Emberg Guitars

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Edit Profile

Author Message Admin Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    This message thread was originally part of the conversation entitled "Does George Benson Play Ibanez" in the Hollow & Semi-Hollow section. JohnS ICW JohnS Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Mark: Wild instruments! Hmmm, $2700-4400US...sounds tempting. I don't know that I'd have the guts to do it without hearing/playing it first, tho. What are the 2 stripe in the neck? So let me get this straight. You have access to these beauties and you love cheap Japanese copies!??? You've had 1 too many Fosters, bloke. J Richard Leche Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    My Sentiments exactly John! It seems a little strange and disloyal not to use and therefore endorse your Father's guitars. What's the story Mark? Surely your Father would make a guitar suited to your rockabilly style? Keep on picking Richard. Richard Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    I'm beginning to see promo material on the forthcoming George Benson Gibson. The first one hundred will be exclusive limited edition models costing $10000US dollars. Gibson will be setting up a meeting with these intial purchasers whereby GB will actually present the first 100 himself to the lucky buyers. Gibson will pay the AirFare (US Only). The guitar itself is a cross between an L4 and a Jonny Smith with dimensions similiar to his Gb 10's. The first 100 will have a solid gold GB logo on the headstock. Solid hand carved spruce top heavily flamed maple back and sides and a special pickguard with Gb motif. Fingerboard is ebony with special Gb designed inlay. It is not the same as the Gibson he is playing on his current CD rom. It's far more decorative and is without a doubt one of the most stunning guitars Gibson has ever produced. Gibson are giving this guitar big push, stating that it will be the most significant endorsement since Les Paul and Wes Montgomery. Richard JohnS Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Richard: Be still my heart...10k!!!!??? It does sound purty and but 10k? I guess George should be flattered. Is it the same GB logo as is on the Ibanez guitars? This mark is used on his "official" website and on some album graphics. I wondered if George or Ibanez actually owned it. BTW, what's the source for your info on this new Gibson? Any idea what it's going to be called? Mark Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    John and Richard, In my defense: My love of old Ibanez guitars goes way back to when I was 15 and my father bought me my first electric. A seconhand Ibanez PF100. Man I still wish I had that guitar!! I've always liked products that offered value without compromising quality. In the guitar world Ibanez owns that territory. I collect old Ibanez because they are grossly undervalued by the general guitar community in Australia and are therefore irresistable bargains. I believe it will be only a matter of time before people here start to switch on to the quality/value of old Ibanez. I am simply trying to get in early before I have to pay what you guys pay in the States. Collecting one brand of guitar doesn't mean you are disloyal to another. I play my dad's guitar often and talk about it and show it to as many people as I can. Hence this discussion on your site. I am primarily an electric rock'n'roll guitarist whereas my dad's guitars are primarily acoustic jazz instruments. For this reason I can't play his guitar exclusively. Having said that, I mentioned earlier in this thread that he is building a custom order loaded with p90's and a Bigsby. I'm waiting to see the finished product. Should it prove to be every bit as good as I expect, I will commission one for myself. At that point my trusty Ibanez's will become back-up guitars. Oh and by the way, I also love Gretsches. One day I''ll work up the nerve to drop $5,000 on one of these babies too. But that won't be until I've helped my dad get his guitars the international recognition they deserve. Cheers, Mark Garry Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    HI Mark, I think Perth is one of the last bastions of "IBANEZ" guitar bargains here in Australia. As we've discussed earlier the Jazz guitars and semi-acoustics are getting top dollar here. I saw a flying vee advertised yesterday for $1220Aus.. UNBELIEVABLE!!! Cheers Garry. Vince Rogano Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Hi Mark Your Dad's guitars look fantastic!!!!! Not too sure about your latest Ibanez. I'm a twelve string man from way back - but only one neck. I remember buying my first 12 string (would you believe a Yamaha acoustic). Didn't have an auto at the time, & this guitar had been advertised for sale by a guy who lived on a farm in the hills, so got my buddy Tony to drive me there at break neck speed in case I missed out! Well we made it there in record time, bought the Yamaha just before