Jonathan ,
Thanks for your post but it's hard to know the history of some things when there are so many versions flying around. People just can't seem to resist rewriting history. I know that Alembic should write such a book but we're so busy with new designs, custom inlays and building instruments for all of you, who has the time? Before Ron and I kick off we will do it but for now, perhaps the following can shed some additional light.
Doug Irwin worked for Alembic when the instrument now known as the Wolf guitar was built. He was an apprentice with no previous guitar buliding experience.
The instrument was designed and built at Alembic, originally sporting the Alembic Headstock and logo that Doug later replaced with his own. It did not have the Wolf inlay at first that was added by Doug years later.
There were other guitars made at Alembic for Jerry, of the first dozen instruments made, 5 were guitars for Jerry. He wanted a guitar that had the smallest body imaginable, I called them peanut guitars. Those guitars eventually evolved into the Guitar that later became known as Wolf. BTW we currently have a peanut guitar number 6 made for Jerry that we are refurbishing for sale.
Variants of the Tiger and Rosebud designs were also begun at Alembic, loosely based on SG bodies, however we did not make the actual instruments and I had let Doug go for various reasons not available to this site.
Doug bought the neck laminates from us as well as various other parts i.e. pick ups, electronics and hardware for Jerry's as well as other instruments. Those instruments have had a myriad of changes done to them since their original construction.
In General:
Don't you just love Urban Legends? In all the years that stories have been written about Jerry's instruments ( as well as many others) or the origins of Alembic, who founded the company, who designed what, the number of people who actually contacted Alembic to verify facts wouldn't fill one hand. Afterall, we are not that hard to find or talk to. Even in later years to recent publications, some of the people knowing that past facts they put into print are erroneous are either unwilling or not in any hurry to contradict themselves in new writings. I think it may have something to do with their egos. Who wants to admit errors in print?
The problem stems from creating something as special as Alembic. People want to be associated with that feeling of being special, who can blame them for that? I can, when they bend the truth to the breaking point.
One needs only to believe the truth of their eyes and ears to decern where the truth lies and the fiction begins.
Of all the people who claim affiliation with Alembic( and some never even worked here) from those who claim to be an original founder or those who claim design credits, none bear any resemblence to what Alembic has done and continues to do both in the physical design of the instruments or in the electronics superiority. Because when all is said, written and done, the rhetoric pales and fades away to the evidence that none of these claims can be supported with anything they have produced since leaving the creative umbrella of Alembic.
No one person ever has built an Alembic Instrument. It always has been and always will remain an Alembic Community effort. I think that is part of the magic.
So the historical thread and future consistency is safe at Alembic with the founders and original designers, Ron and myself and of course the heir apparent Mica along with our dedicated staff of artistic craftmen and luthiers.
I also want to give much credit to all of you, the musicians, who have continued to support Alembic through all the years. We are a customer driven company, you all inspire us to go Further than we would on our own.
With Thanks to you all,
-Susan
