New guitar options for the Jerry Garcia-inclined

[Jon Silberman]

There are starting to be some real nice choices out there, here are a few, what do you think and does anyone know of other builders?

1. Minarik Goddess

http://www.minarikguitars.com/goddess/842.jpg

2. Alembic Tribute

http://www3.alembic.com/img/MODTLG6Cocobolo1.jpg

3. Warmoth WGD ("Warmoth Grateful Dead") body shape:

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/bodies/m205A.jpg

4. Phiga Bolt

http://www.philgawen.com/images/Dcp_4044_copy.gif

5. Resurrection Guitars Lightnight Bolt

http://www.resurrectionguitars.com/images/BOLT.jpg

[Jon Silberman]

And introducing ... "Jerry Garcia meets Scott Peterson!" :D

http://www.minarikguitars.com/gotm/2004/2-04/G2.jpg

[bullfrogblues]

Jon, FYI, Resurrection Guitars is about 20 minutes from my house. Very nice bunch of guys. In fact, the son, Tim O'Donnell(sp) played in a band with my son for a while.
They do great work, but very slow. I made an appointment with him to do a setup on a guitar, and when I got there, he said he would have it done in 2 weeks. I said, that's why I made an appt.!!! He tweaked the truss rod and sent me on my way. Must have been a bad day.

Allan.

[dkaplowitz]

Those are really beautiful. I like the look. I like the crop circles inlays too. Kinda' cool touch. Very different in a cosmic way.

I'll try not to hold the Jerry Garcia thing against them. ;)

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by dkaplowitz
I'll try not to hold the Jerry Garcia thing against them. ;)

Hey hey hey - a little respect for the Dead, please.

:D

[weekapaugh]

http://www.roberto-venn.com/reuterguitars/mainsite/electrics.htm

http://www.moriartyguitars.com/

[lhallam]

Originally posted by Jon Silberman
Hey hey hey - a little respect for the Dead, please.

:D

Oooooo man. (can you hear me out your window?)

I guess you're taking over where Cutter left off? ;)

[Jon Silberman]

Lance, my friend, fortunately, I managed to miss that thread where Cutter left off and I don't want to be filled in, please and thank you. :)

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by weekapaugh
http://www.roberto-venn.com/reuterguitars/mainsite/electrics.htm

http://www.moriartyguitars.com/

Excellent additions!

Moriarty:

http://www.moriartyguitars.com/graphics/guitars.jpg

Roberto-Venn (this is a luthiery school where you can take a class and essentially build whatever you want, I pulled the image below from the students' gallery):

http://www.roberto-venn.com/images/Fall2004/Electrics/danielse.jpg

[Dave Orban]

Do you have to be short a finger, to play those...?

[lhallam]

Originally posted by Jon Silberman
Lance, my friend, fortunately, I managed to miss that thread where Cutter left off and I don't want to be filled in, please and thank you. :)

LOL

Nice gtrs. I wonder how well they sell.

BTW - I happen to know the guy who purchased "The Wolf". A good friend of mine got to play it. He said it was a fantastic moment.

[mlynn02]

Originally posted by lhallam
LOL

Nice gtrs. I wonder how well they sell.

BTW - I happen to know the guy who purchased "The Wolf". A good friend of mine got to play it. He said it was a fantastic moment.

so the guy who bought those guitars (for 3/4 million btw) actually plays them!!! i love it....

[PaulinNC]

I got quoted 6500 from Matt Moriarty for a an exact replica of "The Wolf" and I think a "Tiger" replica costs at least 10,000. Moriarty makes the best reproductions of the Doug Irwin guitars that I have seen yet. I like all of the others but his are the best.

[Ron Thorn]

Tom Lieber apprenticed under Irwin during the "Tiger" era. He currently has much of the original templates and tooling if you want a VERY accurate replica. He supplied me the original tattoo flash for the tiger and eagle inlay designs when I did the inlays for this one:

http://www.lieberguitars.com/images/garcia/guitar%20a.jpg

[Jon Silberman]

Thanks for the post, Ron! Yes, Lieber is very accurate though as I understand it equivalently expensive.

