I'm a big Grateful Dead fan, hence my screen name, so I was just wondering if anybody on this forum liked or even listened to the Dead's music. This being a Stratocaster forum I though I would bring to light the fact that Jerry Garcia was a big Strat fan and used them throughout his early career. In the '70s Jerry prefered a '63 Sunburst Strat with a RW fretboard. By May of '71 Garcia was using a Natural '57 Strat that was given to him by Graham Nash which was nicknamed "Alligator" due to a sticker that was on the guitar. This guitar also featured the Alembic Strat'o'blaster. Jerry stuck with this guitar until June of '72 when he began to play a Sunburst Strat with a maple fretboard. He eventually goes back to the "Alligator" until '73 when Doug Irwin made him his famous "Wolf" guitar which originally had 3 Fender single coils. Irwin eventually began to make Jerry more and more technologically advanced guitars leaving the Strat behind. Throughout all the changes though, Jerry usually was plugged into a Silverface Fender Twin Reverb amp.
I just thought I would share this info since the Dead, especially Jerry, were the ones who inspired me to learn how to play guitar.
Here's a link to the complete history of Jerry's guitars:

http://www.dozin.com/jers/guitar/history.htm

Russ

Hey DeadAhead, first welcome to the Forums. I had a sinking suspicion with regards to your username, you just confirmed it. Yes there are a few Dead/Jerry fans here, and more that appreciate Jerry's contribution to the art of the guitar. I have posted pictures of Alligator in a "Famous Strats" thread, Jerry and Bob in a "Favorite Duos" thread, the Closing of Winterland in a "Memorable Concert" thread, and many nods in the "Song Game" thread. In fact, I am listening to The Dead at Madison Square Garden from April 25, 2009 streaming on archive.org right now.

Now, having said all that, I consider myself to have a very wide range of musical tastes and playing styles, which seems to be the case with a whole lot of folks on these Forums. One of the great things here is that you are guaranteed to be exposed to some good stuff that you hadn't heard before.

_________________
“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

Hey Hey Fellow Dead/StratHead-

Yes...I am a DeadHead and very proud of it. Welcome to the Forum. Iko Iko all day long my friend-

The Freeze

_________________
There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ

Welcome to the foruM!!

Excellent, Its good to know that there are several fans of the GD's music on the forum. And although I was inspired by Jerry to play guitar, I have definitly branched out and play many, many different styles. I love the blues, rock, classic rock, SRV, Hendrix, Led Zepp., Trower, Santana, Radiohead, John Lee Hooker, Allman Bros., Phish (Trey's tone makes my guitar gently weep), Buddy Guy, The Band, B.B. King, Stones, Widespread Panic, J.J. Cale, Warren Haynes, Drive by Truckers, Clapton, Jeff Beck, and many many more. Way to many to list. I think having many influences in different genres is what contributes to a unique tone and style. I'm into Bach (especially his organ works). I really am a music lover and will give anything a chance. I'll even give Britney Spears a chance to dance around in her unmentionables and sing a song. As long as its just one song and I get earplugs.

Russ

I'm more of a Parrothead than a Deadhead, but where not that far off each other really! But I do love Live Dead Music. Especially in the summer!

Huge fan - just saw them, minus Jerry obviously, last weekend, got me over the 50 mark for shows, but not sure if it counts without Jerry.

Stratstang, is that something you put together? Nice job.
Here's the original.

_________________
“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

Not a huge fan, but I have a good share of albums, CDs, and a few shows.

I do have a couple of The Dead shows from 2 weeks ago ... I'm more of a Warren Haynes fan, I guess.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Stratstang,

Nice axe. I've always contemplated trying to put something similar together like that. Have you looked at the Alembic web site for the Strat-o-Blaster. I think thier device replaces your jack and plate and is brass. I know you're not going for the exact replica guitar deal but I think the Alligator has a brass nut and bridge as well. I've always wanted to experiment with that and see what kind of tone I can get. As it stands with my '97 MIA on the Mid pup with the Delta tone engaged and the mids up on the EQ I can get a pretty good Jerry tone. Especially if the amp has a presence, which I turn up as well. Here's a link to the Alembic Blaster. Check out some of their guitars while you're there.

http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html

Russ

orvilleowner,

Try to check out the Allman Bros. on this tour if you can, they've still got alot of shows left. That way you get to see Greg, Warren Haynes, the Trucks boys, and all the other guys. Clapton even sat in with them a week or two ago. I'm trying to get some funds together to go to the southeast shows. But, alas, no job makes it extremely difficult.


Russ

jackofroses.com has all of the gear - the tailpiece, the brass control plate, etc., just not sure how far I want to go...but take a look. Brian does a bunch of incredible custom work too - inlaid necks, custom tolex cabinets, very cool stuff.

That is some cool stuff. I just don't think its for me right now. Maybe if I can find a beater I would feel better about drilling holes and adding brass bridges and such. Those inlays sure are sweet though. Wouldn't mind ordering one of those t-shirts though.

Russ

Hello DeadAhead,

My sons and myself enjoy the
music of the Grateful Dead.

I saw em a few times back in the day
and "There's nothing like a Dead concert"

Cheers.

I saw the first three concerts in GBoro dc and charlotesville all great shows