I think I’m over it, but I recently had some bad Harley Benton related GAS. Look how awesome and cheap these things are! You know I have a thing for weird guitars. You know I have a thing for cheap guitars. This one like the Travecaster is cool. That’s on another list.
Bert – a.k.a. ERiC AiXeLsyD – rocking the Dewey Decibel FlipOut Lit Cigarette model.
OK. So, you probably know I like weird guitars. Someday I will have profiles up of all of them on another blog. You may have even read about my Dewey Decibel FlipOut before, or have seen the FlipOut before (or even the knock-off Flipped brand). While the Galveston BB Stone certainly started my weird guitar obsession, the FlipOut solidified it. Sadly, I came to it after AiXeLsyD had been done for a while, and I think even after Gasoline Dion. It some incredibly small and ancient circles I will always be known as ERiC AiXeLsyD. I did, get to gig out with the FlipOut, quite a lot, with Ernie and the Berts.
A while back, I had the opportunity to reach out to Jimmie Bruhn about the Indy Custom Flycaster, and way way back I did some research on the BB Stone. (I have to try to recover all the stuff that used to live on SquareGuitar.com, all those links are now dead.)
I thought it would be fun to try and track down Dewey Decibel(a.k.a. Joe Jerardi – or is it Joe Geradri? Stage names are fun.), and get some insight on the inception and production of one of my favorite axes!
After some emails exchanged, here’s the story from the man himself!
Hi Eric,
I’m awfully sorry there was a delay on getting back to you. I honestly have had my hands full this year, and it slipped my mind. Just for your patience, I can offer the most information I’ve shared about my FlipOut days to this point. And thanks for asking.
I was performing solo in NY back in the 90s, playing CBGBs and many of the NY clubs. My stage name was Dewey Decibel, and I always performed hooked up to an IV pole. Just a thing I did – never mentioned it on stage. Played electric guitar, with synth sequencers for backing, plus voice.
One day I thought of this backward guitar – Its just wood I thought – so it would play the same, just super unsettling, and deeply rock and roll to my mind. I found one shop out of all the NY guitar techs who would follow my instruction. It was Rick from Carmine Street Guitars. I love him because he didn’t even blink, just said “sure, I can do that”. I went on to form a band called… Dewey Decibel, and kept doing shows, and finished up my third album “Unnecessarily Beautiful” with those guys, great players Jon Howard, and Martin Miller. We did good work. I always played the original FlipOut, which started its life as a Fernandes brand Strat. I always had the IV drip by my side.
Back cover for the Dewey Decibel album Unnecessarily Beautiful | Original FlipOut prototype of a modified Fernandes Strat copy pictured!
We did no real promotion for the album, for any of my albums, so they reside in resplendent obscurity, rarely to surface.
Here is what exists online, though there are 3+ albums and an EP somewhere:
Dewey Decibel | Unnecessarily Beautiful | Pictured: Martin Miller (Drums) ● Dewey Decibel (Voice/Guitar/Keys) ● John Howard (Bass)
At shows, my guitar got so much crazy attention I conceived of the nutty plan to use a release of these guitars to bring attention to my band. In 2003 I went to the NAMM show on the recommendation of a friend, to look for a manufacturer. There I approached many confused factory reps from Asia, and ended up having luck with a Korean group who were ready to please. I ordered some prototypes during that year, and tweaked things. Then at 2004 NAMM I introduced them to the unsuspecting earthlings, took orders, and started shipping out of San Francisco once the container ship arrived. That first NAMM show was funny funny stupid funny.
Art from the Dewey Decibel website.
The stupid part was that Fender lawyers sent me a letter on the opening day of my NAMM launch that I was in breach of their trademarks. This is a much longer story but I ended up licensing with Fender later, which was great for name dropping and demonstrating to folks that it was a quality guitar.
I was living in a warehouse with boxes of these guitars and my drum set. It was a time of odd existence, taking orders, shipping, doing R&D, and lining up reviews with the big guitar magazines. The FlipOut got strong thumbs up reviews in Guitar Player as well as Guitar One. I did care about the feel of the neck and the pickups. It’s self evident I think when you handle one.
I was moving forward on the BottomOut bass, having received a few prototypes which worked nicely. Even took orders. The problem was that the whole business had me working in too many directions, and exhausted. I’d gone to Europe, and did a bunch of sales, there and in Australia too. I was overworking, and getting wiped out. This was all on my own, and I’d been living with some fantasy that these cool guitars would elevate the music, and demonstrate my sovereign rock and roll whimsy. But alas, the FlipOut project ended at around 500 guitars because I was exhausted, the R&D was too slow, and I couldn’t parlay the thing into working for another manufacturer. I was too much of a lone wolf for them. So I went back to graphic design and animation. I’m an animator today living in incredible San Antonio. I also continue writing and recording a new album, to be released secretly into thrift store bins.
The guitar colors were just my favorites at the time, the names were inspired by memories. Barry Leventhal was I think a kid I played in little league with. Austin really had cabs colored like the guitar.
I’ve seen the FlipOut rip-offs coming from Europe/China, and they look ridiculous, all backward and stuff. Just joking – I guess it was inevitable someone would cash in.
Hey thanks for your interest. Hoping it fills in some detail.
Until now, this is pretty much all that was out there on the FlipOut!
FlipOut models & colors
How cool is that? The entire story from the man himself! I urge you to go check out the music of Dewey Decibel.
The only mods I had done to mine is the inimitable Aaron Hutzel drop in some GFS Lil Killer rails. This was not a kock at all to the original sound, but the humbuckers are more my thing.
Did you see part one? I felt like posting all my guitars online simply for something else to look at, and I thought others might enjoy.
I still plan to blog about some of the more interesting ones. Hopefully you guys enjoy the content. Thanks for the likes on social media. I don’t think anyone else started to use the #AllMyAxes hashtag. Oh well. Ha ha.
Show me some of yours in the comments, tag me on social media, or use your own hashtag!
I certainly don’t need another guitar. I’m always looking at them though. There are just so many different kinds out there, and I can appreciate almost all of them. Some I actually sort of drool over, & eventually I end up with one. I don’t think 13 Guitars in 2013 will ever become a reality. I can always add cool guitars to my Pinterest board, right?
These are some that I’m always thinking about…
Epiphone USA Map Guitar
Like this…
The Epiphone USA Map Guitar – It has to be ridiculously cumbersome to play, but no more than my Galveston B.B. Stone. The brown finish is neat, but I’d love it to look like an old-school pastel textbook map of the USA. They pop up on ebay every once in a while, but none are ever priced low enough that I feel it’s a “must buy” because I’ll never see the same deal again. There are other companies that make them too. I’m not picky, I just like the shape & the idea. It would certainly be a fun one on stage.
Fernandes Ravelle
Deluxe
The Fernandes Ravelle – I’d like any of them really, but the green Dave Kushner model is awesome. I dig the green color, and the sweet pick guard with holes in it. I love how it takes the classic Les Paul shape, and makes it a little Alien. The curves are awesome. I dig the sound too, on the Velvet Revolver albums & live show. I’ve seen a few in action at shows around here, but I’ve only seen one for sale at Guitar Center in Robinson. I almost dropped more money than I could afford on it… it was only around $500 which seemed reasonable. Sadly, I made a sound financial decision that day.
Fretlight Guitar
Fretlight® Guitar – It seems like it would just be really fun to play with one. I might even learn a scale other than the pentatonic with one. I like the old school one with the knobs & switches. I don’t know if I’d even gig out with it, unless you could program it to make a cool light show or spell out the name of your band or something tasteless & offensive on the fretboard. Maybe even the word “POOP” because, well, that’s always funny.
Hallmark Guitars Wing-Bat
Hallmark Guitars Wing-Bat – Or the George Barris Batman guitar. I’ll probably never have enough money to own this thing, but it sure is cool. No Batmobile beats the 60’s Batmobile… and this thing looks like it was in the trunk all along. If anyone has one that needs a good home, let me know. I’ll play it & take care of it quite well. I’d gig out with it too. It’s a shame when these collector guitars hit a shelf somewhere never to be played again.
DIPinto Mach IV
DiPinto Mach IV – One of my favorite guitars playersplays one of these sweet-looking axes. It’s very eye-catching. It’s almost like a Mosrite, but not quite. Gel from The Eyeliners is one hell of a guitar player, & the reason I want one. I’m generally not a fan of red guitars, but with this… I’d like a red one.
Annihilator
Annihilator copy by Oktober Guitars – I’m not nearly as cool as Doyle, but I’d love to play one… being a Misfits Fiend for all these years. I’m not sure I’ll ever have $600 lying around for a guitar that I wouldn’t play all the time.
Stratocaster Evolution / Everything Changes but Guitars (I wish I knew the original source.)
At first, it made me laugh and think “humph, yeah…” in agreement. The more I thought about it though… it’s wrong. How is it wrong?
