Search VideosPG

PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location in Anaheim, CA, for NAMM 2010 where she visits the Normandy Guitars booth. In this segment, we get introduced to Normandy's newest model, a "chicken pickin'" Alumicaster.

The Alumicaster is Jim Normandy's take on tele-style guitars. Its a hollowbody guitar made of aluminum. There are aluminum blocks under the bridge and where the neck bolts onto the body. The pickkups on this model are a Seymour Duncan Classic Classic (bridge) and '59 (neck), but pickups, pickguards and fretboards can change per player's request.

more description >>

Comments

(11 comments)

display by

Username	Comment
Chris Goss on 03/08/2010	Jim is producing some of the nicest new guitars on the planet. I can't wait to get my hands on the Alumicaster. It will be my second Normandy, and look forward to adding a lively, extra-twangy brother to my modest, vintage Tele collection- '65 and '69 'Frankensteins' that I adore. When I was a kid, buying your first Les Paul was the Holy Grail for rock and rollers. Now I believe I'd be looking at a Normandy hanging in a shop and drooling. Right on Jim. You're making history.
metal man on 02/06/2010	well li yu the late great les paul was using it long before travis bean or gary kramer (early 60's) nothing is really new in this industry but some things are way cooler than others like these bad ass axes...normandy rocks
Brett Kingman on 01/31/2010	I was very fortunate to try, buy and then help promote some of the first batches of Archtop Chromes that came from Jim's hallowed benches a year or so ago. They were and still are killer axes. A different soud - somewhere between a Gretsch and Tele - and looks that make your eyes pop out. Unfortunately I got hideously ill in 2009 and had to sell the archtop to help pay medical expenses. Something I sincerely regret. You can hear my demo with the AC on Jim's site (Burger's Blues - flatteringly still up on the site. Thanks Jim!). I was also lucky to meet Jim and try the Alumicaster at NAMM this year. It's another killer. More my style too as I go for the 'F' version usually. Now to save up some pennies and get me one. Good luck Jim! I doubt you'll need it though; I have a feeling you'll be just trying to keep up with demand soon, and rightly so! Best, BK (Burgerman666).
Li Yu on 01/31/2010	Nice Guitar, but production Aluminum Telly's have been around for more than a decade.... Spruce Hill Guitars produced T Style Guitars in Aluminum since the late-1990's and produced the bodies for the Fender Harley Davidson Strats and the Fender Tie-dyed Strats & Telecasters in 1994-95.... They produce T Style Resocasters, too.... Tito Jackson plays a SHG Telecaster in the A & E Jack5on Dynasty reality show at wembley, in Oct 2009, as well as receives a custom built Aluminum built Guitar based on his first Guitar in the last episode...A & E has clips at http://www.aetv.com/the-jacksons-a-famil y-dynasty/video starting at about 5:00 part of what next. It's easy to find, just click on the picture of Tito playing an aluminum Guitar... Both of Tito's Aluminum Guitars can be seen at www.sprucehillguitars.com... WWW.Youtub e.com has clips of Jason Leibmans Double Cut-away Archtop and Leon Hendrix's S Style Aluminum Guitars, plus amateur clips Tito Jackson playing the his Telly in concernt at wembley arena, Jackson 5 medley and other clips... Even Alumisonic produced a T Style Guitar in 2008.... http://www.sprucehillguitars.c om
shawn on 01/30/2010	I have toured all over the world playing Normandy guitars and I can tell you that it doesn't matter what kind of music you play or what kind of guitars you may have used before, Normandy guitars will always perform at a higher than professional level and they have unbeatable style. I play hard rock and I won't use anything else.
Mark on 01/30/2010	Possibly recycled aluminum? Hats off to something different and unique. Cheers!
c.blondin on 01/29/2010	Being from the"GREAT WHITE NORTH",Aluminum isn't my first choice as guitar material.Looks very nice and sounds great,however, I wonder just how much the material plays a role in it's sound.The pickups are the most dominent factor in any guitar's sound.Variety is the spice of life and I'm sure that this guitar has it's place like all others.Would love to try one.
david catching on 01/29/2010	i own two archtop normandy guitars , and they both play , and sound as nicely as any guitars i've ever picked up . and they're a lot cooler looking . cannot wait to get my hands on the alunicaster and the v . everyone at normandy , especially jim , is really cool , friendly and sincerely interested in your ideas , and making the best guitars they can . for such a young company , they really put their hearts and souls into doing just that .
PJZ on 01/29/2010	Hello out there, my name is PJZ, and my man Jim Normandy was our booth neighbor @ NAMM 2010. Jim asked me to play this demo on his Beautiful Alumicaster @ NAMM , for Premier Guitar!! I was super stoked!!!!!! I was like yeah boyeee!!!! When I put this guitar in my hands, I just looked at Jim and smiled and didn't even think about what I was gonna play. The guitar played all by itself. This guitar is super comfortable. The neck is a perfect combo of a "C" shape Strat / with a roundness & a little extra beef like a Custom Les Paul. But not huge like a 59' L.P. it's just enough wood. The guitar is light in weight, but sounds huge and heavy!!! With 22 frets, and a super comfortable cut away, nothing will get in your way when you are soloing. Maple neck is beautiful, with a warm slightly crisp tone in neck position, and a killer raw country twang in bridge position. The volume and tone knobs are easy to access, and super comfortable for rolling back & forth. BOTTOM LINE- This guitar is as versatile & as BAD ASS!! as it comes!!! Thank you again Jim!!! You dudes rule!!!!! PJZ http://www.pjzitarosa.com
Gene Aldridge on 01/29/2010	I haven’t had a chance to play the new Tele style but I can’t wait to try it. I love the Arch Top; it’s beautifully made with a killer tone and great playability. I like the partnering with Seymour Duncan as well. That can only make things better.

Show More Comments >>

View All

Your Comment:

All comments are subject to editing or deletion by the Premier Guitar staff.

Your Name:

Please enter the text you see in the image: