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Click to see the Girlbrand Guitar Gallery
Click to see the Girlbrand Guitar Gallery

GIRLBRAND GUITAR GALLERY PART 1. GUTARS BUILT BY CHRIS LARSEN.

Chris Larsen`s logo from his old Girl Brand Guitars Website which unfortunately  doesn`t exist any more.
Chris Larsen`s logo from his old Girl Brand Guitars Website which unfortunately doesn`t exist any more.

Girlbrand Guitar Gallery


Part 1

Intergallactic Spaceranger Girl by Chris Larsen. Serial Number 60. The concept behind this guitar was that it was found while exploring a distant planet, and was an artifact left behind by an unknown alien race with obviously advanced technology.
Intergallactic Spaceranger Girl by Chris Larsen. Serial Number 60. The concept behind this guitar was that it was found while exploring a distant planet, and was an artifact left behind by an unknown alien race with obviously advanced technology.

Chris Larsen aus Tucson, Arizona, baute anfangs des Jahrhunderts im Alleingang all diese total einzigartigen und abgedrehten, wunderbaren Gitarren. Es gibt wohl weniger als 100 davon, wieviele genau, das weiss Chris selbst nicht mehr. Ich hörte neulich, es wären 96.

Alle haben sie Zargen aus Aluminium, sind innen hohl, bis auf eine kleinen Holzstütze unter dem Steg und nutzen je zwei Pickups, die per Transformatoren je drei Klangoptionen bereit halten. Ein einzigartiges System, das von Dave Schecter entwickelt wurde.

Mehr Details zur Konstruktion hier.

 

 

Hier zeige ich Girlbrand Gitarren, die gemeinerweise NICHT mir gehören. Ich habe all diese Fotos vor Jahren von Chris` alter Website kopiert und kenne zum grössten Teil nicht mal die Namen dieser Girls. Chris` alte Girlbrand Website (http://girlbrand.com/war lange Zeit leider ziemlich derangiert und ist nun sogar völlig tot. Viele Bilder, die dort zu sehen waren, sind inzwischen verloren gegangen. Darum mache ich hier ein bisschen Werbung für seine atemberaubenden Werke. Der Typ ist doch einfach genial! 

During the first decade of this century Chris Larsen from Tucson, Arizona, built all these crazy and unique, beautiful guitars.

There are less than 100 instruments of that kind. Even Chris himself doesn`t know how many he has built. I recently heard that there must be 96 Girls out there...

Although each one is different than the next one, they all share the same construction: There is a rim made of aluminum and the body is hollow except for a piece of wood under the bridge. The two self-wound pickups work in conjunction with transformers in order to produce three different sounds each. This system was ionvented by Dave Schecter. More details about the construction can be found here.

 

This is a small Girlbrand guitar gallery. Unfortunately all these guitars don`t belong to me. Years ago I copied the fotos from Chris` old website which meanwhile is totally gone, unfortunately! (http://girlbrand.com/ ) Regrettably many, many  pictures of Girlbrand guitars were lost. With Chris` permission I`d like to share these fotos with you in order to praise his fantastic work. Isn`t he a genius? 


Girlbrand. This industrial look takes my locomotive breath away.
Girlbrand. This industrial look takes my locomotive breath away.

The owner of this amazing

"Intergallactic Spaceranger Girl"

was wondering "What DO all those tubes and dials do? How can we decipher the writing on the fret board and pickup selector?"

