Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A Tribute to Dale Earnhardt

'Intimidator'

The Dale Earnhardt 'Intimidator' cigar box guitar is a custom, one-of-a-kind, handmade six-string electric instrument designed and created for Bruce Kempf, my long-time Montana friend.

The guitar features a body created from a Tatuaje Totalmente a mano cigar box, which is a product made in Esteli, Nicaragua exclusively for Tatuaje Cigars, Inc.

The Spanish cedar body is modified and fabricated to allow attachment of a 21-fret Fender Stratocaster guitar neck.  Other modifications are the addition of a single-coil magnetic bridge pickup to amplify sound; a through-body custom adjustable metal bridge and saddle; recessed output jack plate; and volume control to allow sound adjustment at the guitar.  Interior modifications include strategic bracing for neck adaptation and overall support, which also serves to counterbalance the weight of the neck, giving the instrument a well- balanced 'feel' when played.  Foil lining throughout minimizes 'feedback' at the amp.

The 'blacked out', pinstripe-enhanced, design of the guitar augments the overall 'bad-boy' theme, through the use of black accessories complimenting the black body.

Nascar racing legend Dale Earnhardt, seven-time series winner, whose life was cut short in a crash at the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, (1951-2001) was the 'Intimidator'!  He was 'big'!  He was 'bold'!  He was 'bad'!


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