Shweet inlay! :D

Hey, as long as you've resurrected the thread, I've got to add my own new Dark Star to the mix. Inlay by Craig Lavin, body and "plank headstock" neck by Warmoth, PUPs by Lindy Fralin, tailpiece by Brian Nalls (Jack of Roses), bridge by TonePros, assembly/headstock shaping & overlay/electronics & wiring/much more by Phil Jacoby, finishing by Chris Bavaria.

Looks are cool but I can't begin to tell you how well it sounds and plays. :D

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/682310/8450308/130747576.jpg

[Jon Silberman]

Yeah, it's as bad as people choosing LPs or Strats based on Pagey or Hendrix.

Why it was so important for you to add your negativity like that is beyond my ken. Give us a break. :rolleyes:

[esoteric pete]

:eek: that is SICK!!!!!! wow. just wow....


ill bet jerry in smiling right now...



Tom Lieber apprenticed under Irwin during the "Tiger" era. He currently has much of the original templates and tooling if you want a VERY accurate replica. He supplied me the original tattoo flash for the tiger and eagle inlay designs when I did the inlays for this one:

http://www.lieberguitars.com/images/garcia/guitar%20a.jpg

[Mike Duncan]

Building that guitar is just about one of the coolest things I've seen! Jon, I really want to see that beauty!

I had no idea there were so many different folks building Jerry-inspired axes....I love it!

[PaulinNC]

I just saw this new Warmoth WGD. Very pretty, they should make them like this all the time.

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/bodies/large/M403A.jpg from http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_bodies.cfm?type=guitar&start=1&itemNumber=M403&menuItem=13&subMenuItem=7&subMenuItem2=0

[Pa'ani]

Check out Scott Walker Guitars.

[larry1096]

Hmmm . . . would Jerry buy/play a clone of another player's custom guitar?


I think he'd look at someone playing a Wolf or a Tiger and smile, the same way Les Paul would grin seeing you pull an LP out of the case, or Jimi would nod if you pulled a righty-lefty Strat out. He invented it; why shouldn't we enjoy it?


Larry

[charley]

Here's my Alembic Further:
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/213707271.jpghttp://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/194057546.jpg

[LL1]

So your the lucky man who ended up with this one, any pics in the dark with it lit up?

Here's my Alembic Further:
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/213707271.jpghttp://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/194057546.jpg

[Mrgearguy]

This is brilliant!
"It's easy to critique a man's livelihood when you know nothing about it
other than what appeals to you aesthetically."

[Jon Silberman]

Here's my Alembic Further:
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/213707271.jpghttp://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1002/4981299/13107315/194057546.jpg
I love it, Charley. Simply beautiful!

[Jon Silberman]

I just saw this new Warmoth WGD. Very pretty, they should make them like this all the time.

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/bodies/large/M403A.jpg from http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_bodies.cfm?type=guitar&start=1&itemNumber=M403&menuItem=13&subMenuItem=7&subMenuItem2=0
Very nice! A shame they pre-drilled it, had they not, I'd buy it as a replacement body for me my own Warmoth Jerrycaster, it's that nice.

[aiko420]

PaulinNC, hey, I came across this site yesterday while I was searching the web to see Replica Garcia guitars. I just got mine finished. I got the body from Warmoth, it is almost the exact same as you posted, different grain. I had to fill the tail piece holes to fit the custom tail piece. I had Brian Nalls of jackofroses.com make the tail piece and switch plate cover. The top is cocobolo, with a mahogany back. The neck is ebony fret board (with gold frets), pearl inly and a mahogany back. I put the DiMarzio SDS-1 in the neck, and then DiMarzio Super II's in the middle and bridge positions, like Tiger. There is a push-pull on the volume knob to seperate them out a little more. I am not that good of a guitar player, so I wouldn't even begin to understand the pre-amps and crazy stuff that Tiger has. Anyways, I saw your post with the link to the Warmoth body and thought I would post mine.

http://www.adamjdesign.com/ripple.html

[Kalalau Hiker]

Excellent additions!