Chris Larsen`s reply in 2015: "The
"Interstellar Band Battle Artifact Girl"
is one of my very favorites and in many ways the direct ancestor of the guitars I am doing now (see M9 model from 2014 below). I managed to find a close up of the toggle plate but it is very low rez so probably not much good. Only new information I have is that the neck inlay is really only a very stylized rendering of the numbers of the frets. three, five, seven, nine, twelve, etc.
iPhone-ready M9 guitar from 2014
iPhone-ready M9 guitar from 2014
Interstellar Band Battle Artifact Girl: Alien typography, read from right to left: 1,3,5,7,9,12,15,17,19,21
Interstellar Band Battle Artifact Girl: Alien typography, read from right to left: 1,3,5,7,9,12,15,17,19,21
Alien typography no one understands. The guitar was left behind by E.T. after an intergalactic band battle.
Alien typography no one understands. The guitar was left behind by E.T. after an intergalactic band battle.
This Girlbrand model has the same cryptical cypher inlays as the Interstellar Artifact Girl above and a very particular scratchboard... Chis thinks it could be "Launch Girl", a guitar that was built for a perished online magazine called "Launch"
This Girlbrand model has the same cryptical cypher inlays as the Interstellar Artifact Girl above and a very particular scratchboard... Chis thinks it could be "Launch Girl", a guitar that was built for a perished online magazine called "Launch"
Girlbrand. Note how my computer refuses to enlarge all these pictures to the same width... I  just don`t get it! And I strongly feel that I don`t deserve this...
Girlbrand. Note how my computer refuses to enlarge all these pictures to the same width... I just don`t get it! And I strongly feel that I don`t deserve this...
Girlbrand. Looks a bit like the one Meredith Brooks posed with. Check the cover of her 1997 album "Blurring the Edges"
Girlbrand. Looks a bit like the one Meredith Brooks posed with. Check the cover of her 1997 album "Blurring the Edges"
Album Cover: Meredith Brooks with a sexy Girlbrand "Bitch". It is NOT exactly the same as above: Check the pot on the scratchplate. I was informed that Meredith never owned this guitar. Just posing with it.
Album Cover: Meredith Brooks with a sexy Girlbrand "Bitch". It is NOT exactly the same as above: Check the pot on the scratchplate. I was informed that Meredith never owned this guitar. Just posing with it.
Girlbrand. Not the same as Meredith posed with. Look at the fretboard: The Devil at the crossroads.
Girlbrand. Not the same as Meredith posed with. Look at the fretboard: The Devil at the crossroads.
Is this Girlbrand guitar called Robert-Johnson-Girl or Crossroads-Girl?. Top by Janet K. Miller
Is this Girlbrand guitar called Robert-Johnson-Girl or Crossroads-Girl?. Top by Janet K. Miller
ANOTHER Girlbrand Crossroads-Girl with Janet K. Miller top and this devilish fretboard inlay again. And case candy. All 6 photos by Rob in California  who recently sold it.
ANOTHER Girlbrand Crossroads-Girl with Janet K. Miller top and this devilish fretboard inlay again. And case candy. All 6 photos by Rob in California who recently sold it.
Very cool looking chromed aluminum rim. Rob told me, people don`t know this guitar brand... What a pitty.
Very cool looking chromed aluminum rim. Rob told me, people don`t know this guitar brand... What a pitty.
Girlbrand Crossroad-Girl in black. What does it say? My old eyes refuse to read that but Rob sent me the text:
Girlbrand Crossroad-Girl in black. What does it say? My old eyes refuse to read that but Rob sent me the text:

"If you want to make a contract with the devil . . . Take a black cat bone and a guitar and go to a lonely fork in the roads at midnight. Sit down there and play your best piece, thinking of and wishing for the devil all the while. By and by you will hear music, dim at first but growing louder and louder as the music approaches nearer . . . After a time you feel something tugging at your instrument . . . Let the devil take it and keep thumping along with your fingers as if you still had a guitar in your hands. Then the devil will hand you his instrument to play and will accompany you on yours. After doing this for a time he will seize your fingers and trim the nails until they bleed, finally taking his guitar back and returning your own. Keep on playing; do not look around. His music will become fainter and fainter as he moves away . . . You will be able to play any piece you desire on the guitar and you can do anything you want to in the world, but you have sold your eternal soul to the devil and are his in the world to come."

Taken from "Folk Beliefs of the Southern Negro", by Newbell Niles Puckett (1968 or originally from 1926) and this is exactly what Robert Johnson is said to have done at the crossroads of the highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Some say the guy was not Robert but a dude called Tommy Johnson and he didn`t meet the devil but "Legba" a devious African god.

Legba, the voodoo-dude, found on Wikipedia. Not sure if that thing in his lap really is a guitar... but anyhow ... it can be enlarged ... if you feel like clicking on it.
Legba, the voodoo-dude, found on Wikipedia. Not sure if that thing in his lap really is a guitar... but anyhow ... it can be enlarged ... if you feel like clicking on it.
Girlbrand Crossroads Girl. This is how Chris Larsen sees him. Click to enlarge a bit.
Girlbrand Crossroads Girl. This is how Chris Larsen sees him. Click to enlarge a bit.
Girlbrand Crossroads-Girl. The serial number.
Girlbrand Crossroads-Girl. The serial number.
Rob`s Girlbrand Crossroadgirl has a one of a kind headstock. Very rare. Thanks for the fotos and information Rob!
Rob`s Girlbrand Crossroadgirl has a one of a kind headstock. Very rare. Thanks for the fotos and information Rob!
Girlbrand Rococogirl or Spanishrococogirl...and again the RobertJohnsongirl
Girlbrand Rococogirl or Spanishrococogirl...and again the RobertJohnsongirl
Not the same as the one above: But some kind of Rococo as well!
Not the same as the one above: But some kind of Rococo as well!

