Author Topic: The (In)Famous Bruce BecVar (Redux) (Read 159 times)

kmh364 · « **on:** March 30, 2006, 05:44:30 AM »

There have been various and nefarious postings here on the elusive ex-Alembic luthier Mr. Bruce BecVar and his instruments. While I have no new light to shed on the subject, I do know that he does indeed play guitar, and plays fairly well at that. I didn't realize that I have an example of his steel-string acoustic prowess in my record (nee' CD) collection hanging about for nearly 20yrs. There's a track entitled Blue Ridge by Bruce on the Windham Hill Guitar Sampler (WD-1072, 1988, $11.98 MSRP). Here's a very brief sample clip from Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000000NH2001008/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_008/002-9630728-2075251

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2006, 06:55:35 AM »

Very windham-hilly sounding indeed.

kmh364 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2006, 07:15:53 AM »

Michael Hedges must turn-over in his grave everytime someone utters those magic words RE: the music associated with the Windham Hill label: NEW AGE, LOL!

mikedm · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2006, 02:39:04 PM »

I saw Michael Hedges more than a few years ago when he was opening up for CSN. His 30 minutes was worth the ticket price alone. Such a shame he's not around anymore

kmh364 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:29:30 PM »

I was fortunate enough to see him but a few brief times: two at NJ Colleges (i.e, Raritan Valley CC and Princeton U.), and one at the now-defunct Club Bene down the Joisey shore (Rt. 35, Morgan NJ). All were solo shows. Club Bene was a dinner show. My ex-wife and I were celebrating my new job (almost 15yrs. past), so we went the full boat (dinner and the show). We were the first to arrive and as we attemted to enter the club foyer, the Mgr. greeted us to tell us to come back in a little while as it was too early and they weren't ready for guests yet. Out of the club comes a weird unshaven, skinny, little guy with dark, long, greasy hair, wearing black tights and a long baggy black shirt with some weird hat (looked African or Arabic) and bare feet. He said something to the effect of everything seemed ok and then walked back inside. We just assumed he was a club employee. We didn't realize until afterwards that it was Michael himself...and we'd already seen him live prior to that, LOL!

He was an awesome one-of-a-kind talent that was taken away long before his time. I discovered his greatness via a glowing review of his then-new/now legendary CD Aerial Boundaries in that now-defunct rag Digital Audio And CD Review (later called CD Review) in late '84/early '85 and that great cover story in '85 in GP Magazine cemented the deal. Once I got AB I was hooked: I have all he's done (including most of the live bootlegs) and I still listen to his stuff regularly. He is greatly and sorely missed.

dela217 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2006, 06:07:51 AM »

This is completely off the subject, but I have one of the BecVar instruments. Or should I say had? It is still in my posession, but I am about to throw it in the trash. This bass went through the flood of Katrina, and came out the worst of the bunch. The body woods have separated so much, that you could put your fingers between the laminates!!! Right now I have it hanging on a wall in my garage to dry. It was a pretty bass, that looked like a cross between an Alembic Orion and a Series 1. Cocobolo top, maple core, vermillion neck. Maybe I can make a clock out of it.

Michael

(Message edited by dela217 on March 31, 2006)

kmh364 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2006, 08:09:49 AM »

Michael:

Any before/after pix? Don't toss it, even if you have to make a scarecrow out of it.

Cheers,

Kevin