| LOW END,
fictional as it is, still revolves around real
places and people. The author felt that by
including real people, places and events, the
story would feel 'real.' Harry first 'went to
Scarsdale' in 1978 to have his prized Ramirez
guitar refretted by Barry Lipman, who was then an
independent lut hier with customers
ranging from Roz Dlugin to Ace Frehley. Barry
Lipman worked out of a residence located at 1186
Post Road, the only external indication being a
guitar screwed to a tree by the road. Anyone
living in the area during the eighties will no
doubt remember this!
I like this photo, it's my website, so I'm
gonna throw it in! Here's a picture of Harry and
Barry and their nine foot snow lady circa
February  1982.
In 1981, Harry was seeking to build the guitar
that he and his father had planned to build. The
project was cut short when Harry's dad died, but
Harry tried to push ahead. He went to Lipman to
learn how to install a truss rod in a neck he'd
begun to build. Lipman was impressed enough with
Harry's attempt to offer him an apprenticeship.
 Years later, Lipman,
N.S. "Buck" Brundage, Steven DeTone and
Harry formed Player Instrument Corporation to
build and market an electric guitar (with
interchangeable pickups that could be quickly
removed without tools in mid-song) and the Power
Plant, a boutique distortion unit. Barry
Lipman, to the left, is seen refretting a
customer's early '60's Strat. Buck Brundage, seen
at right, is playing a single pickup
MDS-1 prototype. Buck was associated with Al
DiMeola, serving as a guitar sound guru on a
number of his albums. Here's a  close-up
of the MDS-1 two pickup variant with the bridge
pickup popped out. Harry at oh, 25 or 26 years
old.
In 1985, Harry went with
Player to the NAMM show in New Orleans,
Louisiana. It was there that Harry met Brian May
and had this photo taken with the original Red
Special. For the record, the neck is very round
in profile and extremely small. The guitar wasn't
heavy at all, despite the seeming thickness of the body. It is very
well balanced. Harry got a real charge at getting
to touch the Bohemian Rhapsody guitar! The
picture to the right is the only shot of Brian
May Harry was able to snap--and he regrets not
using the flash to this day. Mr. May is holding a
Player production MDS-1.
Player folded in late 1985 and
signalled not just the end of the interchangeable
pickup concept, but the end of Harry's first
marriage -- and Harry was out of work, out of
money and out of a home! As people will tell you,
and it is truth, when life hands you a dirty
deal, that's when you find out who really cares
about you. Enter Steven DeTone and
Leslie Hammer DeTone. Steve had worked
with Harry for years at Player. Steve had begun
dating Leslie Hammer, who worked at the Arcade
Color Copy Center in Scarsdale. Leslie, who
supplied the description and personality for the
character of Lucille in LOW END, got Harry a job
at the Arcade, where he made friends with lots of
great people, Dave, Jeff, Joann, Horace Davis,
big and little Lisa, Keith, Kenny, and if we've
missed anyone, our apologies! The Arcade was
located next to the old Scarsdale Hardware, right
in the lobby of the Harwood Building. Neither
business remains there, though both are still in
operation. The picture to the right is Leslie in
1984. Sadly, she passed away in 2001, the day
after Thanksgiving. Leslie is standing behind the
Kodak 300 duplicator that is mentioned in the
book.  Joann is standing next
to her.
 The
photo, taken by the author in 1988, shows the
Harwood Building from the Boniface Circle side,
photo taken from the small park Man, I miss
working there!.
 This photo, \below left,
is Steve DeTone, Stanley 'Sloane' DeLonge in the
novel. This photo was taken at his parent's old
house in the Bronx, probably in 1989.
Harry left Arcade in 1991, he wanted a change
of surroundings, though he always regrets leaving
Scarsdale and the Arcade. He feels that the best
years of his life spanned that period between
1986 and 1991, much pain, but great friendship
and fun. Lange's Deli, Michael's Cheese Shop, the
old Scarsdale Photo Shop, Eclat, Zachy's, Spencer
Book and Variety, Chase Landing -- all great
memories, some of these places still survive.
What was best was the camaraderie among the
retailers in town -- and some of the nicest
customers in the world!. It was a good time.
Or through
Ask for
LOW END at your favorite local book retailer!
Please visit these
other fine sites:
http://www.roryon.com/
and http://www.rorygallagher.com/
for more information
on Rory Gallagher
Visit http://www.projectguitar.com/
if you are into cool axes!
http://www.roryon.com/harrystrat208.html
to see a Rory Gallagher tribute guitar built by
the author.
AVAILABLE NOW !
The Classic Guitar Method: Now in one volume, much
of what the novice classical guitarist will need to
know to lead him or her to the recital stage. From
proper instrument care and maintenance to the
necessary technical skills, musical mind-set, and
the standard repertoire—all exposed and explored
with enough detail and insight that the student will
wish to keep this book handy years to come as a
ready reference source.
With the aid of a good teacher, the student will
rapidly progress through The Classic Guitar Method
attaining technical proficiency and musical
eloquence.
This method stems from the need to incorporate a
number of schools into a single cohesive curriculum.
Years of honing a logical approach to the guitar and
the creation of music culminate in this volume. As a
self-proclaimed Disciple of Valdés-Blain , much of
that famed teacher's focus can be found in Mr.
Pellegrin's method.
ISBN: 978-1-4116-9442-2
Published by PAB Entertainment Group, P.O. Box 2369
Scotia, New York 12302
Please go to www.lulu.com to order.
LOW
END is Published by Bedside Books, an imprint of
American Book Publishing.
ISBN
1-58982-074-6
LOW
END Copyright 2003 Harry G. Pellegrin
In
God We Trust
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