Obie
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12 Mar 2008
Posts: 47
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 Posted: 06/18/2008 at 7:02 PM Post subject: The Obe Files |
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I've mentioned a few times on the board about the notes I have that my brother made when he worked at TBG. For the most part there is not much info but there are some parts that are interesting. I decided it might be interesting to post a scan of one of the more interesting pages from his notebook so you can see what I've been talking about and to stimulate a little discussion. Now remember gang, these are hand written notes made by people doing their everyday job. I'm sure they had no idea at the time that 30 years later people would be trying to dissect every little detail.
And away we go........
http://img409.imageshack......9/3363/tb500notes1rw6.jpg
Cheers,
Kurt O.
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admin
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Posts: 446
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| Posted: 06/18/2008 at 7:10 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Hello Kurt
Thanks so much for posting this. This is incredibly valuable and very interesting!!!! I'm hoping to get a few of these registered in the database. I'm glad to see that Santos got a Bean for his hard work!
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soarshoulder
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| Posted: 06/18/2008 at 9:50 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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That is impressive, not only for content, but for the fact that it still exists! (I would be hard pressed to even find this years tax filings for my job!!!)
thanks!!
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jmkepic
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25 Feb 2003
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| Posted: 06/19/2008 at 8:16 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Given the current state of Bean memorabilia, I wonder how much the Obe files are worth?
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Obie
Joined:
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Posts: 47
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| Posted: 06/19/2008 at 8:47 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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They're not for sale. At least two copies will be made and will go to Bean enthusiasts of my choosing. with the proviso that they share the info freely.
Kurt O.
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jmkepic
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| Posted: 06/19/2008 at 9:01 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you should sell them, especially since it's something produced by your brother. I was just curious how much an insane collector would pay for it. After those pickups went for what they did, anything is possible.
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Vincent Gallo
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03 May 2007
Posts: 217
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| Posted: 06/21/2008 at 8:46 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Getting to view that TB500 production log was super fun. Thank you Obe! I discovered my TB500 #15 may have started life as a custom order for Eric Clapton but appears to have ended up being finished for Travis himself. I was also surprised how little early body TB500's were built.
Years ago I was very interested in arch-top guitars, mainly D'Angelico's. In 1989 a book was published which revealed John D'Angelico's production log. The D'Angelico log was fascinating to me and may be the thing I have read more times than anything else in my life. I am grateful for Obe's appearance here and all that he has offered thus far.
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Obie
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wiggle
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| Posted: 07/13/2008 at 7:11 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Wow, now that's precious!
Drool, drool, drool!
Thanks so much for your contributions, Obie (and bro!)
Does anyone know who the blond guy in the last photo is?
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admin
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| Posted: 07/13/2008 at 8:01 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Kurt
Once again you never cease to amaze us with something great from the past!!! Thanks as usual for sharing!
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Vincent Gallo
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03 May 2007
Posts: 217
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| Posted: 07/13/2008 at 10:20 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Wow Obie thanks!! I own the cutaway fret-board (cross-section guitar). It came with the stand it is mounted on in the photo and a Travis Bean packing box. The neck, body bridge and pickups are all cut to reveal how they are made. I think it may have been purchased from your brother as the nice guy I got it from bought a few parts and things from him. It is serial # 1234
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Obie
Joined:
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Posts: 47
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| Posted: 07/13/2008 at 12:26 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Vincent, that must be a neat piece. It's cool that it survived. He may of owned it, I don't know. I expect if he did I'll find some mention of it in his files, and there are a lot of files! He had a medium sized suitcase full of envelopes, full of photos and slides, almost all guitars. After TB he worked for Schecter in Van Nuys and was the custom shop manager from 1980 until they were sold and moved in 1984. He got to travel to trade shows and when he went to a different city he would go to the big guitar shop in town and look at all the cool old stuff and take photos if they would let him.
More to come, I promise.
Kurt
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Obie
Joined:
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Posts: 47
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| Posted: 07/14/2008 at 9:40 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Whenever he had the chance, my brother would photograph any rare or unusual guitar he came accross. This is from a batch of photos of some guitars owned by a friend or customer. The envelope and photos are undated but I guess mid '80s. The location is right outside the door to his shop and that small tree you see is now 30 feet tall. The two guitars are TB2000 #0 and TB4000 # 46.
http://img209.imageshack......img209/9385/2beansrp3.jpg
Kurt O
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wiggle
Joined:
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| Posted: 07/15/2008 at 11:38 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Whoa! I thought that bass looked familiar!
I am the current owner of TB2000 #0. I bought it off
of Bill Kaman who bought it off of one of the former
employees (maybe your brother.)
Thanks always for your great contributions!
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Obie
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| Posted: 07/15/2008 at 7:44 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Wiggle,
I don't think my brother owned those particular guitars but I could be wrong. He seemed to be very reluctant to let any guitars go. I have a photo shot in his house in 1977 showing five guitars. He still owned four of them 30 years later. I know he knew Bill Kaman and probably contributed to the article he wrote for Vintage Guitar. I expect when I plow through his papers I find mention of them if he owned them.
