Bobby with custom Guild semihollow in 1969?

[mellowgerman]

this looks like a custom job to me... only two knobs, interesting cutaways, etc. anyone have any idea? semihollow or full hollow?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUgYOGX8XOM

 

[adorshki]

this looks like a custom job to me... only two knobs, interesting cutaways, etc. anyone have any idea? semihollow or full hollow?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUgYOGX8XOM

All I know for sure is that it's known they did visit Westerly in '69, so there's a possibility (if not probability) it's a legitimate factory special. I have a pic of Bobby with a Starfire with a bunch of EXTRA knobs, I'm thinking it's in a Grateful Dead bio book, but it might even be in Hans' book.
Otherwise, sorry, don't know about this one.

 

[SFIV1967]

I found that picture which shows that guitar pretty clear, it has actually not two but many knobs in a row!
I can't remember seeing that in Hans' book.

Looks a bit similar to a Studio ST-402 body but with the more highend G bound headstock veneer and those special knobs, so it's probably a whole different model name. That picture below is from the Guild 1970 catalogue page 9:

Ralf

 

[mellowgerman]

Oh wow didn't catch all those other knobs. Sure is a pretty guit!

 

[SFIV1967]

If I understand that "history" page correctly it was Alembic who actually modified Bobby's and the other's guitars with the many knobs and the special electronics:

"Bobby Weir's and Jerry Garcia's guitars were done as well. Slowly all aspects of the Dead's gear for the road and the studio were becoming "Alembicized!""

http://www.alembic.com/family/history.html
http://www.alembic.com/

Still, it does not tell what the exact Guild model name of the guitar was that Alembic converted.

Ralf

 

[Brad Little]

I found that picture which shows that guitar pretty clear, it has actually not two but many knobs in a row!
I can't remember seeing that in Hans' book.

Looks a bit similar to a Studio ST-402 body but with the more highend G bound headstock veneer
Ralf

Looks to me like it night have the abalone in pearl fingerboard inlay, too, at least in some of the pieces. Could be the light or my eyes, though.
Brad

 

[adorshki]

If I understand that "history" page correctly it was Alembic who actually modified Bobby's and the other's guitars with the many knobs and the special electronics:
"Bobby Weir's and Jerry Garcia's guitars were done as well. Slowly all aspects of the Dead's gear for the road and the studio were becoming "Alembicized!""
http://www.alembic.com/family/history.html
http://www.alembic.com/
Still, it does not tell what the exact Guild model name of the guitar was that Alembic converted.
Ralf

Interesting link, thanks. I had thought '69 was a bit too early for Alembic to have started in the guitars yet. Thought they were focused on the basses. 8)

 

[SFIV1967]

@adorshki : Well, I don't know if it was Alembic, I just read that Alembic home page and at least the rough timeframe would have fit. But they also say that they started with the bass, and the guitars "slowly" followed, agreed. So it would need some input from people like Hans I guess.

Ralf

 

[mellowgerman]

As far as I knew, Alembic wasn't really a company yet in 1969. However the folks who would establish the company a little while later were doing a lot of work on instruments and sound systems, particularly for Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead (Jerry, Phil, and Bobby included).

 

[SFIV1967]

As far as I knew, Alembic wasn't really a company yet in 1969. However the folks who would establish the company a little while later were doing a lot of work on instruments and sound systems, particularly for Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead (Jerry, Phil, and Bobby included).

At least their homepage shows it was established in 1969.
http://www.alembic.com/family/history.html

Ralf

 

[adorshki]

As far as I knew, Alembic wasn't really a company yet in 1969. However the folks who would establish the company a little while later were doing a lot of work on instruments and sound systems, particularly for Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead (Jerry, Phil, and Bobby included).

At least their homepage shows it was established in 1969.
http://www.alembic.com/family/history.html
Ralf

My memory confirms the accuracy of that, I just didn't think they were already onto the guitars at that time. Now I'd be willing to believe that guitar, while it may in fact have been special ordered, probably was one of the earliest Alembic efforts. Something about all those knobs...for just two pickups... :lol:
FWIW I always thought the first Alembic guitar was a solid body SG style for Jerry...but maybe that was the first guitar made by Alembic...ca '71 I think?

 

[bassmyf]

As far as I knew, Alembic wasn't really a company yet in 1969. However the folks who would establish the company a little while later were doing a lot of work on instruments and sound systems, particularly for Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead (Jerry, Phil, and Bobby included).

At least their homepage shows it was established in 1969.
http://www.alembic.com/family/history.html
Ralf

My memory confirms the accuracy of that, I just didn't think they were already onto the guitars at that time. Now I'd be willing to believe that guitar, while it may in fact have been special ordered, probably was one of the earliest Alembic efforts. Something about all those knobs...for just two pickups... :lol:
FWIW I always thought the first Alembic guitar was a solid body SG style for Jerry...but maybe that was the first guitar made by Alembic...ca '71 I think?

Blair Jackson discusses this guitar, and Bobby working with Mark Dronge, pages 71 and 72 of Grateful Dead Gear. I would be led to believe that that guitar came out of the factory like that, although Dead history is often as reliable as Guild history...
http://www.amazon.com/Grateful-Dead-Gea ... 0879308931

 

[adorshki]

Blair Jackson discusses this guitar, and Bobby working with Mark Dronge, pages 71 and 72 of Grateful Dead Gear. I would be led to believe that that guitar came out of the factory like that, http://www.amazon.com/Grateful-Dead-Gea ... 0879308931

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU.
8)

although Dead history is often as reliable as Guild history...

I can't remember the '60's very well either, because I was there. :lol:

 

[quiqueguitar]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed every second of it!