Moriarty:

http://www.moriartyguitars.com/graphics/guitars.jpg

Roberto-Venn (this is a luthiery school where you can take a class and essentially build whatever you want, I pulled the image below from the students' gallery):

http://www.roberto-venn.com/images/Fall2004/Electrics/danielse.jpg

sorry man - but that looks like shark bit it's ass off. :D

[aoguitars]

i actually got to spec out the Wolf after it was bought at auction back in '02, as the shop I was working in was commissioned to build a couple copies for the buyer. i was literally vibrating all day, being able to hold and play that guitar--truly an incredible experience.

[7String Thing]

Alembic is the way to go, No other guitar sounds the same. They are incredible.

Check out mine.

http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_7stringthing.html

http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13596_upviewL.jpg

[aiko420]

Alembic is the way to go, No other guitar sounds the same. They are incredible.

Check out mine.

http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_7stringthing.html

http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13596_upviewL.jpg
Very sweet! If I could afford an Alembic, it would have been done that way. I had to sell a coupole of my guitars to get mine the way I wanted it. SOMEDAY, I will have an Alembic!

[Cussion]

I get my favourite Jerry tones with a maple-neck Strat and a P90 equipped Les Paul.
'67 - '72

[mike young]

I use a Resurrection Bolt and sometimes use my PRS custom 24. Both guitars I have rewired for a closer "jerry sound".

The rest of my gear is detailed on this site - too much stuff to list:
http://www.fennario.us/gear.html

[PaulinNC]

PaulinNC, hey, I came across this site yesterday while I was searching the web to see Replica Garcia guitars. I just got mine finished. I got the body from Warmoth, it is almost the exact same as you posted, different grain. I had to fill the tail piece holes to fit the custom tail piece. I had Brian Nalls of jackofroses.com make the tail piece and switch plate cover. The top is cocobolo, with a mahogany back. The neck is ebony fret board (with gold frets), pearl inly and a mahogany back. I put the DiMarzio SDS-1 in the neck, and then DiMarzio Super II's in the middle and bridge positions, like Tiger. There is a push-pull on the volume knob to seperate them out a little more. I am not that good of a guitar player, so I wouldn't even begin to understand the pre-amps and crazy stuff that Tiger has. Anyways, I saw your post with the link to the Warmoth body and thought I would post mine.

http://www.adamjdesign.com/ripple.html

Awesome. Very cool looking guitar, I bet it plays great. I might have some questions for you.

[equatorinstru]

Simply GORGEOUS instruments...definitely on my list of something I must build one day. And applause for you Ron Thorn...stunning! :)

[fenderpro]

a hint if you dont have much cash...philsguitars.com has a Yamaha SSC-500 for under $400. i remember when JG played one of these. yamaha made some damn fine guitars over the years. that said, to really sound like jerry you have to shed and shed and shed like he did. the guy was an encyclopedia of music. he got his sound on any guitar he played, sg, strat, travis bean, yamaha, whatever...

[PaulinNC]

a hint if you dont have much cash...philsguitars.com has a Yamaha SSC-500 for under $400. i remember when JG played one of these. yamaha made some damn fine guitars over the years. that said, to really sound like jerry you have to shed and shed and shed like he did. the guy was an encyclopedia of music. he got his sound on any guitar he played, sg, strat, travis bean, yamaha, whatever...

Very true, but it's fun though isn't it.

[MBreinin]

a hint if you dont have much cash...philsguitars.com has a Yamaha SSC-500 for under $400. i remember when JG played one of these. yamaha made some damn fine guitars over the years. that said, to really sound like jerry you have to shed and shed and shed like he did. the guy was an encyclopedia of music. he got his sound on any guitar he played, sg, strat, travis bean, yamaha, whatever...

Yeah, I think of him more as style than a certain guitar. The guy had a unique voice...and I always thought his guitar's aesthetics were, um....."questionable."

I would practice....ALOT.

Mike

[zenfreud]

I remember seeing a few of Jerry's guitars up close, guarded by a couple of guys that I think were once Dead roadies. As you would lean in for a closer look, to say these guys gave off an intense vibe is a bit of an understatement. His custom-built guitars looked darn heavy.

As an aside, are Jerry's various guitars scattered around the globe with different owners? I remember reading the Colts' owner Jim Irsay was a big Jerry fan, and is the owner of Jerry's Tiger. From what I've read, the guy is a major music fan, probably gets some good use from his guitar collection.

[PaulinNC]

Check out the new WGD bodies at Warmoth. Very nice, a little pricey though. They jacked up the prices on them recently.

[ssmug]

Check out the new WGD bodies at Warmoth. Very nice, a little pricey though. They jacked up the prices on them recently.

I hadn't visited Warmoth in a while, but last time I went I thought maybe they stopped making the WGD, as there hadn't been any in quite some time.

These may be a little more expensive than the previous ones, but the pau ferro tops look so much nicer than most of the others I'd seen, especially this one, which comes close to the look of Jerry's cocobolo.
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/ssmugar/M515a.jpg


Not too shabby, either:
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/ssmugar/MP96a.jpg
http://warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_bodies.cfm?type=guitar&start=1&itemNumber=M515&menuItem=13&subMenuItem=8&subMenuItem2=0

[GuitarGuy510]

IIRC, Mike Sherman was working on a Garcia for a customer who didn't pay, so he might have that one up for grabs with much less wait time too. :)

[PaulinNC]

I contacted Mike Sherman about some guitar tracings for the Tiger, he said he would send me some and I never heard from him again. Does he still have a website?

[Jon Silberman]

Why Warmoth pre-drills their in-stock WGDs is beyond my ken. The basically force you into Gibson-style bridges and stoptails which kills the Irwin vibe, not to mention the PUPs are incorrectly routed for an Irwin-style PUP ring.

Alembics are cool but not for me, the price tags are astronomical.

[ssmug]

Why Warmoth pre-drills their in-stock WGDs is beyond my ken. The basically force you into Gibson-style bridges and stoptails which kills the Irwin vibe, not to mention the PUPs are incorrectly routed for an Irwin-style PUP ring.

I've always been perplexed by this, too. Not that people can't do their own thing with the body, but for such a specialized design, what does Warmoth think people are gonna build with a Garcia body? At the very least, they could offer more non-pre-routed/drilled guitars.

[Jon Silberman]

I use a Resurrection Bolt and sometimes use my PRS custom 24. Both guitars I have rewired for a closer "jerry sound".

The rest of my gear is detailed on this site - too much stuff to list:
http://www.fennario.us/gear.html
Welcome to TGP, Mike - hope you stick around!

I utterly dig the cab you built.


http://www.fennario.us/images/Gear/cabsm.jpg

[PaulinNC]

I've always been perplexed by this, too. Not that people can't do their own thing with the body, but for such a specialized design, what does Warmoth think people are gonna build with a Garcia body? At the very least, they could offer more non-pre-routed/drilled guitars.

I think you can get them not drilled, you have to call and ask though. I know Brian Nalls from Jack of roses works with them so his triple pick up ring will fit the WGD body. I think to get the WGD routed for the brass ring it costs 65 bucks.

[msherman]

This one will be done soon.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/rgb500/JerryGuitar-3.jpg (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/rgb500/JerryGuitar-3.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)

[PaulinNC]

That Tiger looks awesome!!! Do you still have any template drawings?

[GuitarGuy510]

This one will be done soon.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/rgb500/JerryGuitar-3.jpg (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/rgb500/JerryGuitar-3.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)


That thing looks gorgeous Mike! Absolutely love the blended neck heel! :dude

[johnzias]

I've been a Jerry fan for over 40 years, but I always found his best tone came from his Live Dead SG, his early 70's Strat, and the Wolf, IMO. Best playing as well.
That said, I've been playing an Alembic Darling lately.

[PaulinNC]

Just got some Purple heart and flamed maple today. As it turns out the wolf template was delivered when I got home. Phase 1 is almost complete.

