RIP Rick Turner

[Slam]

Heard that Rick Turner died a few days ago. What a loss

[gearhed289]

That is a loss. 78 years old. RIP

[jon_jackson]

From Rick Turner Guitars Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rickturnerguitars)

Ethan & June Turner here.
With a heavy heart we must say that our father Rick Turner (Warwick Lancelot Armstrong Turner III) has left the building. Rick passed away peacefully last night (4/17/22) of complications from congestive heart failure and stroke.
If you have a message for the family or a story to share please share below this post. We will read all and reply when when can.
Please respect our privacy during this time of mourning.

[StephenR]

Horrible news. I was looking at at a picture of Rick at the Skull and Roses festival two days ago and thinking how about how healthy he looked. Really tragic loss!

R.I.P. Rick...

[rv_bass]

Sad news…RIP Rick…listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock your soul…

[lbpesq]

Such sad news.  A true innovator and icon of the S.F. Music scene back in the day, he was one of the very early woodworkers at Alembic.  I recently watched him interviewed about the Peanut guitar.  He looked and sounded great.

May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home.

Bill, tgo

[mica]

Shocking news that Rick Turner passed away yesterday.  We invited Rick to join our team in 1970 after Bear introduced us. He worked here at Alembic until 1978. Rick was an important figure at the early Alembic, establishing many of the iconic features of the hippie sandwiches we all love so much, blending his luthier skills with Ron’s active electronics and pickups systems. He also was the spokesperson for Alembic, handling press and interviews. Additionally he acted as the  liaison between Alembic and the Grateful Dead on the Wall of Sound project.
Rick was excellent at promoting Alembic and took every opportunity to bring instruments to touring musicians while they were playing in San Francisco, including a young Stanley Clarke in 1973.
Our hearts go out to his family, and he will be missed by many.


Photo of Rick Turner, Sam Field, and Ron Wickersham in 1978 by Dave Gans.

[edwardofhuncote]

So many thoughts. Hard to separate what I feel like, and what might be appropriate here.


I think I'd just like to say Thank You... for the contributions to Alembic, and the continuing search for the best sound possible even after moving on. Nice job, Rick. Take your rest.

[hammer]

So sorry to hear that a great innovator has passed.

[edwin]

I'm heartbroken. I first reached out to him in 1993 or so when I first got my Starfire and wanted guidance on modifying it. My next call was to Ron. Over the years, we spoke every now and then and then became FB friends (I always appreciated when he chimed in and laid the facts on the table while I was being circumspect with other friends. He suffered fools not at all). His contributions to my own musical path are many and I was getting ready to give him a call this week after giving him some time to recuperate from Skull & Roses.

Just goes to show, if you have something to say to someone important to you, do it now. Thanks for everything, Warwick Lancelot Armstrong Turner III.

[JimmyJ]

Sad news indeed.  I've always felt that the combination of his guitar-making skills, Ron's genius electronics, and Susan's artistic vision, was the lucky combination that made Alembic instruments the absolute greatest.  I appreciated his creative input when I first got my foot in the door in '75/'76.  He had a hand in the design of all our beautiful instruments so his legacy lives on in that way.  Condolences to his family and friends.

Jimmy J

[pauldo]

I concur with Jimmy.  Mr. Turner was a key part of what we strap on.  These instruments are exemplary of high level craftsmanship.  Thank you Rick Turner, RIP.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Here's a link to Acoustic Guitar's memorial to Rick; be sure to click the links & watch the vid:  https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-guitar-innovator-rick-turner-1943-2022/?utm_source=Acoustic+Guitar&utm_campaign=2e838ddaf8-AGN_RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c8a2f76447-2e838ddaf8-363293313&mc_cid=2e838ddaf8&mc_eid=6f7af120a6


Peter

[pace]

….just heard the news.

I know the relations were strained at best, but he contributed regularly to several FB groups, and like Edwin said~ suffered no fools.

RIP, Rick

[paulman]

Very sad news.  He was assistive to other instrument manufacturers and I always dug his frequency cancellation of parallel surfaces be it speakers or stringed instruments.


I know the head stock carve and the way it blends into the instrument neck in so many layers is his influence.  I love how that looks and feels!


Rest easy Rick your journey continues in the next plane.