Ultimate Rhoads

Kelly has probably the most amazing bass. Here is why: Perry Ormsby (Ormsby Guitars) built Kelly Garni’s amazing 8 string bass. (Sorry but the pictures only show bass strung temporarily with 4 strings). Kelly talks about it here:

http://www.rockstarweekly.com/mp3/kellygarni/16.mp3

The body is Tasmanian blackwood. (Picture 1)

Standard rock maple was used for the circular portrait. (Picture 2)

It has a flame maple neck with blue maple pinstripes. (Picture 3)

The front of the body is quilted maple. (Picture 4)

Randy’s thumbnail was NOT ground up and used in the lacquer. Instead it was imbedded in clear resin and housed inside a plectrum-shaped hole in the headstock.(Picture 5)

Kelly talks about Randy’s fingernail here:

http://www.rockstarweekly.com/mp3/kellygarni/17.mp3

In the cavity of the body just below the front pickup is housed all of the music that Randy wrote with Quiet Riot. This includes the vocals, leads, rhythm, bass and drum tracks. They have been converted onto microfiche film and housed like a time capsule along with a personal note from Kelly Garni to Randy thanking him for teaching him bass. (Picture 6)

Fretboard inlaid with the piece of music Hey Joe. This was the first song Randy and Kelly played together. (Picture 7 )

The inlay is Chinese turquoise, Afghanistan azurite (darker blue). The vertical lines are birdseye maple, bar lines are maple boiled with blue stain. The treble clef and time signature is abalone. (Picture 8 )

An etching is carved out on the back side which is a quote from Randy. It states, “Five years from now I would love to have people know me as a guitar hero”. The self portrait of Randy was originally on the cover of Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazine February of 1995. A hi resolution scan of the photo was taken and then a modified laser burner was carefully used over nine hours and needed 12 redoes to complete the etching. (Picture 9)

Kelly with his amazing bass. (Picture 10)

Here are pictures 7-9.

Kelly With His Finished 8 String Bass

Wow, that guy REALLY looks like me!



Thanks Electric Angel!

Hmmm, look what I found!




















We shall talk more about this real soon





.

A truly beautiful piece of craftsmanship Mr. Ormsby.

Tom

whoopiecat wrote:A truly beautiful piece of craftsmanship Mr. Ormsby.

Tom

Thank you Mr Cat!

Perry how long did it take to put that guitar together ?. A beautiful guitar and a nice tribute to Randy.

5.5 weeks.

I got the call. We chatted and emailed back and forth for a week. I booked my flights, and started building. Not my fastest build (44 hours for two guitars), but certainly one of the most hectic. Couldnt work without a film crew there. They were always running late, or needed to set up, etc etc. Parts didnt rock up. Parts went missing. Thumbnails went missing. Products were faulty. Lasers didnt work, etc etc. But, I prefer to work under pressure and to a definate deadline, otherwise I just procrastinate. My most 'famous' guitars (or at least my most well known) have all been absolute rush jobs, nail biting all the way to the deadline, finished within minutes (or hours) of when they are required. But, they are my best work, and the guitars im REALLY proud of. I definately work better under pressure

It certainly doesn't show any signs whatsoever of being a 'rush job'. The paint job is gorgeous, and Randy's portrait on the back is jaw dropping.
Just...Wow!

BEAUTIFUL CRAFTSMANSHIP!!!!!!!!YOU ARE A TRUE ARTIST!!!!!

Thanks guys. When I say 'rush job', i mean more that I didnt have my usual 6-48month lead time to think about it! It was more like, think of the specs, come up with the components, and start straight away. My usual way of working is very different to that.

Anyone notice all the polka dot flying v's in the background of this pic.
.

Beautiful guitar, kelly looks really happy with it.



jas

Kelly LOVES his bass!!! It's his "pride & joy"!! He practically slept with it the first few nights...he couldn't take his eyes off it! He needed it with him at all times!! The bass plays amazing...it reverberates & has tone even when it isn't plugged in, it's harmonic, as though it has a mind of it's own & we think it does!! (we truly think Randy has ALOT to do with that!!) LOL And Perry was absolutely ADORABLE!! Such talent & soft-spoken grace about him! He's a jewel! We can't wait to see Perry again! We hated letting him go! Just a lovely man from the land down under!! Kelly & I feel blessed to have met him & Kelly will always hold Perry in his heart for the wonderful bass (gift) Perry created for him! There's a "bond" now between Perry, Kelly & Randy!!

I completely understand the excitement. Before I got my Classical guitar I didn't sleep the night before and for weeks after (and still now sometimes) just stare at him; I call him Rik (the other is Tony )

Congratulations on a fine and unique axe!

Matt