 

UPDATE

December 2016:

 

This

"Spanish Rococo Girl 1"

from 2001

 

reappears at ACME GUITARS in ST. Louis, MO, and on "Reverb.com" and was sold for 7696.60 $

 

(Wow! Is that true?)

 

This is the info, that ACME provided: 

 

From the ultra Creative mind and hands of Chris Larson, this guitar is a very unique piece. Made by hand in Tuscon, AZ, Girl Brand are renown for not only their one of a kind design, but their supreme playabillity and innovative electronics. In addition to the standard three-way, there are two additional switches that activate transformers that add more winds to the pickup, giving you vintage, hot, and overwound tones. It is semi hollow with a Formica back, aluminum sides, and acrylic top with beautiful ornamentation all topped off with an asymmetrical neck that feels beautiful in the hand. I've owned this for years and its time to move her along. Chris never built the same guitar twice so this is as rare as it is beautiful. Talk about tone! there's not enough room. Number 31 of approximately 100 total Girls.

 

The following 3 photos were made by ACME GUITARS, thanks!

Thanks as well to Bernie, the owner of "Opium Girl" who sent them to me!

Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
Spanish Rococo Girl 1 photo by ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
No idea how this one is called. Propably the same fretboard inlay as RococoGirl. An early model without toggle inscription.
No idea how this one is called. Propably the same fretboard inlay as RococoGirl. An early model without toggle inscription.
...but the "GIRL BRAND-GUITARS" inscription is unique as far as I know. Inleay an top pattern look like #22 Homegirl (see below) but other details are different ...
...but the "GIRL BRAND-GUITARS" inscription is unique as far as I know. Inleay an top pattern look like #22 Homegirl (see below) but other details are different ...
Girlbrand, name unknown to me. The rare details here: volume pot on the scratchboard, red switch, no inscription for the toggle positions. Maybe a very early Girl?
Girlbrand, name unknown to me. The rare details here: volume pot on the scratchboard, red switch, no inscription for the toggle positions. Maybe a very early Girl?
Girlbrand Electrongirl
Girlbrand Electrongirl
Girlbrand Electrongirl. No point to point wiring on that top. and yet it looks better than any boutique amp!
Girlbrand Electrongirl. No point to point wiring on that top. and yet it looks better than any boutique amp!

Unfortunately this beautiful Electron Girl was destroyed in a fire!

She was either Girl Brand # 33 or #37.


Owner Jerry tells me that the only thing recoverable was the top. 


A friend of Jerry`s is restoring it.

The guitar top was trimmed to fit a tele body that the top is going to be inlayed into.


There is still lots of work ahead.

(all fotos below by Jerry)


Thanks very much and good luck!

Jerry`s Electron Girl that was destroyed in a fire
Jerry`s Electron Girl that was destroyed in a fire
very sad to see this ...
very sad to see this ...
this new neck will not be able to fully repalce the original one that had a beautiful inlays.
this new neck will not be able to fully repalce the original one that had a beautiful inlays.
The shape of the top had to be trimmed to fit its new body.
The shape of the top had to be trimmed to fit its new body.
the original body "frame" of aluminum is still around
the original body "frame" of aluminum is still around
the electronic  guts ... who could fix this?
the electronic guts ... who could fix this?
one of the two tappable extra coils that come with the pickups.
one of the two tappable extra coils that come with the pickups.
a pickup...
a pickup...

Jerry will keep us posted

Looking forward to see this beauty alive again.


Fortunately Jerry owns another Girl Brand guitar, 

Frontier Girl.


see her and many more "Girls"

on page 2

of our Girlbrand gallery!

click here


Girlbrand, Isn`t that AMAZING? Must be one of the "Futuregirls"
Girlbrand, Isn`t that AMAZING? Must be one of the "Futuregirls"
Girlbrand guitar...jeeeezezzzchrizzzzz! There are at least 3 different "Futuregirls"
Girlbrand guitar...jeeeezezzzchrizzzzz! There are at least 3 different "Futuregirls"
the same or and another Girlbrand Futuregirl? (The colors may differ a lot but I never trusted Photoshop)
the same or and another Girlbrand Futuregirl? (The colors may differ a lot but I never trusted Photoshop)
Girlbrand, another beautiful Futuregirl, the third one says owner Robert Zott.It is called "The Nautilus" Look at that inlay!
Girlbrand, another beautiful Futuregirl, the third one says owner Robert Zott.It is called "The Nautilus" Look at that inlay!
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, "The Nautilus" photo: Robert Zott. click 2 enlarge
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, "The Nautilus" photo: Robert Zott. click 2 enlarge
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 Inlays. Among the very best!!!
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 Inlays. Among the very best!!!
Robert Zott playing his beautiful Girlbrand #0063 Futuregirl  "The Nautilus"
Robert Zott playing his beautiful Girlbrand #0063 Futuregirl "The Nautilus"

