Alembic Luthier performing a detail carving on a Series II custom bass in zebrawood with a purpleheart and maple neck.

A Conversation with Alembic, Legendary Custom Guitar Shop

,
Alembic has been handcrafting high-end basses and guitars in the California Bay Area for over fifty years. As part of our recent Blackwing 710 campaign, we sat down with Mica Wickersham Thomas, General Manager, to learn about the company’s…
Jerry Garcia's painting "Emerging Elephant"

Like a Note in the Air: The Visual Art of Jerry Garcia

, ,
The name Jerry Garcia is synonymous with the Grateful Dead, legendary American rock band known for their lengthy instrumental jams and loyal fan base. But Garcia's artistic talents extended far beyond his virtuosic guitar playing and distinctive…

Jerry Garcia’s California Roots

Born and raised in San Francisco, Jerry Garcia was as much a product of California as any artist ever was. His relationship with the Golden State was deeply entwined with his life and career, shaping his artistic sensibilities in both music…
Blackwing Vol. 710 pencils beside a guitar neck

Introducing Blackwing 710 – The Jerry Garcia Pencil

Though he is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia was much more than a musician. His house at 710 Ashbury Street marked the heart of the enlightenment and expression that pulsed through San Francisco in the 1960s. It also fueled Jerry’s profound exploration into painting and visual arts.

Introducing Blackwing Vol. 17 – The Gardening Pencil

,
Blackwing 17 examines the mindful practice of gardening. Each pencil features an earth-toned color palette: olive green finish, dark brown ferrule and imprint, and burgundy eraser
Vol 20 Pencils with box

Introducing Blackwing Vol. 20

Lore Master: The History of Tabletop Gaming – Part 1

Though tabletop games may seem like a modern pastime with popular choices like Scrabble and Settlers of Catan, their origins stretch back before written history. The first known examples of gaming and game pieces were crude dice found in archaeological…
Vol 20 Pencils diagonal 2

Blackwing Vol. 20: Tabletop Gaming – Behind the Design

The Blackwing Volume 20 pencil celebrates tabletop gaming and the cherished moments they create. The design for this special edition takes inspiration from the polyhedron 20-sided dice used in popular tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons…

Blackwing Vol. 192 – Behind the Design

The Color Prism/Venn Diagram design depicted on the Blackwing Vol. 192 is a visual representation of these two disparate, but interdependent voices and how they come together to create something beautiful. It was noted during their collaborative years, that Lennon and McCartney held each other as both rivals and inspirations, pushing one another to be better and continue to innovate.

Introducing Vol. 192 – The Lennon & McCartney Pencils

,
Blackwing 192 is a tribute to Lennon and McCartney and the estimated 192 songs they wrote together. The color prism design depicts the convergence of two powerful creative forces. A different Lennon-McCartney lyric is foil stamped on each pencil, for a total of twelve different lyrics in the set.