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Time Explorer on eBay [pictures removed]

PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:22 pm
by firebird0913
EDIT 19Dec09 Cclark. The eBay seller's rep contacted me and asked that I remove this copy-written photos.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TIME-CUSTOM-EXPLORER-GUITAR-RARE-BEAUTIFUL-VERMONT_W0QQitemZ140301819801QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item140301819801&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

What I wouldn't do to scrape the money for this beauty!

Oh just tossing this out there too....anyone have a PT for sale? I was playing in a metal band around 1985/6 when PTs were on the market....I was weeks away from ordering a PT5 with a really LOUD graphic (bright metallic blue with bright red bengal stripes) and when I was finally ready to place the order, I had learned the barn had burned and the company was no longer in operation....talk about bad timing!

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:02 pm
by ChrisClark
Hey firebird,
Thanks for joining and thanks for the great link!


This is one hot looking guitar. The checkerboard binding is sharp!
I don't remember any orange burst finishes. This looks like it started as a Candy RED with silver as the under coat. Since the RED was an aniline dye tint that the sun can & will fade this color exposing the gold/silver under paint. It usually happened to guitars that sat in a store window too long. The candy pinks did this too.
The Schaller parts and knurled tone switch nuts on this guitar put it in the mid 1983 region. The switchcraft selector switch doesn't look original. It would have been an Alcoswitch.

As Peter Griffin Sez," You know what really grinds my gears?"

The owner thinks Paul Languedoc time travelled to build this one. I also like that the wiring was influenced by the Grateful Dead's guy Doug Orwin. I don't even know who that is! I sent an email to the Ebay broker on this. Let's hope they clarify this auction description,
Chris

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:38 am
by billsimmon
Wow. Those are some loving photographs. I hope all existing Times get that kind of treatment someday! And I hope the seller can fetch that price. Out of my range though!

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:16 am
by firebird0913
Hey Chris!
Thanks for the welcome!....yes I am a Time Guitar junkie from years past. I've been eyeing the forum here for a while, but strayed away from posting on guitar sites for a while, until now.
I remember seeing the ad for the AT and PT guitars (someone who originally worked for the company sent me all the literature that I still have to this day) I was a young metal head in the early 80's into the pointy guitars of the time, and my tastes and style have matured, but my love of the guitars of my youth haven't. I would love to be able to get a hold of a PT...kinda like the "one that got away"...just many years later.

Anyway....that is a gorgeous Explorer, I've seen it before a few years ago in pretty much the same state it's in now (faded and a few changed parts) so I'm safe to assume it's the same one. A blue Flying V pops up every once in a blue moon as well, but I think that one is safely tucked away in a collection now, because I haven't seen it in quite a while. I check ebay for PT's every so often, haven't seen one one at all. Last one I saw in person was at Ed Roman's East Coast music mall back in 1996...and it was retopped and refinished in this hideous transparent (olive) green. He was also asking quite a mint for it as Ed is so lovingly famous for doing.

I will stop babbling, but wanted to pipe back in and say thanks, and good luck to all who may be able to grab that Explorer. I'd love to be able to, but it's out of my range too right now.

Ken (firebird0913)

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:00 pm
by SollyDad
Got to love that checkerboard binding!!!!!

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:40 pm
by ChrisClark
Hey All,
The guitar's great and everything. I think you may be missing my point...

I don't want to see the collector value of Time guitars based on inaccurate information. I don't want to see people buying Times at inflated prices and then later find out that the price they paid was based on who they thought built these guitars. The Time / Phish connection is tenuous. Paul L. didn't start working at Time until 1982. Paul only worked at Time for 4 years. Check your Phish interviews.

This guitar was built by Alan, John & myself. Paul had only built one guitar when he started in 82. We certainly wouldn't have had him do the work this auction is claiming on such a special guitar. At this point, he didn't have the experience. Sure, years later Paul definitively came up to speed and he is a wonderful craftsman now.

The statement about the complex tone switching being influenced by Garcia's guitar guy Irwin is laughable. We just didn't listen to the Dead.

The value of Time is based on their own merits. They are completely unique. They were masterfully conceived and executed. Period.

I feel that I need to speak-up and protect the name. I've emailed the ebay broker about this. I have not received any response or seen corrections on their auction description.

I'll be watching this auction and look forward to your comments.
Thanks,
Still grinding my gears!
Chris

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:07 am
by SollyDad
Right on Chris.

I asked for the serial number of the guitar. the reply said they could have that for me by Friday. I'll let you know...

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:27 pm
by firebird0913
Chris...that's a big pet peeve of mine also...especially as a designer/builder myself.
So I share in your disdain for misinformation.

I had heard at one point in the distant past that Paul wasn't as involved in the building process as originally speculated on...and you just confirmed that.
Thanks for the background behind this great piece...I love to learn...guitar history of any kind interests me profoundly.

That being said...still searching for that elusive PT :lol:

Ken (firebird0913)

Re: Time Explorer on eBay

PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:22 pm
by Tom Plunket
firebird0913 wrote:Anyway....that is a gorgeous Explorer, I've seen it before a few years ago in pretty much the same state it's in now (faded and a few changed parts) so I'm safe to assume it's the same one.


Wow, you're not lying. That thing is gorgeous. It'd make a perfect companion to...

A blue Flying V pops up every once in a blue moon as well, but I think that one is safely tucked away in a collection now, because I haven't seen it in quite a while.


I may have that. There are pictures of it floating around here, and I've got a few on my own website, http://www.fancy.org/music/guitar/. I haven't gotten the serial number off of it yet. Just did for my GS and discovered that it's probably safer and easier just to pull the pickguard. So, maybe sometime soon...