Well as far as concept cars go, it’s a whole different world from everyday-use practical cars. Nothing has gone all that far from 4 wheels, 2 headlights, gasoline powered. (Yes, there are hybrids and flex-fuel all over the market… but arguably people don’t like them unless they look like “normal” cars.) But, this blog isn’t about cars. I’m sure you knew I was going to talk guitars, because that’s what I do.
There are a ridiculous amounts of varying styles of guitars & guitar innovations out there. Some of them may not be “reinventing the wheel” exactly, but there is always some great stuff happening, and there has been since the inception of the stringed instrument. How do you think we got so many varieties?
Krank Amplification | Evolution Of The Electric Guitar
I agree that too many axe-slingers fall into the Stratocaster or Les Paul shape trap. For years I held a disdain for both shapes… but I come back to them. Why? Perhaps they’re good designs. Perhaps they’re iconic. Perhaps they sound incredible. Perhaps they work. There aremany other options out there. If you find yourself chuckling to and agreeing with this graphic, I challenge you to help me to add to my list of innovative guitars.
Let’s talk about how the guitar is ever-evolving… Shape, materials, string count, innovation, & general insanity.
Indy Custom Flycaster (or Tele-V?)
There are lots of shapes out there past the Stratocaster or Les Paul, whether it’s somewhat normal or custom insanity. There’s the SG, the Telecaster, V’s (Flying, Jackson & more), hollowbodies like the Artcore or Gretsch models, the Explorer, the Ravelle, all the crazy B.C. Rich shapes, the Airline, even the Flycaster. Are there really not enough guitar design shapes out there to satisfy you? The Stratocaster doesn’t need to change shape, because there are plenty of other options out there! I’m barely hitting the tip of the iceberg here. I didn’t even touch on my B.B. Stone, FlipOut, or Batman axes. How many distinct guitar shapes can you name in the comments? (Actual produced shapes, not one-offs!) Bonus for posting or linking to photos.
World’s Largest Playable Guitar being set up at the Carnegie Science Center – Pittsburgh, PA (Photo Credit: Kara / @ohidontthinkso)
The traveling guitar exhibit is at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh right now. I can’t wait to check it out. It’s got the world’s largest playable guitar. I was lucky enough to get a preview the other day via Twitter. Tell me that’s not an innovation? It will no doubt inspire many to pick up the guitar, or dust off the one they already have. The entire exhibit displays guitars, how they work, their history, & all kinds of fun interaction.
So, next time you think that the guitar has become stagnant, I ask you to go get your hands one one of the many non Strat options above… or even a non-standard Strat option… like a Fat Strat, hot-rodded wiring, or a backwards one. There are plenty of different, innovative, and goofy guitars out there. Rock out on something original!
Karera, Galveston, Eagle, Un-Sung, Silverstar, Brownsville, Galaxy, New York Pro, I’m sure we could name a bunch, in fact… please do!
...at the same overseas factories...
The Galaxy/New York Pro brand insinuates on their website that the stuff is made in the Fender factory. They have the New York Pro line and the Starfire line that seem identical to me. Which “overseas factory”? Is it in Japan? Korea? China? Sweden? Indonesia? The Philippines? France? I don’t know. Can they not name the other manufacturers? Does Fender not want them telling people that this stuff is made in the Squier or Fender factory at night? Do they use cheaper or B-grade wood? They certainly use crappy electronics.
What’s the name of the factory? Can I call them? Do they have a website?
I have heard that the Samick factory makes a bunch of brands that aren’t Samick. Which brands?
So, is it a Galaxy or is it a New York Pro?
My New York Pro (an NY-9303 or NY-111?) is on their site… but it’s called a Galaxy New York Pro Star Gazer . Is the brand Galaxy or New York Pro? How are the Star Gazer & Starfireany different?
I wrote to them with some pretty detailed interview-style questions, but they never wrote back.. Perhaps I was a little too wordy? Maybe I’m asking the wrong questions? I mean, I didn’t even get an “F U” email.
From: Galaxy Guitar Products USA. <sales@galaxyguitar.com> To: me@my.email.address Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Subject: Your Galaxy New York Pro Guitar Question
Hi Eric,
We sell many New York Pro models, please let us know what model you are inquiring about.
Visit our website for more information. Our New York pro guitars are $277.00, this includes quality triple padded gig bag, amp cord & Free shipping any where in the USA.
We are introducing our new line of Galaxy Custom guitars next month.
Thank you for visiting our website & interest in our products.
Our Best Regards,James Westbrook
Support Team
Galaxy Guitar Products USA
A division of Stargate Corporate Alliance, LLC.
Web: www.galaxyguitar.com
email: sales@galaxyguitar.com
Original Message
_____________________________________
Name of sender: Eric
Email of sender: me@my.email.address
————————- COMMENTS ————————-Hello, I heard that you guys also make New York Pro guitars. Is that true?
Where can I go to find information on them? I picked up a natural finish one this weekend at a second-hand store!
Rock on!
-E.
That was my original inquiry via the web & their reply. They must not have understood that I already owned one. Maybe I didn’t even understand that.
Then I sent this:
Hello James,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I guess my questions are general ones about the brand as well as specific ones about my guitar. Is it cool if I ask them like an interview and post the info on my blog? I wrote a blog about my awesome recent New York Pro find here: Inspiration from Hoke·E·Geez (My new ‘New York Pro’ Strat copy)
I’d like to follow-up & maybe hope to raise awareness of your brand(s) and Galaxy Guitars in general? If this is OK with you, I’ll have the questions below. If not, it’s all good… no harm done, right?
On to the Q’s…
So, New York Pro is a brand made by Galaxy Guitar Products USA?
How is it related to the Starfire brand? (Or is Starfire a line of New York Pro guitar?)
What’s the same/what’s different between the two lines or brands? Do they share the same headstock shape?
Are there different “levels” of quality (& SRP) within the New York Pro line?
Is the official model name “Star Gazer” instead of just calling it a Strat Clone or Strat Copy? Why isn’t the model name or number located anywhere on the guitar?
Anything behind the “New York Pro”, “Star Gazer”, or “Starfire” names? Why’d you settle on those?
On some of the sites selling your guitars, I see model numbers like NY111, NY-9303, or NY9330. What do the designations mean?
(Can we get a full list of model numbers, description, colors, etc.?)
Do you have photos of all the available finishes/models?
Are there serial numbers anywhere on the guitars? (I can’t seem to find one on mine.)
Where are the guitars made? (Country, and/or can you name the factory?)
Can you name the other lines that come out of the same factory? (I understand if that’s a no-no. It always seems to be a big mystery! I have a Galveston B.B. Stone & any information about the company online is nonexistent, same with a Batman Logo prize guitar from Six Flags. I wish I had this opportunity to talk to their creators!)
What kind of electronics/hardware are in there? Do you guys make them too? Are they “no names”, or are they by someone we might have heard of? (Looks like the site has Kluson tuners listed.)
What other lines of guitars do you make? Do they all say “New York Pro” or “Galaxy Guitar Products” on the headstock?
How are these guitars so affordable? (& what’s your suggested manufacturer’s retail price?)
Where can you get them online or in person?
Now, on to my specific guitar (I have some photos attached)… The natural wood-grain finish caught my eye. I’ve been told it’s a mahogany body. Is that true?
Can you tell the model name/number from the photos?
Is this a Star Gazer?
Does it have an NY#### number?
Any way to tell what year it was made? (I have my guitars registered at Ax Vault & Share My Guitar, looking to fill in model names, wood types, years made, serial numbers, etc.)
What type of wood is used on the body/neck/fingerboard? (The site seems to indicate a 24-3/4 rosewood fingerboard, but says it’s a hard rock 1-piece maple neck, and the stripe in the back of the neck is mahogany, right? It calls it a bass wood body… is it basswood, or mahogany?)
Anything else you’d like to put out there about Galaxy Guitars, the New York Pro, Star Gazer, or Starfire names? I’m hoping some odd-guitar/budget-guitar geeks will find this page when they’re doing research!
Thank you for your time & help, I’m very happy to have found such a great axe at such a bargain price!
Rock on!
-E.
.seitilibasid gninrael fo nuf ekam ot ynnuf ton yllaer s’tI
Which they must have found annoying, because they never answered. I’m inquisitive. I can’t help it.
I absolutely love my Galveston B.B. Stone… but can’t find squat about Galveston online. (Come on! I mean even Cort & Hamer have websites!) I know my guitar was made in Korea, and some have the Eagle brand. Are they all made in the same place? Are they one-offs? My Batman logo guitar… I have no idea where it was made either. Was it in a mysterious overseas factory? Was it from bad parts? (The nut is crooked.) The FlipOut has a website, but they seem to be defunct, and I have no idea where it was made.
Was My New York Pro made at the same place they make Fenders or Sqiuers with inferior parts & under cover of night? Why does everyone and their mother make Stratocaster and Les Paul copies? Don’t get me wrong, companies like Agile make some absolutely beautiful Les Paul style axes… and I do own an Epiphone Les Paul, a generic LP copy, a Japanese Strat, & now a generic Strat copy. I guess there’s a market for these guitars or no one would bother to make them.