[mgrossm]

anyone know what some of these builders charge for replicas? Alembics have almost doubled their prices--kind of ridiulous what they're asking now(I payed around 6g for tribute several years ago but I don't think I could rationaliZe paying 10 now)-- in the past few years.

[aoguitars]

anyone know what some of these builders charge for replicas? Alembics have almost doubled their prices--kind of ridiulous what they're asking now(I payed around 6g for tribute several years ago but I don't think I could rationaliZe paying 10 now)-- in the past few years.


PM sent.

[Jon Silberman]

I'd like to speak with you, too, actually. I'll try to reach you tomorrow at the phone # listed on your website. :)

[PaulinNC]

Has anyone seen these?
I bet with a little work you could make this a pretty cool Jerrycaster.
http://www.jsdguitarshack.com/roxbury_guitars/rx-40/roxbury_rx40.html

[Jon Silberman]

That could work as a platform for the budget-conscious Deadhead who isn't after a break-the-bank replica but rather an in-the-ballpark tribute. That being said, the tribute would be almost entirely in the body shape as the rest of the guitar is quite different from Tiger or Rosebud.

[thewex]

Damn that is beautiful msherman!

I def. had jerry in mind when i grabbed my last guitar (claro walnut top carvin). I think i liked his tone best with the (single coil) wolf early-mid 70s. I wouldn't say this is a replica of any particular garcia instrument, just inspired by in looks/tone.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x95/rarebeatexpress/carvin.jpg

[Godfrey D]

That could work as a platform for the budget-conscious Deadhead who isn't after a break-the-bank replica but rather an in-the-ballpark tribute. That being said, the tribute would be almost entirely in the body shape as the rest of the guitar is quite different from Tiger or Rosebud.

I agree with Jon. From my perspective, the true measure of Tribute to Jerry is in achieving the tone. After all, Jerry's input into the design was the addition of the Effects Loop and the need for a Unity Gain Buffer to accomplish that addition. The physical design was Irwins.
In my research and in developing my guitars, I found that Maple neck/Ebony Fretboard combo along with powerful, clean pu's and the Unity Gain Buffer are responsible for whatever part of the the unique "Jerrytone" that didn't actually come from his fingers.
I find that physical replica's of the guitars are more a Tribute to Irwin's incredible talent as a luthier than to Jerry as a musician. I humbly tip my cap to all builders who have succeeded in building replicas since they are extremely complicated guitars to build. The true test of a Master Builder.
Since I am not at that level yet, I concentrate on giving the aspiring player the tool to pursue the tone at an affordable price.

[PaulinNC]

That could work as a platform for the budget-conscious Deadhead who isn't after a break-the-bank replica but rather an in-the-ballpark tribute. That being said, the tribute would be almost entirely in the body shape as the rest of the guitar is quite different from Tiger or Rosebud.

That is what I was thinking, it is a good starting point. If I got one I would rout out another pickup spot, and change the electronics. I'd throw a new bridge in there for fun too while I was at it.

[Kingbeegtrs]

The best Jerry Garcia tone I've ever obtained was from a mahogany body telecaster with a Humbucker in the neck....useful for those who can't afford a guitar like Jerry's

[Jon Silberman]

It's absolutely true that Garcia tone can be obtained through many guitar avenues. The best proof for that is Jerry himself. Folks familiar with his guitars over the years know that Jerry continued to sound like Jerry no matter he played on. As far as I'm concerned, by simply playing his music, incorporating triplets, and mastering the myxolidian mode you're already on the bus. ;)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682310/8450308/127887779.jpg

[CharAznable]

Alembic is the way to go, No other guitar sounds the same. They are incredible.

Check out mine.

http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_7stringthing.html

http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13596_upviewL.jpg


That is just beautiful.. God I wish one day I'll get to afford an Alembic hippie sandwich... pretty much my dream guitar.

[tommy_is_here]

I had an Alembic once. Beautiful guitar, museum piece in my mind. I am a light weight guy, and my Alembic weighed a ton - she was too much of a guitar for me and my poor back to handle!