The devil’s in the detail.
The Grateful Dead's relationship with Alvarez began in the 1980s, when both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir collaborated with Alvarez luthiers to create their own signature models.
This special guitar was created to celebrate their 50th Anniversary and commemorate this long-time collaboration with the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. The artwork is applied to the cedar tops by an innovative screen printing process, along with custom mother-of-pearl "Lightning Bolt" inlays, the band's iconic Dancing Bear on the back of the headstock. Thanks to Mother Nature, each guitar top varies slightly in both grain and color, making every Alvarez Grateful Dead guitar a unique instrument, just like every Grateful Dead concert was its own unique experience.
client
Alverez Guitars / Warner Bros. Records / The Grateful Dead
project scope
Illustration, printed collateral.
2014
Testimonial
“I have worked with John on several projects and I think he’s a very talented creative with a great attitude and work ethic. Our most notable project was designing Alvarez acoustic guitars under license from Warner Brothers Music Group for the 50th Anniversary of the legendary band, Grateful Dead. With not a lot of direction John produced outstanding graphics based on, and using historic Grateful Dead artwork, which went on to be printed onto thousands of guitars and sold around the world. John’s artwork and approach encouraged the development of an innovative technique to allow Alvarez to print intricate designs onto wood, a process and aesthetic never before realized in the music industry. The project was a huge success. John’s commitment to his art, and his overall working attitude and polite, professional nature will help him go far. But more important is his ability to ‘think different’ and push himself and the boundaries of a brief to create art that gets product and companies noticed and accepted, which will help him enjoy a great career. ”