A Kit Guitar Surfaces...

[edwardofhuncote]

Only heard about these here, never actually seen one. Pretty cool, seems legitimate.


https://reverb.com/item/90960175

[keith_h]

Many years back I remember Alembic was doing some housekeeping and ran across some kit guitars or parts thereof. If my memory is correct they were even for sale up on the Alembic store for awhile. I think Alembic finished building one or two themselves for the showroom and I suspect this is one of those. I don't know if there are any kits left or if any others were ever sold/built. 

[gearhed289]

That's a really cool guitar. I don't recognize those pickups.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm pretty sure they are both the same unbranded HGR pickups like my Little Darling has at the bridge location. They sound quite delightful, if so.

[gtrguy]

Reminds me an awful lot like a vintage Epiphone Scroll guitar.

[kilowatt]

He also has it listed on Facebook Marketplace, for the same price. Love the pickguard.

[mica]

I'm reminded we still have 7 of these bodies kicking around here. Going to finally pick out the woods for the covers, get them going, and finish these out.

The first one was Purpleheart, this one is Cocobolo. The plan was to make each one with a different plate wood. So I'm thinking:

• Ebony
• Vermilion
• Quilted Maple
• Flame Koa
• Bird's-eye Maple
• Walnut
• Zebrawood

That's all there will ever be of the original Kit guitars. I am working on developing the basic shape into a production model, but it will be different, and of course it won't be Koa that we toted around for over fifty years. Now if you have a different idea and want a different wood for an order, I need to know before these start up. Peghead front veneer will match the cover wood.
Yes - the pickups are the original HGR pickups, a little smaller than the ones we have with the gold stamp. Remaining Kits will be with these pickups. I love how the curve of the pickup mount nips at the curve of the cover plate.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm reminded we still have 7 of these bodies kicking around here. Going to finally pick out the woods for the covers, get them going, and finish these out....

Inquiring (read; adle...) minds wonder, do the kit guitars carry serial or other id numbers?  Or just exist in their own stand-alone way?

[paexplorer]

Hi all, this is my guitar. I’d be willing to work out a considerably better deal for a forum member if there’s interest.

I will 100% regret selling this guitar, but need to free up some funds for an unexpected financial burden. Last guitar I sold on here was a Rick Turner model 27, which I also regret selling… and so it goes.

That list of woods for the remaining 7 looks killer… flamed koa!!!

[mica]

Greg - these get in line with the rest of them!

[paexplorer]

I'm reminded we still have 7 of these bodies kicking around here. Going to finally pick out the woods for the covers, get them going, and finish these out.

The first one was Purpleheart, this one is Cocobolo. The plan was to make each one with a different plate wood. So I'm thinking:

• Ebony
• Vermilion
• Quilted Maple
• Flame Koa
• Bird's-eye Maple
• Walnut
• Zebrawood

That's all there will ever be of the original Kit guitars. I am working on developing the basic shape into a production model, but it will be different, and of course it won't be Koa that we toted around for over fifty years. Now if you have a different idea and want a different wood for an order, I need to know before these start up. Peghead front veneer will match the cover wood.
Yes - the pickups are the original HGR pickups, a little smaller than the ones we have with the gold stamp. Remaining Kits will be with these pickups. I love how the curve of the pickup mount nips at the curve of the cover plate.

@mica… the showroom listing for the cocobolo guitar (this one) from way back says 9 koa bodies were found… and the remaining 8 would be finished at some point. Suggests this (cocobolo) was the first and the purpleheart was 2nd? Also saw a post from 2010 saying you want to move the cocobolo kit guitar out of the showroom to show the purpleheart one. Just want to clarify since you said the purpleheart was first.

Thanks