Irwin guitar on Brad Sarno's site....

[pace]

Just thought I'd share this w/ you guys.....
 
Pretty interesting guitar!!!
 
http://www.steelguitarblackbox.com/page12/page17/page17.html

[bigideas]

I don't think that is an Irwin, that logo looks like Michael Dolans old logo. Mind you, I'd assume this gentleman knows what kind of guitar he has.

[lbpesq]

That's definitely a Dolan logo.  I'm currently looking at one of his in a store in San Rafael that the owner thought was an Alembic.  Just out of curiousity, other than Jerry's guitars, has anyone here actually seen another Irwin guitar?  I haven't.
 
Bill, tgo

[jalevinemd]

Bill,
 
I have often wondered the same thing. I have NEVER seen another Iriwn guitar (other than Jerry's) nor have I seen or heard of any other musician who has one. Would love to catch a glimpse of one if it exists...though I suspect there are no more.

[staemius]

I've seen another Irwin electric on another board (but couldn't find the link).  Also, interestingly, my bass player swears he witnessed Doug's wife give an Irwin acoustic (!) to his former guitarist (who is currently in jail).

[dela217]

There was one here in New Orleans a while back.  So I know that they are out there.  But that one probably floated away with the flood.

[lbpesq]

I emailed Brad Sarno with links to Michael Dolan's site and a picture of Dolan's logo.  Brad just e-mailed me back that he's thought it was an Irwin for 25 years!  He was very appreciative and said he'll be contacting Dolan about it.  I wonder how many other Irwin guitar sightings are also innaccurate?  Did this guy ever make another guitar?  Heck, those of us around here know there's some question even about the origin of the Jerry guitars, especially the construction of Wolf and the design of Tiger and Rosebud.  You'd think with the Garcia connection, an Irwin guitar would be of such value that one would turn up on the market every once in a while.  I even seen a Cripe guitar on eBay, and Steve was involved in guitar building for many years less than Duog allegedly was.
 
Bill, tgo

[pace]

oooppps  
 
A friend in Berkeley said he had the chance to buy an Irwin a while back...... but that's the only other account of another that I know of.
 
Im not familiar with Dolan~ thanks for clearing that all up Bill!!!!  
 
-Mike

[mica]

People send me all sorts of pictures. Here's some of one Irwin guitar:
 
 
It's pretty!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Without a peghead, I'd say it looks very nearly like a 1970's Alembic Small Standard body.  
 
 
There are other pics somewhere, I'll post them when I run across them.  
 
I've seen quite a few Irwin instruments, both basses and guitars. I'm pretty sure that Michael Dolan has repaired at least one Irwin bass recently.

[bigredbass]

Is it just me, or do those frets look huge?
 
J o e y

[dela217]

Thank you Mica, I just love seeing that sort of stuff.
 
Too bad that is just a lowly guitar. A body style like that should be a bass.  Just kidding.

[David Houck]

Joey, they look big to me too!

[jalevinemd]

My Big Bear has a bound fretboard and the frets look big. I think there's something about that white binding that gives the illusion of larger frets, though these look especially huge!

[lbpesq]

Looks like sitar frets to me!  
 
I got an email back from Brad Sarno.  He spoke with Michael Dolan and we helped him clear up a ten year mystery.  The website has already been changed to ID this as a Dolan.  
 
This forum has such great Karma!
 
Bill, tgo

[grateful]

He get's a mention here for fitting a Jerry Garcia Effects Loop to Arthur Lee's Telecaster.
 
http://www.arthurleemusic.com/html/gear2.html
 
Mark