Here is what Robert Zott told me about the FutureGirl:


Adding to the mystery: In my correspondence with Chris Larsen -- probably around 2000-2001 -- he mentioned that he had made three FutureGirls, but the first was unsuccessful. The second (the gold one), I believe he named "The Florentine." He gave mine the name "The Nautilus." The silver one on your website could either be the first "unsuccessful" one, or a fourth -- although he mentioned that after mine there would be no more, since etching the tops proved very difficult.


Enjoy Robert Zott`s instrumental videoclip "Timepiece" on youtube

here



Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, "The Nautilus" photo/owner Robert Zott, click 2 enlarge
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, "The Nautilus" photo/owner Robert Zott, click 2 enlarge
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus". Owned, payed and photographed by Robert Zott.
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus". Owned, payed and photographed by Robert Zott.

Check out Robert Zott`s beautiful website where you can hear his amazing music, read his lyrics and find some wonderful pictures.

Thanks for the link, Robert!

Click here

Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus".
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus".
Chose between reality or illusion or mix them! Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus" Photo by Robert Zott.
Chose between reality or illusion or mix them! Futuregirl 3 "The Nautilus" Photo by Robert Zott.
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, a normal Girlbrand headstock but always nice and worth admiring.
Girlbrand Futuregirl 3, a normal Girlbrand headstock but always nice and worth admiring.
Girlbrand Futuregirl
Girlbrand Futuregirl
Girlbrand Futuregirl OMG! What a top!
Girlbrand Futuregirl OMG! What a top!
Girlbrand, this must be Chris and his camera
Girlbrand, this must be Chris and his camera
Girlbrand
Girlbrand
Girlbrand guitar. NOT the same one as above. But it could be Homegirl from below ...
Girlbrand guitar. NOT the same one as above. But it could be Homegirl from below ...
Girlbrand guitar #22 Homegirl. This guitar appears in a video demo on youtube and the guy describes it very detailed and well. But he says the back is made of mahogany which is probably not true. It`s more likely a phenolic board
Girlbrand guitar #22 Homegirl. This guitar appears in a video demo on youtube and the guy describes it very detailed and well. But he says the back is made of mahogany which is probably not true. It`s more likely a phenolic board
Click the picture above to go to the video clip on youtube
Click the picture above to go to the video clip on youtube
Girlbrand Homegirl from the video above I think. Unusual switches from military surplus. Flip the cover up before you can flip the switch...it`s like engaging a big gun whil playing a session.
Girlbrand Homegirl from the video above I think. Unusual switches from military surplus. Flip the cover up before you can flip the switch...it`s like engaging a big gun whil playing a session.
Girlbrand, What a top! Most likely Homegirl from above with some Photoshop added (not by me)
Girlbrand, What a top! Most likely Homegirl from above with some Photoshop added (not by me)
Girlbrand Societygirl! A different guitar with the same amazing engravings. Zemaitis or Trussart? Girlbrand!
Girlbrand Societygirl! A different guitar with the same amazing engravings. Zemaitis or Trussart? Girlbrand!
Girlbrand guitar # 15. Maybe "Katsumi Girl". Same pattern as above and above above ... but a different guitar.
Girlbrand guitar # 15. Maybe "Katsumi Girl". Same pattern as above and above above ... but a different guitar.
Girlbrand guitar # 15...maybe called "Katsumi Girl". Note: The volume pot is on the pickguard. Unusual.
Girlbrand guitar # 15...maybe called "Katsumi Girl". Note: The volume pot is on the pickguard. Unusual.
Girl Brand Katsumi Girl (Katsumi is the first name of Chris` guitar dealer in Japan) Manga-style drawing by Katsumi. The drawn guitar seems to be #15, the one you can see on the photos above and below.
Girl Brand Katsumi Girl (Katsumi is the first name of Chris` guitar dealer in Japan) Manga-style drawing by Katsumi. The drawn guitar seems to be #15, the one you can see on the photos above and below.
Girlbrand guitar # 15 gracefully aged. Most liekely "Katsumi Girl". These volume an tone knobs are one of a kind .
Girlbrand guitar # 15 gracefully aged. Most liekely "Katsumi Girl". These volume an tone knobs are one of a kind .
Girlbrand guitar. "Katsumi Girl", an early model.
Girlbrand guitar. "Katsumi Girl", an early model.

