Eric Ernest

History & scrap book

The following is an excerpt from the June 1996 issue of the "Insight Magazine" article entitled "Who’s Who".

"Eric Ernest is a native of Columbia, SC. Being the inquisitive type, and not traveling the conventional path, Mr. Ernest has spent years experimenting and improving musical products. Through years of repairing, buying, renting, selling, collecting, and building guitar related products, Mr. Ernest has ascended to the upper echelon of knowledgeable music industry personas. A self-described "info junkie", Mr. Ernest has arguably the most stellar music resource library in private hands.

Abalone Vintage was founded in 1989. Mr. Ernest opened the business to specialize in vintage guitars, diversify future opportunities, develop industry-related product, and increase his circle of colleagues. Though the emphasis of the retail store has greatly evolved over the years, the one thing that has remained constant is an emphasis on unique and desirable products.

Mr. Ernest’s accomplishments include assisting in the development of the Zion Ty Tabor guitar, renting equipment used on platinum national recordings, providing photographs and information for books and catalogs, appearing in and writing articles for magazines and newspapers, repairing hyper-expensive rare guitars, and establishing business contacts all over the world.

Mr. Ernest has helped well known musicians with sonic improvements that can sometimes only be acquired from the rarest or most unique equipment. Among the store’s clientele are: Eric Johnson, Phil Keaggy, Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ty Tabor (King's X), Sixpence None The Richer, Hank Garland, Galactic Cowboys, Amy Grant, R.E.M., The B-52's, Bryan Adams, Bush, Guardian, Cheap Trick, Megadeath, Andy Timmons, Gary Moore, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Dick Dale, Matthew Sweet, Tonic, Verve Pipe, Garbage, Social Distortion, and a lot more, but you get the idea.

In addition to having a reputation for purveying unique musical instruments, Abalone Vintage is also a purveyor of unique pop culture antiques too.

Photo Memories

When Where Why
1988 Greenstreets Hanging with EJ. The mold is set.
1989 First showroom

Gear. (Really just an office.)
1990 USC Hanging with KISS
1990 Houston, TX Hanging with Doug Pinnick.
1991 Second showroom

Gear!
1992 Atlanta, GA Hanging with Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
1993 Third showroom Electric guitars.
1993 Third showroom

Acoustic guitars.
1993 USC Hanging with Phil Keaggy.
1993 Germany Lost in Germany.
1994 Fourth showroom

Store construction. - Lending a hand.
1994 Fourth showroom Repair shop.
1994 Zion Guitars

Helping out on the Ty Tabor prototype.
1994 The store

Checking out  Guild BHM # 0002.
1994 The store The repair facilities.
1995 Philly, PA Purchasing Gary Moore's 1958 Les Paul.
1995 Athens, GA Hanging at REM's place with Microwave.
1995 The store Legend Dick Dale hangs out.
1995 England

Hard Rock Cafe' - Checking out London's Denmark St.
1996 The store Killer new guitars.
1996 The store More killer new guitars.
1996 The store Celebrity guitars. KISS, Gary Moore, Keaggy, Garland, King's X.
1996 The store Cool Amps!
1996 The store Drum department.
1996 Atlanta, GA Hanging with William Chapman, tech for Hootie & the Blowfish.
1997 The store Vintage keyboards.
1997 The store Vintage effects.
1997 The Townhouse Hanging out with Hank Garland & Tal Farlow in Tal's Hotel room.
1997 England Music Ground.....Voxy Lady!
1998 The store Brighton takes inventory.
1998 The store Bevy of PRS Guitars.
1998 Nashville, TN Guitar show booth display.
1999 The store Kramer Guitars by the dozen.
1999 Chicago Geetar Bob's birthday!
1999 The store Bevy of Les Pauls.
1999 Dallas, TX Guitar show booth display.
1999 Appalachians Good wood hunting.
1999 The store Unique display cases.
2000 Kalamazoo, MI Heritage Guitars factory tour w/ Mark Huizenga
2000 The store

Abalone receives RIAA Award.
2000 The store The shop studio.
2000 The store The computer age takes over.
2003 Tulsa, OK Guitar & electronics guru Steve Ripley @ The Church Studios.
Misc. The store Store Display collection!
Misc. The store Vintage tubes galore!

 

Copyright 1995-2008 Abalonevintage. All rights reserved

Guitars Amps Brian May Guilds BHM Fender Gibson Kramer 5150 San Dimas Charvels  Zion Ty Tabor Phil Keaggy  Effects Jackson Boogie Paul Reed Smith Mighty Mite BC Rich Hamer Deans Drums Oahu VOX Marshall Selmer Orange Premier Valco Mutron Foxx Maestro Roland Univox Dallas-Arbiter Audio Neumann Urei RCA Lexicon Altec AKG Telefunken Coke Machines Marantz McIntosh Wurlitzer Jukebox Gas Pumps Schwinn Sting Rays . Krates Motion Lamps Guitars Amps Effects BHM Brian May Guilds Fender Gibson Kramer San Dimas Charvels Zion Ty Tabor Phil Keaggy Effects Jackson Boogie Bodies Paul Reed Smith Mighty Mite BC Rich Hamer Deans Drums Oahu VOX Marshall Selmer Orange Premier Valco Mutron Foxx Foot Phaser Maestro Roland Univox Dallas-Arbiter Neumann Urei RCA Lexicon Altec AKG Telefunken gear Coke Machines Marantz McIntosh Wurlitzer Jukebox Gas Pumps Schwinn Sting Rays . Krates Motion Lamps  BHM Brian May Guilds Fender Gibson Kramer San Dimas Charvels Zion Effects Jackson Boogie Bodies Paul Reed Smith Mighty Mite BC Rich Hamer Dean Oahu VOX Marshall Selmer Orange Premier Valco Mutron Foxx Phasing Pedal Maestro Roland Univoxl Dallas-Arbiter Audio Neumann Urei RCA Lexicon Altec AKG Telefunken gear Coke Machines Marantz McIntosh Wurlitzer Jukebox Gas Pumps Schwinn Sting Rays . Krates Motion Lamps