Ants / Rockbridge Guitar Experience 2018 - Discussion Thread

[Matt]

https://antsmarching.org/news/2018/1...emo-Experience

[jasonfilatov]

Sent in my request. Would love to attend this. Thanks for putting notice out there.

[Crash1983]

Thanks for setting this up! When do you think you guys will send out notice to the winners?

[crashintonickdm]

Highly recommend this.

[dpduke5173]

16 was awesome. Request sent!

[jets42689]

Request sent! Fingers crossed!

[jets42689]

Originally Posted by Matt

https://antsmarching.org/news/2018/1...emo-Experience

Hey Matt - when do we find out about the winners?

[Crash1983]

This was amazing, thank you so much for putting it together. What a neat little shop!

[dpduke5173]

Another fantastic Rockbridge experience. Thanks for the opportunity & the hospitality!

[jasonfilatov]

Had an awesome time, thanks. Will post my pictures from the shop this week.

[dpduke5173]

A little clip my friend Adam took of me playing good good time in the show room.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BremXb-B...d=pls94jboj9yi

[Matt]

Originally Posted by dpduke5173

A little clip my friend Adam took of me playing good good time in the show room.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BremXb-B...d=pls94jboj9yi

That's great! I'm not much of a guitar player but that little riff was one of my favorite things to doodle around with. Glad you had fun! I was at the one we ran a couple years back and it was a blast! Brian's a great guy.

[CrazyEasy354]

Any cool stories or anecdotes from Brian about his association with Dave? Or other artists? I'd love to hear more about this experience, as I would have loved to attend!

[jasonfilatov]

Things I learned:

Rockbridge is an extremely small shop and only produces about 55 guitars per year.

The starting price is 5k and grows based on the custom requests for each guitar.

They do not have a store, everything is made on a custom order. It takes 10-12 months for your guitar to be ready.

Dave currently has a guitar in phase 1 of 8 labeled Jumbo.

Tim is having his first guitar made after only using Martin. That guitar is in the later stages.

The store often sells their demo instruments to local musicians who can’t afford the high price point.

Rockbridge is in a house. It’s beautiful upstairs, there is a room to test out the different guitars, and the shop is about 6-7 rooms in the basement.

Everybody who touched the 12 string while I was there immediately started playing Grey Street.

The SJ is their top model, the guitar Dave used most frequently in 2018.

Most of their customers come to them via word of mouth. Several artists who have associations with Dave have purchased instruments there.

The guitars really do sound phenomenal, especially the SJ. I have a $3k Martin that I love but this sound was at a whole different level.

Joe is a cool dude. Bought beer for those attending. Thanks Joe.

[CrazyEasy354]

Originally Posted by jasonfilatov

Things I learned:

Rockbridge is an extremely small shop and only produces about 55 guitars per year.

The starting price is 5k and grows based on the custom requests for each guitar.

They do not have a store, everything is made on a custom order. It takes 10-12 months for your guitar to be ready.

Dave currently has a guitar in phase 1 of 8 labeled Jumbo.

Tim is having his first guitar made after only using Martin. That guitar is in the later stages.

The store often sells their demo instruments to local musicians who can’t afford the high price point.

Rockbridge is in a house. It’s beautiful upstairs, there is a room to test out the different guitars, and the shop is about 6-7 rooms in the basement.

Everybody who touched the 12 string while I was there immediately started playing Grey Street.

The SJ is their top model, the guitar Dave used most frequently in 2018.

Most of their customers come to them via word of mouth. Several artists who have associations with Dave have purchased instruments there.

The guitars really do sound phenomenal, especially the SJ. I have a $3k Martin that I love but this sound was at a whole different level.

Joe is a cool dude. Bought beer for those attending. Thanks Joe.

Thanks for the info, very cool stuff. Hoping to see Tim on stage with a Rockbridge very soon!

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by jasonfilatov

Things I learned:

I drive past the Rockbridge "shop" almost daily. The church across the street is where my Cub Scout pack meets. ;-)

I've heard and played several Rockbridges. They're amazing guitars. Definitely a step or two above the mass-produced "lower end" (sub-42 series) Martins. I'd say they're certainly on par with Santa Cruz's nicer offerings.

The craftsmanship is spectacular and the inlay work is probably unrivaled, except by maybe PRS's custom shop.

The fact that Dave plays Grey Street on a 12-string speaks to their playability. They pretty much play themselves.

I'm not sure they're worth the ~$7K they're asking, though. Of course, this IS Charlottesville, where everything costs 40% more than it should.

Brian Calhoun's a GREAT guy, too.

I'm thrilled for those of you who got to check them out!


Cheers,
Wade

[ToySoldier#34]

Would love a chance to play one someday

[anklebunker]

Had a great time on Saturday. Thanks to Ants, Joe, Brian & Jake for making it a great experience!

[cry_minarets458]

I don't think they work well with the current live sound, or however they are mixing it, but playing one at the house in 2016 was fun. made me respect them alot more. my boss is leaving me his rockbridge in his will

[dpduke5173]

Originally Posted by CrazyEasy354

Thanks for the info, very cool stuff. Hoping to see Tim on stage with a Rockbridge very soon!

That may have been my favorite little tid bit of insider info. The body/top looked like his D-35 with a Herringbone trim. Wondering the same if he’ll play it on stage or keep at home.

[ramiro24]

Originally Posted by jasonfilatov

Things I learned:

Rockbridge is an extremely small shop and only produces about 55 guitars per year.

The starting price is 5k and grows based on the custom requests for each guitar.

They do not have a store, everything is made on a custom order. It takes 10-12 months for your guitar to be ready.

Dave currently has a guitar in phase 1 of 8 labeled Jumbo.

Tim is having his first guitar made after only using Martin. That guitar is in the later stages.

The store often sells their demo instruments to local musicians who can’t afford the high price point.

Rockbridge is in a house. It’s beautiful upstairs, there is a room to test out the different guitars, and the shop is about 6-7 rooms in the basement.

Everybody who touched the 12 string while I was there immediately started playing Grey Street.

The SJ is their top model, the guitar Dave used most frequently in 2018.

Most of their customers come to them via word of mouth. Several artists who have associations with Dave have purchased instruments there.

The guitars really do sound phenomenal, especially the SJ. I have a $3k Martin that I love but this sound was at a whole different level.

Joe is a cool dude. Bought beer for those attending. Thanks Joe.

This would be his second one then as his main axe during the fall our was that full blacked out Jumbo. Guess he might be going away from the SJ sound with the Jumbo sound.

[dpduke5173]

Originally Posted by Matt

That's great! I'm not much of a guitar player but that little riff was one of my favorite things to doodle around with. Glad you had fun! I was at the one we ran a couple years back and it was a blast! Brian's a great guy.

Matt I remember you singing Dodo! That was fun.