Genesis, one of the most successful rock bands of all time, provided the inspiration for Steinberger's first full-bodied guitar, the GM.

Geoff Banks, guitar and bass technician for Genesis, remembers how it all began: "We had been in rehearsal for the Invisible Touch tour and Mike's [Mike Rutherford, lead guitarist] 5-year old son came in with his 3/4 size Explorer shape guitar. He said, "It looked bigger than Daddy's black guitar," referring to Mike's Steinberger guitar."

Geoff arranged for Steinberger to send a guitar neck, TransTrem hardware, etc., and began experimenting with style and shape. As with any important new idea, the design process had its rough moments. As Geoff recalls: "Mike and I sat down with a piece of cardboard and started drawing shapes. Unfortunately, we ended up with something that looked more like a hamburger than a Steinberger!" At that point, Geoff and Mike wisely enlisted the help of Roger Griffin, the English luthier and designer who has built many custom guitars for top players such as Eric Clapton and Andy Summers.

Roger explains how he developed the design: "I just kept drawing shapes until I got one that looked right. I wanted the curves to work with the rest of the guitar, and for proper balance, a double cutaway was best. I made a plywood cutout and Mike liked it. After some testing, we decided to add half an inch to the width for better access. Geoff suggested the binding, and Mike wanted the curved top. I put it together and we could see right away we had something really special."

Rich Briere, artist representative with Steinberger at the time, first learned of the new guitar during the U.S. leg of the Invisible Touch tour: "Geoff asked me to meet up with the band in Hartford to check out this new guitar. I was totally knocked out as soon as I saw it. It not only looked great, the balance was perfect, and it played like a dream. I called Ned [Steinberger] immediately and he joined us in Hartford the following day. His reaction was identical to mine. This guitar was hot!"

This unique international collaboration of musician, technician, designer, promoter and manufacturer resulted in the first instrument from Steinberger created by an outside designer. That's just fine according to Ned Steinberger: "I think Roger has done a fabulous job combining...Steinberger technology into a more traditional package that appeals to guitarists from all areas of music. My congratulations and thanks to Mike, Roger, Geoff and Rich for making it all happen."

The Acephalons



You often hear about how you're greatly influenced by experiences that occur during your teenage years;  important events that can shape the remainder of your life. I think that there's probably something to that "theory". 

Next to the Beatles, these guys were IT for me when I was just getting into music. One of the Major Events in my teenage life was the night that they played for a party at MY house! Were they English---a part of the "British Invasion?" No. Were they famous? No again, not nationally anyway. Regionally they did pretty well, but they'll always be famous for me. They were the first band that I had any real interaction with in my hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts. 

The drummer in this group, Paul Tacy, lived four houses down from us on Vernon Street and that's where the band rehearsed. Needless to say, whenever possible my butt was firmly planted on the couch in their rehearsal room and I was picking up as many pointers as I could gather.

The bass player, Dave Mullen, seen here playing  his Copperburst Danelectro shorthorn bass, was, along with that McCartney fellow from Liverpool, one of the major  influences in my pursuit of Rock & Roll bass playing---60's style. I've only recently thanked him for it by the way.  

I'll never forget the day that Dave showed up at a rehearsal with his brand-new, Olympic White, Fender Precision Bass with the brown tortoise-shell pickguard. He plugged it into his Standel Imperial amp, fired that baby up and that was it, I was HOOKED! 

I was badly-bitten by the bass bug that evening and became really SERIOUS about becoming a bass player myself. The money from my paper route financed my first musical equipment acquisitions and they continue to make me a happy guy today. Thanks Dave.

 The gentleman that you see playing the black Danelectro guitar is Pete Heinz. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and resident sex symbol of the band. He was the owner of the very first VOX Super Beatle amplifier that I'd ever seen as well. And, as if that weren't cool enough on its own, he also drove around town in a brand new 1965 Mustang! Too Much! Some guys just know how to live. 

Kenny Prebble was a terrific lead guitarist and showman. The personal high-point of any Acephalons concert/dance for me was when Kenny would pull out all of the stops and blaze through the lead on their cover of the Byrds classic, "Feel a Whole lot Better". Kenny was later killed in a plane crash but remains in my thoughts and musical memories today.  

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Bassist Dave Mullen fondly remembers the early days of the Acephalons:

   Paul Tacy & I were always hanging around...he had a set of Ludwig drums & also played the accordion. I broke my leg skiing  at Mt Tom during my freshman year at Northampton High School.  (feb 1964) I borrowed a set of drum sticks and would play on my cast all the time. The Beatles also came to America that February--- instant love. Initially I borrowed a set of drums from a guy named Jim Derose and learned to play in my basement. The1st attempt at a band was with me on drums, Paul Tacy on accordion and Pete Heinz on some junky guitar.  That was quickly scrapped and I bought a $10 bass from the guy on Mainstreet (Angelo Basil perhaps?)) rebuilt it and painted it. About that time Ken Prebble was brought in. He had actually had "formal" guitar lessons. (may 1964)  That was the original band: Paul-drums/Peter-rythmn/Dave-bass/Ken-lead.