some other guy turned up to buy it. It was a big day in my life at 17, & I've still got the sucker (the 12 string - not Tony). I play it very occasionally these days. Pretty cool getting GB to appraise that archtop. Anyway Dude, you add some great interest to the discussions. Ciao, Vince. Guitar Tim Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Mark, what a drop-dead gorgeous instrument!! Your father is quite an aritsan and luthier! Get those guitars out there so they can compete...or beat the high priced jazz boxes on the market. Your prices are quite reasonable if the sound is as great as the beauty. The prototype looks like a cross between a Benedetto 25th Anniversary, Heritage Johnny Smith, D'Angelico New Yorker, with a touch of Gibson L5 thrown in for good measure. And those exotic Australian woods! Oh my God!! I am totally weak in the knees for big, flamey-wooded, beautiful jazz boxes with or without ornate decorations. But, I feel the same for any quality built instrument with unique features and materials...such as old and new Ibanez git-fiddles! Oh, and I'm definitely not saving up for the upcoming $10,000+ 'Gibson GB whatever'! Although I can't wait to see it. Guitar Tim Moss Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    JohnS, Seth, Richard Leche, Guitar Tim, Garry Hi, I am Moss Munchneberg, Mark's Father and the Luthier that makes the Emberg range of archtop guitars that you have all been so complimentary about. I thought it is time to join this discussion and answer your questions relating to my instruments. A bit about me. Currently I am a Sales Manager for a large dairy food company (National Foods Ltd) in South Australia. Previously I had a business manufacturing long case grandfather clocks and hand carved Victorian style furniture. I am self taught in most things that I can do. Mark was interested in purchasing a Gretsch archtop, similar to the one played by Brian Setzer. He could not find one, and did not have the funds buy one even if could find one, so he said to me "you can make one for me". That challenge was all that I needed to get started. I connot play a musical instrument of any type. I searched the internet for informtion on making stringed isntruments. As a result of this I made a few violins before starting on my first archtop. The first archtop, Mark's (the one illustrated in this discussion topic) proved to be a good instrument. Encouraged by that I decided to make some more. My third instrument, the one in the hands of George Benson in the picture above is made using Australian Blackwood for the back plate, sides and neck, with Sitka Spruce for the top plate. The unique warm mellow tone of this guitar is typical of Blackwood tonewoods wich is also used for violins. The veneer on the pick guard, headstock and tailpiece is highly flamed Blackwood. Here are the answers to your questions: Seth: Jabiru - Is an Australian native bird usually found in the Northern Territory, particularly in Kakadu National Park. It is also featured on the Northern Territory Emblem. No we have not made contact with Mandolin Brothers at this stage. I want to complete our range of instruments, then Mark and I may make the trip to New York. At this stage I do not want to reveal any detail regarding the proposed sound post in my instruments until their features and benefits are proven. JohnS: The two stripes in the neck of Mark's guitar is made from a wood known as Paduk, it is an orange color. I also use Purple Heart in some of my necks. I have an Emberg demonstration CD. The guitarist is Ray Walker, President of the Western Australian Jazz Society, demonstrating the ability of Mark's guitar and the Blackwood Jabiru, both acoustically and amplified. Forward your postal address to me by return e-mail and I will sent a copy of the CD to you. I don't mind mark collecting cheap Japanese Ibanez guitars. I like to hear him play them over a cold Fosters, he will make a bag of dollars when he sells them in the years to come. Guitar Tim: Many thanks for your most favourable comments about my instruments. I hope you like the pictures I have posted. We have some excellent timbers in Australia, but they are hard to source with the right flame and to get good seasoned tonewood at sensible prices. I have a very good source for European Maple and Spruce from Germany, the Maple has excellent flame. If you would like to hear my CD, send me your postal address by e-mail and I will be to forward you a copy. Again many thanks for your great comments and I look forward to further communications. Best regards Moss M Graeme Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    JUST WONDERING!!!!!! Isn't this the "IBANEZ COLLECTORS SITE"????? JohnS Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Graeme: OK, this has strayed some. As soon as I can figure out how to do it, I'll move the "wayward" portions of this conversation to the Miscellaneous Section. I'll probably call it something like "Emberg Guitars". To Moss: You're