What’s the deal with headstocks again? Some rule about being able to patent/copyright the headstock shape, but not the body?
Someone needs to put together a chart… of all the brands, who makes them, and where they’re made. Is it even possible? Does it already exist & I’m the last person to know about it? Why is this stuff such a secret?
Please tell me about an off brand, who-makes-who, what’s made where, or anything that you know. A link to back it up would be incredible.
And a question no one can answer… Why do I like weird & knockoff guitars so much?
This isn’t all an all-out super in-depth review, but I wanted to post that I really enjoyed the show the other night at Stage AE with Ascend the Fallen, The Bloody Seamen, Lady Beast, & Dethlehem. All of the bands put forth a great effort, and the (giant) crowd was pleased. I managed to take a ridiculous amount of photos, and some of them even turned out pretty cool.
Professor Richard Smallchange (Channeling Lord Bonecrush) & Hairy Valentine
If you’re on the Facebook and know the bands (or anyone else) in the photos, please tag ’em!
Ascend the Fallen
Ascend the Fallen was all over the place… literally. They’re quite the active bunch up on stage. They run n’ jump all over the place & had the crowd all riled up. Those cats can shred. They were a perfect opener for this gig, getting everyone ready for the things to come.
The Bloody Seamen
The Bloody Seamen always blow me away. Their showmanship & dedication to character is unmatched. My wife (who’s not a metal fan by any means) saw them for the first time the other night & became an instant fan. Their catchy choruses, funny tales, and ridiculous stage presence will easily shanghai many a fan. Something about everyone yelling during some of the aforementioned catchy choruses & the melodies have a very Dropkick Murphys/Flogging Molly sort of feel. I’m sure the fife, accordions & bagpipes don’t hurt there either. I’m going to have to try to barter with some doubloons to get my hands on some of their bootleg demos or something to hold me off until they have a proper album out for purchase. Also… where else can you see a guitarist snap all of their strings with a machete at the end of their set, a fire-breathing sea-captain, and a bass player with a really creepy dead eye? The highlight the other night was watching “Filthy” Cheswick Springdale decided to throw his guitar on the ground & assault it with his combo amp head while it squealed, only yo expertly cut it off when the song ended by unplugging the feedbacking beast.
Gunny
Lady Beast
Lady Beast rocked hard. One dude on guitar had a Ravelle and made me extremely jealous. Their singer is one hell of a positive role model for women into metal. There were more ladies packed in front of the stage for their set than I have ever seen at a predominantly metal show in all my years of going to & playing shows combined. It doesn’t hurt that she’s got great pipes and the band has a really heavy attack without sacrificing groove or melody. These cats can play hard. I’ll be anxiously awaiting their album, and I plan to check out more of their gigs!
Deb
Overlord Brom
Dethlehem
Of course, I may have biased opinions on Dethlehem. They are absolutely ridiculous, and no one deserved headline an all-local-acts show at Stage AE more than them. These guys put a crazy amount of effort into not only the performance… but the song-writing, the shredding, the drumming, the singing, the over-all story arc, the costumes, and the entire production. Someone needs to interview them & ask about the stuff they do to constantly take their playing & song-writing to the next level. Trust me, it’s intense. Sometimes people might look over that due to the theatrics.
Dethlehem
It was great to be there for the first full show of the new Brutalitus the Bloodbeard, and it was very cool that Professor Dick Smallchange helped narrate and channeled Lord Bonecrush, joining the apparently chronic self-pleasuring barbarian-turned-blacksmith Sean “Hairy” Valentine for an encore. The troll/ogre being made a eunuch, the birthing & bloody decapitation of said newborn, …both fantastic moments of on-stage debauchery. The music itself was spectacular… with fretboard acrobatics by Bovice and Hildor, a helmeted Brom for nearly the entire show, Davidicus is truly a wizard of the low-end and keeping things going between songs with the interludes. Bloodbeard proves himself to be a mighty vocalist, looking forward to his development with the band.
Headbangin' Hairy
I found a bunch of cool videos of that night online, enjoy!
If you have any links to more photos and/or video, please share!
I do have to say… I don’t get why the Prince guitar is for repugnant individuals. I guess if you’re not Prince, it is a goofy axe to sling. I am glad that the boring Washburn/Jackson/Ibanez shape is all the way on the left though. I just can’t get behind them. I’m not sure why the oh-so-common Les Paul and Stratocaster shapes convey any level of trustworthiness of the player. Perhaps I’m over-thinking. This is quite amusing nonetheless.
World (and Lunar) Domination 