Local guitar-builder Alder & Main was born just a few blocks down the road from our shop in Telluride, Colorado. In their condo's parking garage, husband-and-wife duo Jamie and Christianna Catchpole began experimenting with fine woods and exploring their own intriguing designs. Now relocated to a proper wood shop in nearby Norwood, Colorado, Alder & Main have honed their craft. Using the finest materials and components available, each Alder & Main guitar is built by hand with the utmost care, right here in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado.
Alder & Main built "The Super Keef" in 2023 as a tribute to Keith Richards' "Micawber"—a '50s-era Tele that changed rock history. The Super Keef started with a single-cutaway Ash body, but once they realized how heavy the body would be, Alder & Main made it semi-hollow. The Birdseye Maple neck was made by Warmoth, and they gave it a stunning sunburst finish to match the dark finish on the back of the body. But what's most eye-catching is the unique pickguard. Custom-made by Indra Guitars (UK), this aluminum guard features etching inspired by the famous "Hands" artwork—the unmistakable hands of the rockstar who puts Micawber to work!
For pickups, Alder & Main asked Murray pickups (Australia) to deliver a set based on the pickups in Micawber—a PAF in the neck and original '50s Tele bridge. Plugged in, The Super Keef is versatile and wide open. It has an Armadillo Machine Works brass bridge with six individual saddles. The neck plate and switch plate were both made in house by Alder & Main, and of course only dome-top knobs will do!
The Super Keef is gently used and looks to have been played and used minimally since it was built. There is an interesting intersection between an art piece and a functional instrument, and this Alder & Main fits right in there. Hanging on the wall, it will encourage conversation whenever music-lovers are over. But what's more fun than a painting is that you can pull it down and play it. Tune it to open G, dig into the "Can You Hear Me Knockin" riff, and you'll be alright. The Super Keef includes its original Adler & Main spec-sheet and a tweed thermometer case.
- Body: Semi-Hollow Ash
- Neck: Birdseye Maple from Warmoth
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
- Frets: Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
- Scale Length: 25-1/2"
- Nut Width: 1-11/16"
- Neck Pickup: Murray Pickups Artesian '59 Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Murray Pickups Blackguard T-Style Bridge
- Electronics: CTS 500k pots, K40Y-9 paper-in-oil tone cap, Switchcraft switch
- Tuning Machines: 6-in-line Kluson
- Bridge: Armadillo Machine Works Brass 6-Saddle
- Pickguard: Custom engraved by Indra Guitars (UK)
- Control Plate: Custom Brass
- Knobs: Brass Dome
- Neck Plate: Custom Brass
- Case: Tweed Fender Thermometer case