amazing! You make it sound TOO easy. JohnS ICW Mark Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Has the similarity of the Emberg headstock to one of Ibanez's designs occured to you guys?? The inspiration for the headstock and neck shape was taken from my blonde FG100. Cheers, Mark Graeme Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Yes Mark, Did George happen to mention it??? Cheers Graeme Mark Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Graeme, GB never mentioned the similarity at all. The lower section of the headstock is wider than the Ibanez, and the corners are sharper too. Cheers, Mark Moss Munchenberg Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Harold You are right, Stewart Mac's do advertise the Benedetto tailpiece in their catalog for $150US. The tailpieces that I make are made from selected Ebony with a veneer and inlay of the customers choice with a 12" radius on the top surface and polished for $185AUD, at the current exchange rate of .536 the cost is $99.16US. The Emberg tailpiece in the photo attached has Madrona Burl veneer with a gumleaf motif. Best regards Moss Munchenberg Munch (Munch) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 6:30 am:    Hi John, Well its been a long time since there has been any mention of Emberg guitars at this Ibanez site. For those that don't know, all the above posts will fill you in on the guitars my father builds. I am currently visiting my parents for Xmas and have had the good fortune of seeing one of his customers new guitars before it was picked up. It is a custom ordered instrument based on the Gibson L5 specifications. Knockout timbers, beautiful honey-toned sunburst, and a velvet smooth tone. Here are some pictures. Enjoy! Regards, MArk Johns (Johns) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 9:04 am:    Mark: Congratulations to your Dad for superb work! The Honeyburst is a beautiful finish. Very, very tasty! Munch (Munch) Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 7:58 am:    Hi John and anyone else who likes beautiful guitars, I have now received some better quality photos of the guitar shown in my last post. Also some shots of a lovely black guitar my Dad built which features offset front and back plates, a florentine cutaway and a real Opal in the headstock. Enjoy!! Regards, Mark Sixvsix (Sixvsix) Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 8:23 am:    Hi Mark Wow! Hats off to your Dad Mark. He's certainly knocking out some class instruments over there in Oz. Wicked flames. Is that local maple or eastern maple imported from the US? The black version is stunning. I think you should christen it the 'Midnight Jazz' model or 'Smokey Joe' or something. Why not look into getting it reviewd in a guitar magazine. How long is the build time on one of these planks? It must cost a small fortune to construct in both materials and time. six Munch (Munch) Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 8:38 am:    Hi Six, All the timbers used are European - sourced from Germany. A Magazine review is a very good idea. I have suggested this to my father who is currently talking to Australian Guitar Magazine. Build time is agonisingly long. However, now that the old man is retired, he can probably crank them out a bit quicker. Yes, materials are expensive, especially when the Aussie dollar softens, but fortunately it has just rallied against the greenback to a 2 year high. Thanks for the compliments. regards, Mark Johns (Johns) Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 9:40 am:    Mark: Great guitars! Your dad's work just keeps getting better. What do you mean by "offset front and back plates"? I notice the last 2 have open book headstock shapes rather than the tulip style from the earlier guitar. Is this a design change that your dad has settled on or something that the buyer can specify? Munch (Munch) Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 5:28 pm:    Hi John, The front and back plates are not parallel to each other as is the usual case. Rather, the guitar is deeper at the tail block than it is at the neck block. This makes for a more comfortable guitar to hold because the neck is on more of a back angle when the guitar is in the playing position. The headstock shapes are up to the buyer. The guy who ordered the burst wanted his guitar to be an L5 replica, but of course the headstock cannot be outright copied. My Dad mimicked the Gibson design but changed it enough to not run into any trouble. On the Opal guitar, the headstock design was purely an experiment to try something different. Regards, Mark

Add Your Message Here Post: -Color- Black Red Green Blue Yellow Purple Orange Cyan Gray White -Font- Arial Courier Symbol Times Verdana -Size- Smallest (-2) Small (-1) Normal Large (+1) Largest (+2) Enter Item number: Username: Posting Information: This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here. Password: Options: Enable HTML code in message Automatically activate URLs in message Action: