Echopark Guitars created by master luthier Gabriel Currie in Echo Park, CA

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handmade (ˌhændˈmeɪd) (adj)

- made by hand, not by

machine, esp with care

or craftsmanship

HANDCRAFTED INSTRUMENTS - ECHO PARK, CA USA

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Handmade instruments that bleed soul, and ooze tone. Each and every instrument that is created by master luthier Gabriel Currie for Echopark Guitars (TM) is the product of a deeply bred lineage of craftsmanship. For a guitar built with love in mind; for a piece of art that has been coddled and cared for from its inception; for a practical, yet dynamic, tool that is second-to-none for making music; welcome yourself into the ever-expanding world of Echopark Guitars (TM) .

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Gabriel Currie'’s fascination with guitars began during his childhood and has continued ever since; both as a player and, ultimately, as a master luthier. His first exposure to the inner workings of the instrument came during a visit to the Guitar Doctor (Mike Lipe) in Burbank, California in 1980 which inspired him to disassemble his 1960 Fender Music Master to see what made it tick. Needless to say, he was immediately hooked. His new passion landed him in a much-needed role as the local repair and modification tech for all of his high school friends.Shortly after his graduation in 1986, Gabriel found work in the mill at the renowned G&L Guitar Company in Fullerton, California where he worked under the watchful eyes of the legendary Leo Fender. He worked his way up through the ranks to eventually running the body making department. He would laboriously select the finest blanks, glue them up, cut them out, then route them on the pin routers and sand them with the precision of a dedicated builder. He also applied his increasing aptitude for of each aspect of development to maintain quality control during the five years that he worked there. Shortly after Leo's passing, Gabriel found himself wanting to continue his education and thrive beyond his already skillful place in the ranks. In 1992 after a brief hiatus, he sought out Hosono Guitar Works in Glendale, California. There he continued his tutelage with the celebrated Japanese builder Tak Hosono. He spent countless hours building prototypes and producing all of the "USA" custom neck threw models for "Ibanez". It was then that he was also able to meet the highly sought after luthiers Sammy Sanchez and Mike Lipe. Gabriel also delved into making "Sadowski" basses, along with Hosono's mail order custom built necks and bodies. With affectionate recollection, Gabriel remembers, "I was learning from a master craftsman and surrounded by L.A.'s finest independent builders at the time. It was amazing. At Tak's place, I learned how to hand shape necks. I also learned and mastered lamination methods. I was able to work extensively with exotic woods, book matching, fretting, fine sanding, gluing tops and neck threws. You can’t buy that kind of education”." At the same time, Mike Tobias, who was a friend of Tak's, hired him to laminate neck blanks and bodies on a freelance basis.Soon after leaving Hosono, and with his long term and diverse apprenticeship then complete, Gabriel started his own company - G-String Guitar Works - in Pasadena, California. While mostly filling his schedule with repairs and set-ups in 1999, he decided to spend a while playing in a few bands of his own which ultimately transitioned him away from full time guitar making for a while. Between 1999 and 2006, Gabriel started to make his individual mark in the guitar buying community by personally hand making 300 instruments for various players. As 2006 rolled on, he decided to finally start his own, private little company to make 100% handmade, traditionally styled electric guitars."I love Juniors, Teles, some of the Supros and Hagstrums and definitely old Gretches! Those elements combined to create my overall inspiration. The main thing that I wanted to do was to figure out how to make an improved one from start to finish 100% by hand. I want to use my hands, eyes and ears to select and build every part of every instrument. That was the driving force in the idea behind doing this!” In 2009, Gabriel made the first prototype. Then, shortly after, he rented a space in Sun Valley, California and built five more guitars out of the same shop used by both "Lipe Guitars" and "Bill Asher" for his lap steel, acoustic and electric models.At the end of 2010, Gabriel moved his shop to Echo Park, California where he already had a repair shop in the Bed Rock Studios compound. He was immediately enlisted to build custom guitars for the musicians in many of the local upcoming band such as Local Natives, No Age, Fools Gold, Devendra Banhart, Pillar Diaz, and Black Iris, among a long list of others. Echopark Guitars was officially born.“In a thrift shop called Tunsen around the corner from the shop - that’s where I was introduced to Nick Oliveri. I asked him if he needed a bass for the upcoming Kyuss tour. He was beyond enthusiastic and placed all of his trust in me to craft something that would be incredibly personal to him. So I made him Abby. He became my first Echopark Guitars endorsee. He's playin’ the shit outta that bass all over the world this year! “2011 has already become a groundbreaking and non-stop year for Gabriel Currie and his Echopark Guitars(TM) and there is a great deal more to come. “"I still consult with Sammy and Mike. I’m also working with Ryan and Taylor of Local Natives. Then I have an instrument for Randy from No Age. Right now, I'’m working with Mr. Jonny 2 Baggs from Social Distortion to make him a couple of guitars."”Gabriel is still a respected and active working musician which allows him to test drive every instrument he builds in a practical manner. He prides himself on his knowledge of tones.“"I work in an active studio environment at Bedrock. I put these guitars on recordings all the time and listen to the way the sound under a microscope. The response is always the same. These Echopark Guitars sound alive!”" If you are seeking a handmade instrument that bleeds soul, and oozes tone, you have found it. Each and every instrument that is created by Gabriel Currie for Echopark Guitars(TM) is the product of a deeply bred lineage of craftsmanship. For a guitar built with love in mind; for a piece of art that has been coddled and cared for from its inception; for a practical, yet dynamic, tool that is second-to-none for making music; welcome yourself into the ever-expanding world of Echopark Guitars(TM).

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The '55

The '59

The Downtowner(TM)

The Uptowner(TM)

The Roses(TM)

The '55 & '59(TM)

The Triphonic(TM)

Triphonic TM

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G&L - The Tri-Sonic era prototype found in Leo's lab - 1992.For three years, I had been running the body production department at G&L. I had been there since Floyd, George and Leo hired me right out of high school. In the weeks following Leo’s passing, I found myself outside of Leo’s lab one day with John jr. of BBE co.( the new owners of G&L). I jokingly asked if I could poke around in Leo’s lab. He said sure, pulled out the keys, and in I went. It was a little surreal, to say the least. I took my time. It was the end of the day and I was poking around piles of projects, pickups, necks, and papers on his desk! I noticed a little ladder leading to a small loft and up I went. There was a lot of dust but I knew something was up there. I crawled around and found a trem mock up, an old case, a few parts, and then in the far corner, I noticed a shape under the dust. It was like a moment from a movie, as a beam of afternoon sun was shining through the attic vent right on to a unique shape. So I crawled over to the shape and brushed away the dust. I knew it! At first, I thought it was an old Tele but as I continued removing years of dust, I realized it was different - like a model he never put out. I found the templates too... dated 1969. I had found the body from his Tri-Sonic R&D period or perhaps a prototype for G&L. It was routed for his "Z" pickups and had a "B" bender rout on back, as well as an old blonde finish and a strange trem route. I put it in the case, hauled my take down the ladder, and showed John, John Rodriguez, and Ed Sebest. They all said 'take it man. You’ve been here long enough’. So I took it home and put it together with a bunch a parts I had in a box and I made a neck. I’ve been playing and recording with it ever since then. It’s never left my side. I went back to G&L about five years ago to see if they would put it in the line as a tribute or something cool. They said that it wouldn’t fly. So I told them l would do it myself! So here you go world. The lost Leo! I believe I’'m doing the ol'’ man justice. These are made with love and reverence for a Master - 100% by hand. Every detail is as fine as anyone could wish for!Leo, thank you for taking me in and I hope I made you proud! This is an honor.Enjoy!Gabriel Currie

THE ORIGINAL

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PRODUCERS:

BLACK IRIS STUDIOS

PETER MALICK

LEWIS PESACOV

EUGENE TOALE

JIM GOODWIN

GEOFFREY MICHAEL BRANDIN

ARTISTS:

JONNY 2 BAGGS - SOCIAL DISTORTION,CADILLAC TRAMPS

NICK OLIVERI - KYUSS, MONDO GENERATOR, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

RICK COLLINS - WOOLLY BANDITS,THE SEEDS

SEAN ROMIN - DECRY, THE GENERATORS, WOOLY BANDITS, SHLEPROCK

TAYLOR RICE - LOCAL NATIVES

MONTY PITMAN - MADONNA

FERNANDA ULIBARI

PILAR DIAZ

RANDY RANDALL - NO AGE

DEVENDRA BERNHEART

RODRIGO - LITTLE JOY

DARIN BENNETT –- DARIN BENNETT AND THE REQUIEM

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TENNESSEE ROSE TRIPHONIC

CALIFORNIA ROSE TRIPHONIC

DOWNTOWNER #002

DOWNTOWNER CUSTOM

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OCTOBER 2011

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT JONNY 2 BAGGS FROM SOCIAL DISTORTION PLAYING HIS ECHOPARK GUITAR

CHECK OUT ECHOPARK GUITARS THIS MONTH IN BOUTIQUE GUITAR RESOURCE

THE GENERATORS

NICK OLIVERI

SEAN ROMIN

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To reach us, please use the contact form or stop by our offices at Bedrock LA.

You can also call us at (626) 536-3317.

To test drive a guitar, please visit our shop located inside Bedrock LA.

Bedrock Studios LA

1623 Allesandro St.

Los Angeles, CA 90065

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IF WE ENDORSE IT, WE MEAN IT. CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FRIENDS:

www.facebook.com/socialdistortion

www.satelliteamps.com

www.amalfitanopickups.com

www.twistedsouth.com

www.blessedtone.com

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