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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I just wondered if people outside this area ever heard of Rick Epting.
http://www.rickeptingfoundation.com/
I never had the pleasure to know him as he died in 2005, a year before I moved here. I did however get involved and run audio for the 2009 tribute concert.
The audio is from the Camera but it was still a great show. The Ovation Pacemaker 12-String on the stage in the first video and being played by my friend John Holmes (yes that's really his name) in the second was Rick's main instrument. There's probably some other tunes around the web and you can get one of his CD's at the Foundation site I believe.
Rick Epting Tribute
Rick Epting Tribute
Rick apparently was a character in the most complimentary sense and instrumental in keeping the arts alive in the area. He was one of the founding members of the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation and the Skagit Performing Arts Council (SPAC). Rick was also instrumental in the restoration campaign for the Lincoln Theatre and the planning for the new McIntyre Hall.
As you may infer from one of the opening remarks on one of the videos (don't ask), he was also a humorist as well. I'll try to find a link to his Rick-isms... his Son read them at the tribute and it was simply hilarious. Like a modern day Mark Twain.
About the guitar.... His daughter inherited the 12-String but the neck has a serious crack where it meets the headstock. John and I were going to get it fixed, it's actually in Hartford now, but it needs a new neck and that's cost prohibitive ($500) so I guess it will just come back and go on display at the theater or something. It's really a shame because this is the LOUDEST 12-String I have ever heard. We played them side-by-side with my Pacemaker, and Rick's was soooo opened up, it was like mine was a cigar box with strings on it compared to his... and mine sounds pretty good. Of course his was gigged and played since it was new up until 2005. That's enough to open anything up.
John played it for the tribute band, and super glue would probably hold it together, but Hartford also noted the neck angle is off too and wants to do a replace. Who knows how long it's been this way. I pulled a shim to compensate for the neck angle and it does play like buttah now... but... who knows for how long.
Interesting note is that it has an Ovation pickup, but NO electronics. For the show above I just ran from the line-out of the Trace Acoustic. Sounded fine. (better live than on the clip)
Check out the cute pickguard!!!
The good news is that I think we may talk John into getting an Ovation at some point. He seemed to like this 12-string and he gigs often. Some of you may remember him from the Northwest Gathering too.
The sad news is that this guitar may end up just on display and never played again. Of course, maybe its done its job and now it's time to rest.
Just thought I would share this story about a local legend and artist, and his great instrument and the work he did. I'm not really into the Country blues/folk genre of music, but I must admit... when I hear it, it makes me smile. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Great story Miles. Looks like a job for Woody. I am sure there is someone here who can make is stable and playable.
Don't try to fix it with superglue yet. There are better adhesives and me thinks the superglue might just make matters worse.
If you have it playing like butter now, chances are it won't move too much more in the future. These things tend to become "set" after a while. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Of course, maybe its done its job and now it's time to rest. By your nice write up, the same should be said for Rick!
RIP |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1131
Location: NW Washington State | I didn't know about Rick, but if he was involved in restoring the Lincoln Theater, it was good work. We saw Leo Kottke there last year. It's not a famous national theater, but a nicely restored small-town theater with a cool Wurlitzer organ: http://www.lincolntheatre.org/history
-Steve W. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Steve, is that the theater that Glenn Beck got lambasted for trying to help? |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1131
Location: NW Washington State | Probably, I dunno, but he did stir things up in Mount Vernon. Maybe it's best to keep Glenn Beck out of our guitar-related discussions. :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Pacemakers rule! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1486
Location: Michigan | miles now i know why you speak so highly of grace slick and the old jefferson airplane.
the band sounds allot like them to me , and i like that sound . GWB |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | LOL.. Must be thinking of someone else... more of a Starship guy than Airplane, and just like Grace for the pipes and attitude... but point taken.. this incarnation had a bit of that Airplane vibe... |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Funny, I got a little Peter, Paul, & Mary meets Vogues (5 O'Clock World) vibe.
....but I'm a little older than you, some days. |
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Rick Epting