And now for today's contribution. The serial number notes for the Wedges.
http://img136.imageshack......6/1318/tb4000sheetam4.jpg
http://img136.imageshack......6/4282/tb3000sheethb8.jpg
Kurt O
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Chris Hall
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Posts: 97
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| Posted: 07/17/2008 at 12:02 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Funny, I didn't even think about the fact that there were probably records of the wedges, and I own one.
My TB4000 is #37. Wonder why it's underlined... Maybe that was to show the end of a production run or something?
I was kinda hoping it'd have the original owner's name next to it... :) I know at least two of the previous owners names, so that's more than most most people at least.
Thanks for taking the time out of your day to post all of this stuff.
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Vincent Gallo
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| Posted: 07/18/2008 at 11:02 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Dear Obie, thanks for the Wedge notes.
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Obie
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admin
Joined:
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| Posted: 07/19/2008 at 8:01 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Hello Kurt
Awesome photos.. yet again!!!! I have an idea who is holding that double wedge. I'll get confirmation soon.
I'll be working on the 'historic photo gallery' section soon,
Thanks!
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holmes
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| Posted: 07/23/2008 at 8:59 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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genuinly kurt you have completly renewed my enthusiam for this board. thank you many, many times over.
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Obie
Joined:
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Posts: 47
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| Posted: 07/23/2008 at 2:02 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Thanks holmes,
It does my heart good to hear that. Believe me, there is some very cool stuff coming!
Stay tuned and keep the faith.
Kurt
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frankintank
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| Posted: 08/15/2008 at 2:07 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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The guy holding the wedge is Charlie Pelland.
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Reilly
Joined:
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| Posted: 08/15/2008 at 2:26 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Hi Bean Enthusiasts,
My name is David Reilly. I was a friend of Obe's since childhood. Our mutual interest in music and making things led us to parallel paths in the music biz. Obe as a guitar builder and then master repair man; me as a guitar tech for a bunch of folks you've heard of and some you maybe have not. The list is on my website http://www.stringandstrobe.com.
I used to try to get him to come out on the road; either to sub for me on a tour I could not do, or to join me on a tour I was working. Smart guy; he never went for it. Stayed in town and continued with a pivotal career building some of the finest guitars of the era.
Anyway, he was a good friend during the various eras when we were close, we were even next door neighbors for awhile, and a continuing inspiration even when we were not in touch. I miss him. I have put up a tribute web page for him at my site, and i hope that you will check it out and contribute any comments, memories, stories, photos, whatever you may have about this great guy. And thanks Kurt. I am so glad you are making some of his life's work available- both here in archival form or on ebay for purchase. I have been bidding but these guys are voracious.
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admin
Joined:
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 8:58 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Thanks Reilly.
Looks like you had a problem with the URL you added. I corrected it.. and it's going to the right page now. Thanks for putting that page up.
Thanks!
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Reilly
Joined:
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Posts: 2
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 1:10 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Admin,
Thanks for fixing the URL. I should have checked it. Time to buy you that beer now. Last time I tried, PayPal stalled. No one will say for sure but I think it stalls when it sees my New Zealand ISP.
By the way, I loved the Bonham's auction/Jerry's guitar thread. Quite the drama. The members of this site really go the distance. So many dubious guitars out there... and so much money.
cheers,
DR
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humbuck
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admin
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Posts: 446
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 1:27 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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That is tape. Notice that the whole neck is taped up to help prevent damage.
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gtrshp
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 3:50 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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I believe that blue might be some remaining polishing compound. I've seen that same blue/purple color on TB necks,, in the same area, the non-polished areas that are hidden once assembled. I figured it was left over polishing compound.
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GregBailey
Joined:
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Posts: 21
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 4:26 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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To me, the blue stuff looks like Dykem. Dykem is a marking dye. What you do it spray it or brush it on and when you use a scribe or something to mark the metal, it helps you to see your lines or markings. I use it all the time, it comes in red and blue. I prefer the red, but a lot of people like the blue. It's hard to tell from the picture, but that's what it looks like to me, but I don't even know if they used Dykem? It could be the polishing compound, but usually it will look black, especially after you polish the aluminum because the aluminum will mix with the compound. Generally, compounds are applied to the wheel and in turn it gets transfered to the part.
Greg
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admin
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| Posted: 08/17/2008 at 7:11 PM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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And the winner is...GregBailey!
I made a few phone calls.. and it's officially Dykem. Not sure why it was on at that point of production though.. but they used Dykem often.
Thanks humbuck for bringing up the question.
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humbuck
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| Posted: 08/18/2008 at 2:26 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Thanks for the answers, I was just curious as my artist has the same spot coloured blue as well as it has a X mark on the top end of the neck. I still wonder in what period they used this Dykem as it was the first time i've seen this.
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humbuck
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| Posted: 08/18/2008 at 3:14 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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Sorry, bottom-end
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GregBailey
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| Posted: 08/18/2008 at 8:27 AM Post subject: RE:The Obe Files |
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HI,
Well, let's see if I can go 2 for 2 here. Judging by the fact that you see the Dykem at this point, after the the sides of the receiver are milled and it's only near the fingerboard end of the receiver, I would guess that the Dykem is there so they could mark the radiused areas to match the body. That's the way I would do it anyway.
By the way, this is one of the best threads I've read on this furum, especially recently.
THANKS KURT!
Greg
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