(x) 72-13 One of the first?

[thanwarin]

Hello, glad to have found this website. I am trying to ID this Alembic guitar, but only have this picture.  
 
We believe it is one of the first if not the first custom guitar built by Doug Irwin. Its been used in the studio by Jerry and has a letter of authentication from Bob Weir. We just don't know officially which Alembic this is.

[artswork99]

Very nice and very cool... calling Bill (tgo).  
 
And welcome to the forum thanwarin!

[nnek]

More PICS! this looks really cool. Is the nut cut for a 12 or multi position for a sixer? why the offset pickups? Eight knobs!!! do tell

[adriaan]

That's a scalloped nut, seen on more early instruments. Large body with the lower horn resembling #1.
 
Serial number should be printed on the top of the peghead, flanking the point of the crown. Might well be one of the earliest instruments - 1972/3? Great to see it!

[mica]

Do check the tippy top of the peghead for the stamped serial number. From the looks of it, the nut needs to be reglued.  
 
Every Alembic was made by more than one person. From the looks of it, this instrument may have been built here when Doug worked here, and if so, he certainly had a hand in its construction. But it's not accurate to identify a single person as the maker of any Alembic instrument.  
 
I'd like to see the inside of the electronics cavity as well.  
 
Thanks for posting!

[thanwarin]

Thanks for the feedback, everybody. The guitar is tucked away where I don't have easy access.I have about a dozen more pictures but they are basically the same as the one above. They are ALL face on, no pictures of the top of the peghead, back or sides. It will be a few weeks before I can have pictures taken. Stay tuned.

[jazzyvee]

Looks a very similar shape to Keavins No12 .
 
Jazzyvee

[room037]

And Pickups are similar to No 10.
Only two guitars have this PUs in my archives.
I think the guitar was made 1972. (72-13 ? It's made for J.Garcia)
 
Eiji
 
(Message edited by room037 on November 12, 2010)

[thanwarin]

Good news I will be getting access for more pictures in about a week. The pics will not be like the studio shot used above  but rather captured with my iPhone... good enough to show the serial numbers and  maybe some shots of the electronic cavity.
 
This is a fun project trying to figure out the lineage of this guitar. Thanks Alembic Forum for your helpful info.

[thanwarin]

Just took a bunch of new pictures and will post soon. The serial number is 72-13
 
Mica, could you please give us a little background on this guitar?
 
Thanks.

[room037]

BINGO !
 
It's 72-13 !
Please show us new pictures.
 
Eiji

[elwoodblue]

Cool !!
 You mentioned this guitar was used in the studio,
do you know which recordings it can be heard on?
 
Looking forward to more pics, love that old good wood .

[artswork99]

Now discovered, I've added the serial number to your thread title.  Looking forward to the additional pictures.

[thanwarin]

Lucky #13!  Artswork 99, Thanks for the thread title update.   elwoodblue, this guitar was used on Jerry Garcia's fist solo album in Bob Weir's studio  Here are some more pictures.  From the research I have done on Jerry and his guitars, I would guess that this is a stock Alembic that was later retro fitted with Jerry's custom electronics? Was Ramrods guitar (serials; D. Irwin 025 or GD 025) before or after this guitar?  Any one with info, I would love to hear it. Please help us unfold the mystery!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  [moderator's edit: stacked pictures]  (Message edited by davehouck on November 18, 2010)  (Message edited by thanwarin on November 18, 2010)

[thanwarin]

some more pics...