The Curious Tale of the 'Discoverer Bass'..

A long long time ago in a land, far or not too far away, a man of some imagination (Ted McCarty) designed guitars of fantastical awe. These guitars; 'The Explorer' The Flying V' and 'The Moderne' became as we know it, 'the white stags of myth'. A writer on the history of Gibson guitars, Ian C. Bishop, released a book with a seemingly startling revelation, that there was a 4th body shape! The Discoverer Bass:



Sometime later, this was (sadly) revealed to be a hoax. And in the years since Gibson never did file a patent. The book Ian C. Bishop wrote was VERY popular, and many had seen the hoax Discoverer bass.

On a totally harmonic note *cough cough*.. Dean Zelinsky around this time came up with the ML body shape, which is a mirror of the hoax Discoverer bass, with Gibson split headstock.

I have often daydreamed what a Gibson 'Discovery' guitar might be like, but i think it might be like the Dean ML, but having the quality accents that Gibson bring to their mid-range to higher guitars, that Dean don't. Perhaps the reason Gibson haven't sued Dean for using their headstock is.. they like the ML? (The modern Dean headstock is different, but IIRC they used to use the Gibson one on occasion)..

Gibson Futura/Moderne Headstock

feel a family to it and them..? idk.. Dean Zelinsky sold Dean a few years ago, perhaps Gibson should have bought them? .. again idk. But if you ever find an elf under a toadstool, and he/she tells you about this mythical bass, you can reply you know already it is a hoax  ;)

Since 2018 is a *very* special year for the Explorer, the Flying V and Moderne (their 60th birthday), I would love to see a one year only Discovery guitar for 2018 :)  

Original 1958 History Gibson (Thanks to Worthpoint & Worthopedia. Full credit to them for the original) Alt was done by me; Dava. Always give credit when using... and a link to here would be nice!

Alt 1958 History Gibson

My most influential Guitarists

my list

Lead: Slash, Dick Dale, Brian May, David Gilmour.

Rhythm: (early) Andy Cairns, (TSP) Billy Corgan/James Iha, Frank Black, DB Darrell*, Kurt Cobain, (Radiohead) Jonny Greenwood*/Ed O'Brien/Thom Yorke.

I once saw Weezer play on TV live at a German festival.. it was the tightest I had ever seen a band play and still is today*.

I started listening to Korn in the 90's.. once I understood what Jonathan Davis was saying, that music blew me away.


SOAD was a huge influence on me.. in fact I sang Spiders for my NC performance. I have a Vocational Degree in Studio Engineering and Music Performance, 4 years later I went back for top up 1 year National Certificate course.

I threw my heart into it, this song doesn't tolerate half measures.. and I didn't miss a note.. at the end the entire class was: silent.

Then suddenly erupted in applause standing and cheering.:)









Faith No More..

many wretched tracks but then you'll find something like sublime. esp Album of the Year if not then only.


Soundgarden

Chris and Kim's guitar skills are amazing.


Travis

Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop. Local Glasgow band that I also felt the heart of.

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*(NOT Phil Anselmo’s Satanism)

*Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood is often on 'lead duty', but as this is all mixed in, and Ed does 'lead duty' also. Both do Lead and Rhythm with Thom Yorke mostly doing Rhythm.


*Our then Bassist met their Bassist on their 1994 world tour and played him our demo. Our Bassist's uncle was/is a well known boutique amp builder in Scotland. I have never seen a tighter band play.

Weezer.. guitarists are Rivers Cuomo and Brian Bell. Matt Sharp was the bassist atm in 1994.

SOAD .. guitarists are Serj and Daron.

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Special mention to Django Reinhardt, who while I do not listen to him in any regular fashion, blew my mind by his playing so much that I realized it was not only 80s shredders that played fast.. this gave me a new perspective on the guitar.. this and FFVII Chocobo music (Surf Rock).. led me to Dick Dale.


Probably forgot a couple of guitarists.. might be back:)

My Terminology for Guitar Necks..

Hullo WWW


I want to put this out there.. into the ethosphere..

In the 90's Gibson made small fat necks that were very comfortable.
I bought a 2015 SG Standard, it has a super wide regular neck.. I wish it was a 90's neck.
I have a 2011 Melody Maker SG.. its has the 90s neck.. the 2015 is pretty much a 7 string neck and feels awful to play.. well to me anyways some people say they like it.. i think they are lying to themselves.

The Stirling Engine for free electricity..

so I was thinking about the Stirling Engine.. and re-watched this video

HERE

In Scotland we could use the decommissioned oil rigs to create massive engines!

then channel the electricity home via lines..

Water the cold heatsink and the heat being the sun from a large panel (the engine would be upside down)

hmm.. I've got a headache just now so maybe attempt a drawing later..