the factory is 73-33.

[room037]

Hi Michael,
 
That's right !
Always you know oldies that I like.
Double cutaway body that far side under small standard is John Mcvie's 73-27, isn't it ?
 
I think double cutaway on right side from small standard is this one. (I don't know the serial#.)

 
Eiji