Author Topic: Need help with history of guitar (Read 613 times)

johnqsmith · « **on:** April 08, 2015, 11:55:16 AM »

Hello all!

My name is John, and I am in need of some assistance. I have a custom guitar that has been rumored to have been built by Doug Irwin and Allan Thompson, but I have yet to be able to confirm it. I was hoping that the folks on here might be able to share some of the knowledge they have and give me some feedback on my rig. Is this the best place to find out info on my guitar? Does anyone have any suggestions on who I should contact for more help in finding out about the history of my rig?

I was told it was built while Irwin was working at Alembic, so, I figured this forum would be a good place to start my investigation

Again, any and ALL comments, ideas, suggestions are welcomed!

Here is a link to an image hosting site with some pictures of my baby!

http://m.imgur.com/eyPMatT,zKMaqzD,lpOJial,4SdQjY6,izhUEQC,ed5sYwq,z5K5ywX,QTYfNS1,fiqlZUH,1yeKvzL,2Iqpcuk,C6c8I8x,JCA9W21,CfhPH3s,eO9UrLa,LEkSaC7,D2Cjmww#

Thanks in advance!

John
(John.Q.Smithson@Gmail.Com)

elwoodblue · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2015, 12:23:17 PM »

Wow !
Welcome John. I'm sure you'll be able to find some good info here.I can't add much but a big thanks for taking such nice pictures

elwood

johnqsmith · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2015, 01:20:03 PM »

I'm more than happy to share these photos - Thank you for the compliment elwood!

tbrannon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2015, 01:52:38 PM »

That is some serious inlay work... sure looks like an early Alembic style bridge and the influences look pretty clear, but I don't have any answers for you on it's origins.

If the work was completed while Irwin was at Alembic, perhaps Susan or Ron will remember, because I'm guessing there are some significant shop hours put into those inlays. That seems like the kind of 'after hours' build that would have been around for the better part of year in order to get all that inlay work and the body lams done.

There are some guitar guys on here who will have some more educated opinions... they'll weigh in on this before long, I suspect.

Either way- it's a cool guitar. Love the zebra-sus inlay and the dragon/Lion thingie on the headstock! haha!!

FC Bass · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2015, 02:00:34 PM »

Sorry, I took the liberty to resize and post some... Awesome guitar! For pictures of the back follow the link, I see no problem but for some it might be a bit too explicit. :-) (Naked lady, it's art and beautiful so nothing really shocking)

johnqsmith · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2015, 02:24:08 PM »

No worries about resizing or anything at all! I wasn't exactly sure how to do it so that's why I just used the link. Again, thank you to everyone for the comments and all.

pauldo · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2015, 06:30:33 PM »

Holy ornamentation Batman!

How does she sound and play?

Pictures of the electronics cavity may help reveal more info about it. If any instrument was in need of some Alembic Magic mojo electronics that would be the one.

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2015, 06:35:42 PM »

There was an Allan Thompson guitar about three years ago on eBay that had the same nude girl on zebra inlay and was discussed here. (This might even be the same guitar). And I know I've seen that inlay somewhere else too, perhaps one of those Antonio Tsai instruments on eBay with all the inlay. While some of the guitar seems Alembic-like, especially the bridge and tailpiece, I'm just not feeling Doug Irwin from this one.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2015, 06:36:35 PM »

I saw this over on the GD Forum and mentioned that I thought this guitar had been discussed here awhile back. Bill TGO might remember.

gtrguy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2015, 07:16:21 PM »

Certain things remind me of an Oasis I had a while back but it was not that fancy.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2015, 07:45:09 PM »

It has Gary Cooper's stylings, I was thinking the same.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2015, 08:09:25 PM »

Bill...amazing. Your post uploaded just before mine. I knew you'd remember this one. You seem to have a special place in your brain for these unique guitars.

johnqsmith · « **Reply #12 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:39:18 PM »

I posted it on the GD forum too

Im trying to find as much info as possible. I appreciate this guys, any ideas or names of possible creators is great. I can say it certainly is different.

johnqsmith · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:51:43 PM »

well, unless there is a copy of this out there, i can say for 100% certainty this guitar was not on eBay within the last three years, and unless someone else has photos of this, it wasn't posted on here. I have had this for a long time now, and these are basically the only pictures I've posted. If someone else posted pictures of this on here, I would be extremely eager to see them! If there is a link to them I would be stoked to have it.

pace · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2015, 06:56:33 AM »

Welcome to the forum, John!

hmmm....

I remember this guitar (or its doppleganger) linked on this site, but it may have been more than 3 years ago~ time sure flies!

I'd definitely place your guitar in the Thompson/Dolan/Cooper era of Alembic employees if it was shop night, or independent/home commission. My only question would be whether Larry Robinson did any of the inlay work....