This
design is the most forthright TCM interpretation of
my favorite vintage Gibson tones to date.
Syrupy, violin-esque qualities are readily apparent
on single notes, yet one can play a full G Major
barre chord at the 3rd fret, and hear all of the
notes. It is a delicate balance that took a
bit of thought to achieve, and is very difficult to
describe absolutely accurately.
I
feel that the Gemini offers forth tones that are
unique in the TCM lineup. No other TCM
sounds... or can be made to sound...quite like it.
This is my intention, and I truly hope that those of
you who have a chance to try one will approve.
These
custom wound humbuckers by Peter Florance (VooDoo)
have become favorites of mine. They are outstanding
PAF-style pickups. Like all truly great pickups,
they are very reactive to the particular guitar that
they are installed in, and will sound markedly
different in different designs. The woody, rich,
resonance of the Gemini is accurately served up with
help from these pickups. It’s a very good match for
this design.
◘ Double
cutaway design.
◘ Shallow top carve.
◘ One piece Swamp Ash body.
◘ Large, semi-hollow chambering.
◘ Bound F-hole located on lower bout.
◘ Book-matched big leaf maple quilt top.
◘ Body completely bound.
◘
One piece Honduras mahogany neck.
◘
24-3/4" scale length.
◘ Bound Gaboon ebony fretboard.
◘ 25th AE vine inlay, mother of pearl.
◘ Bound Gaboon ebony finger-rest.
◘ Bound Gaboon ebony truss rod cover.
◘ Bound Gaboon ebony headstock veneer.
◘ Pearl signature inlay on headstock veneer.
◘ Ebony control knobs and switch tip.
Please
see the full gallery below for more images of this
guitar...
04/12/2004 09:24 PM -0400
If
you have questions about any of the new or upcoming
TCM 25th
Anniversary Edition Guitars, please go take a look
at the 25th
Anniversary Edition Guitars - FAQthat we've
prepared on this subject.
Terry has written
a first hand account of his experience in the world of guitars
for the past 25 years, please go read the complete story for more
infromation.
Also, if you don't
see something you like here, please go check out our
Designer's Reserve
Program. We developed the Designer's Reserve
Program to enable our customers to build custom TCM
guitars.
Gemini #25003 - Gallery
This one already went to
Indoor Storm...SOLD!
The
pickguard was not been permanently installed to
allow the customer to choose their preference in
styling. Installing merely requires the drilling of
two small screw holes...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“The
Zebra Nut has a distinctive look, but that is not
it’s main purpose. The solid bone face lends a more
“bell-like” tone to the open strings than does our
solid composite nut, and the lubricants in the
composite backing provide far better tuning
stability than a solid bone nut. I came up with this
idea in 1982, it is still exclusive to TCM, and they
do work well.” –
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“The
pickguard is made of Gaboon ebony and is ivoroid
bound. It is finished with 5 coats of tung oil. It
is suspended from an adjustable bracket, ala LP. I
am one of those players who really likes this type
of ‘finger rest’, as my pinky parks on it when I
play single-note passages. It is angled so as to be
unobtrusive when strumming.” -
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“This
is my new “vine” inlay. I’m going for a quasi
art-deco look, as opposed to the more Victorian
style of the tree-of-life design. Solid mother of
pearl set into a gaboon ebony fretboard which
features a 24.625” scale length. This is the actual,
true scale length of the late 1950’s Gibson Les
Paul, ES series, etc.” -
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“I’ve
learned over the years that the same materials can
produce markedly different results in the hands of
different builders, and in different overall
designs.” –
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
Here
you can see the dual volume controls, master tone
control, selector switch and output jack. If you
look carefully, you can see the TCM shock protect
circuit, which prevents the possibility of a lethal
voltage reaching the strings. The pots are CTS, and
the cavity is completely shielded for quiet, low-hum
operation...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“The
contrasting pore filler makes the grain on this
one-piece swamp ash back really stand out. Swamp
Ash, as used in this design, sounds remarkably like
a cross of old-growth mahogany and korina. This may
surprise some of us who associate this wood with
Fender-style guitars. The Gemini has very little in
common with the Telecaster or the Stratocaster.” -
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“In
order to provide a substantial neck joint as well as
super- easy 22nd fret access, a new approach is
called for. Here’s my take on it - in terms of glue
joint surface area, the Gemini neck joint is
substantial...closer to that of many single-cutaways
than to double-cutaways. To me, the importance of
the neck joint on a stringed instrument cannot be
overstated. A very tight fit, a lack of glue-filled
voids, and a lot of internal joint surface area is,
to me, crucial. It makes a difference that even
non-players can hear. There is plenty of body wood
underneath the actual joint, which is very important
to me as well.” –
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
Hand-signed
by Terry...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
The
pearloid buttons match the pearl inlay nicely...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
“Getting
the tone chamber to work correctly took some
thought, to be sure. You are looking at a
semi-hollow electric without live and dead spots on
the fretboard. This is... partly... due to the fact
that the chamber is tuned to a pitch that doesn’t
match any natural note on the neck.” -
Terry
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
Hardware
in place and ready to test...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
High
quality ebony is veneered to the mahogany
headstock...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
Now
that all the coats are applied, the Gemini will hang
around and cure...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
This
beautiful piece of playable art will now undergo a
major transformation as Terry works his magic as a
master finisher...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
The
Gemini receives its first in a series of many finish
applications...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
The
guitar has been thoroughly checked over and is now
ready to enter the finishing department...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
As
part of our 25th Anniversary pearl package, the
ebony headstock veneer is inlaid with our first ever
mother of pearl signature. The back of the headstock
will still be hand signed by Terry...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
The
neck received our best fret job and is now
officially married to the body...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
The
mother of pearl inlay is perfectly inset into the
highest quality gaboon ebony board. Now we'll glue
the board on the neck and get the frets in...
Click the
image to the left to see a full-size version...
