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Whatever happened to Keith's Alnico Custom?

JJ Blair

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Jan 9, 2011
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There's so much that's incorrect in the Beatles gear book. Stuff that's just flat out wrong. The Dead one was very disappointing. Lots of information that was left out.

From a friend of mine who's done a couple Beatles books, one of which was researched for 15 years, about the "Beatles Gear" book: "amps are about 35% correct, keyboards about 40%, so that's not a passing grade. For GUITARS it's quite excellent, but not cymbals etc..."

So, I guess that if you are looking at it from a guitar standpoint alone, you're getting your money's worth. But AFAIC, that's not the best source for info. I hope the Stones book was done better. But since they've had the same techs forever, and there's lot of photos of live tours over the years, it's probably easier to research than the Beatles.

The Dead book is missing so many guitars, so many keyboards, next to no info on the drums, etc. I found it very disappointing. The people are still around who know that info. It would shave been better to have a working musician write that book, IMHO.
 
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zhivago

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Sep 29, 2004
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Did they give a serial # on the '57?

they did not...but it is one of the few actual Stones guitars featured in the book, so they must have seen the serial number to call it a '57

Many of the instruments on the book are "like the one Brian or Keith used", which at times can be disappointing, but the particular Custom is on there. I am halfway through the book itself at the moment (it is over 600 pages)

I can take a few pics of the book pages (it is too large to scan), and post them here later tonight (I will be off to work shortly)

:)
 

Dennis

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Jun 22, 2008
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they did not...but it is one of the few actual Stones guitars featured in the book, so they must have seen the serial number to call it a '57

Many of the instruments on the book are "like the one Brian or Keith used", which at times can be disappointing, but the particular Custom is on there. I am halfway through the book itself at the moment (it is over 600 pages)

I can take a few pics of the book pages (it is too large to scan), and post them here later tonight (I will be off to work shortly)



:)

That's very disappointing, mine will arrive any day from now.
I've seen some pics of the book on wich you can see Micawber, Dice and his Black ES 355.
I also read somewhere the author had full access to the instruments. So if it's alot like " the one Brian or Keith used", it won't be any fun reading it.
 

zhivago

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I am up to the bit where Mick Taylor joins and there has been a lot of the "this is like the one..." type of thing... :(

maybe later on in the book there will be the black ES355 and the white 345 etc...

It is still a really cool read, and it has many live pictures that look great...

here is the Custom:

photo2.JPG


photo1.JPG
 

zhivago

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Is the serial # blurred?

it is not, but you'd need a magnifying glass to see it and I don't have one here...

I could try scanning that part of the page tonight and see if that will pick it up :)
 

Dennis

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Jun 22, 2008
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From what i can see with a magnifying glass,
It's #7 8188 or #7 3188
 

Phil 52

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Is the Flying V that Keith played in Hyde Park 1969 (later stolen from Nellcote)
and the 5-string Zemaitis (Scull + Bones, gift from Ronnie and later burnt in Redlands) in that book?
 

Dennis

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Jun 22, 2008
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There is a picture of a korina V but its not the one he owned, and pictures of him playing the original.
And the same with Macabre, picture of keith playing the original, and a picture of the Zemaitis copy.
 

Phil 52

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There is a picture of a korina V but its not the one he owned, and pictures of him playing the original.
And the same with Macabre, picture of keith playing the original, and a picture of the Zemaitis copy.

Dennis, thanks for the info. Have a nice weekend.

Phil
 

Dennis

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Jun 22, 2008
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I'm guessing 8188 would have PAFs, no?

Sorry, but i dont have a clue.
As long as i can remember i always thought it was a 54, but it ain't according the book.
The book says different things about the custom, will try to post it if can get a clear scan.

Same thing with Micawber, there's a clip on YouTube where Johnny Starbuck talks backstage about Micawber being a '53, in the book it's listed as a '54 :bigal
 

zhivago

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It is really interesting, as in the book it says it is a '57...which is verified by the pic above, but then it is constantly referred to as a '56

so weird.

heheh :)
 

JTinFL

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Jul 6, 2010
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Thanks, Zhivago! Looks like 3138 to me. Mine's 2414, so it looks like they're not all that close...
 
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