UPDATE

December 2016:

 

This

"Rust Top With Filigree"

(earlier known as "Katsumi Girl")

Girlbrand #15

from 1999

 

reappears at ACME GUITARS in ST. Louis, MO, and on "Reverb.com" and is/ was for sale for 7696.60 $

 

 

This is the info, that ACME provided: 

 

From the ultra Creative mind and hands of Chris Larson. Made by hand in Tuscon, AZ, Girl Brand are renown for not only their one of a kind design, but their supreme playabillity and innovative electronics. In addition to the standard three-way, there is an additional switch that activates a transformer that add more winds to the pickup, giving you vintage, hot, and overwound tones. It is semi hollow with a Formica back, aluminum sides, and acrylic top with beautiful ornamentation all topped off with an asymmetrical neck that feels beautiful in the hand. The transformer switch is off of a B-25 bomber and the pickup selector switch tip is made out of real fossil amber shaped and polished by hand. I've owned this for years and its time to move her along. Talk about tone! there's not enough room. Since Chris never made the same guitar twice, its rare as it is beautiful. Number 15 of 100 total Girls. Made before the 3 say tap for the pick-ups. this is one of Chris's best sounding guitars of this period.

 

The following 3 photos were made by ACME GUITARS, thanks!

Thanks as well to Bernie, the owner of "Opium Girl" who sent them to me!

screenshot from Reverb.com december 4th 2016.
screenshot from Reverb.com december 4th 2016.
1999 Rust Top or "Katsumi Girl" for sale in 2016. Photo ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
1999 Rust Top or "Katsumi Girl" for sale in 2016. Photo ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
1999 Rust Top or "Katsumi Girl" for sale in 2016. Photo ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
1999 Rust Top or "Katsumi Girl" for sale in 2016. Photo ACME GUITARS, St. Louis, MO.
This is  #13 Rust-Top Homegirl with the same fretboard inlay as the # 15 above. Photo by Jon.
This is #13 Rust-Top Homegirl with the same fretboard inlay as the # 15 above. Photo by Jon.
Girlbrand hang tag, part of the "case candy" or whatever collectors might call it. Sexy on the front ...
Girlbrand hang tag, part of the "case candy" or whatever collectors might call it. Sexy on the front ...
...philosophical on the back.
...philosophical on the back.
An erarly one, still without the typical toggle ring: Girlbrand #13, Rust-Top Homegirl. Unusually the volume pot is on the pickguard. Photo by owner Jon. Thanks!
An erarly one, still without the typical toggle ring: Girlbrand #13, Rust-Top Homegirl. Unusually the volume pot is on the pickguard. Photo by owner Jon. Thanks!
#13 Rust-Top Homegirl. Trussart is not ther only one.
#13 Rust-Top Homegirl. Trussart is not ther only one.
Rust-top HomeGirl # 13 came with this beautifully vintage-original-spec`ed-relic-road-worn-aged-tom-murphy-morphed bridge. Reminds me of the titanic wreck from 1912.
Rust-top HomeGirl # 13 came with this beautifully vintage-original-spec`ed-relic-road-worn-aged-tom-murphy-morphed bridge. Reminds me of the titanic wreck from 1912.
Not exactly what Fender purists prefer but it works very well also with Girlbrands: 3 bolt neck plate. Jon`s #13.
Not exactly what Fender purists prefer but it works very well also with Girlbrands: 3 bolt neck plate. Jon`s #13.


There is another unofficial Girlbrand-Website out there.

Find Matthew Aidekman`s virtual collection here

http://estatesound.com/girlbrandtest/ 


 

Drawing by Chris Larsen
Drawing by Chris Larsen


want to many, many more?


click here for Girl Brand


Gallery part 2



OR



click here for my 


Girl Brand


"Devil Girl with Bones"

and some more Girl Brand Guitars

 


... also check out the ...



Larsen Guitar Mfg. guitars, 

that Chris is building

these days.

 

 

and this clip on youtube:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dFNiNSMXcc

 

...where Chris demos his latest creation:

the M9 guitar with mobile phone connection