Author Topic: Museum Guitar (Read 324 times)

pasewark · « **on:** February 10, 2004, 02:10:49 PM »

This guitar is in the collection of musical instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Sure looks like an Alembic to me!

Mica, care to elaborate?

oujeebass · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2004, 02:43:33 PM »

(Message edited by oujeebass on February 10, 2004)

oujeebass · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2004, 02:44:48 PM »

This is what John Paul Jones dubbed sub-Alembic. He used an 8 String that was made by this guy.

valvil · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2004, 05:21:20 PM »

It's a guitar made by Bruce Becvar, a former Alembic employee. Nowadays I believe he has a career as a new age musician. Many of his instruments have Alembic parts & electronics in them; design-wise, they obviously look like Alembics.

Valentino

dela217 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2004, 08:48:21 PM »

I have a bass made by him too. If it weren't for the logo, I would swear it was an Alembic.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2004, 06:35:31 AM »

For more on Becvar:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/2465.html

pasewark · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2004, 07:38:56 AM »

Hmmmm . . . that sucks.

If you look closely at the instrument, it says Alembic The tone controls, the bridge, The carved notch at the bottom, it looks like Becvar took an early Alembic guitar, carved it and did elaborate neck inlays.

It bothers me that he's getting credit for an instrument that is NOT his design.

bracheen · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2004, 04:31:04 AM »

I have one of his cassettes. He's a pretty good guitarist. It was given to me and I had never heard the name before. I sure didn't know of his Alembic connection.

Sam

rockandroller · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2004, 07:16:29 AM »

paswark: so Bec-Var's guitar is a variation on the Alembic theme - so what?

You can't say that Alembic's classic styles weren't obviously 'inspired' by a lot of the work done by Gibson's designers (and countless others, including japanese designers) in the early 60s!

If you have a look at some of the OTHER guitars on display at the Met you will notice that guitars have been being built for HUNDREDS of years and there is virtually nothing new under the sun design-wise

:-)

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2004, 07:18:59 AM »

This is from Ed Roman's web site:

http://www.edromanguitars.com/rant/ghost.htm

Bruce Becvar Ghostbuilt Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones Alembic Omega Bass.

I think it's time for Susan to get out her club and do a Gilooley on somebody...

pasewark · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2004, 08:12:17 AM »

Rockandroller:
Well, I think you miss the point. The Alembic style is the one and only electric guitar in the Metropolitan's collection. To me that says something.

I think the interesting thing about this particular guitar is the carving, inlays and construction is reminiscent of renaissance instruments.

My first Alembic was a '74 short scale bass I bought used in 1980 for $900. (Michael Delacerda owns it now). My impression of that bass when I first got it was it reminded me of an antique, the way the bridge was hand made, the patina of the bass and the general look and feel just reminded me of something old and classic.

When I saw the becvar guitar for the first time at the museum, I thought, holy shit! they have an Alembic in their collection! I thought that fitting.

My personal feeling is Alembic makes the best instruments out there, they don't get better that this. I hate to list all the basses I've ever owned, and I always have Alembic. I'm down to one bass now - an Alembic.

811952:
I met Ed Roman a few times when he had his shop in Connecticut. I will be nice and say he's a character. And I won't be nice and say if you buy an instrument from him, you'll need to bend over while you're over paying him.

rockandroller · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2004, 02:30:18 PM »

well, it was nice that someone made a gift of their BECVAR to the Met (i have visited many times and admired the guitars there, at first glance i thought the Becvar was an Alembic as well...) - perhaps just goes to show how few people are willing to part with their ALEMBICS, even for a good cause!

i just dont understand why it should 'bother' you that Becvar is somehow getting credit for something... after all, Stradivari did not invent the 'look' of his instruments, but he still gets credit where credit is due :-)