The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah • 61

41WO The Nvcdwday Air211t 9 1990 1)A5 'Temple of Tone' Is Stroll Down Rock 'n' Roll's illemory Lane Nick Athens has collected a variety of vintage guitars basses and amplifiers that he keeps in his "Temple of --THIDune Slott Photo by Kriston Jacobsen Tone" His instrument collection includes a 1954 Fender Telecaster and an early-1950s model Les Paul amplifier 3 1 i it A '0 )' I 4 4 4 i f---- F-i i 1 7-f- I i e's 1 IA I 'I fr so of k'' i 1 (I I i 5A) 9 r' I it A -i 7 i I 7- 1 i i i 1 f' I f- twafll' i A 1-4- 4 -'1 'Is- 4 i'l 1 "1 216261 4 liz--rst ir LA i -1'-' I 44 I i NV I iv 4 A till tv -ge It '74 ot- V---- 2 'loot' f6''' A 2 A r- :7 i 1 1 -43-- 0 4f-o nili I "tr A 4 1 'Ll: v''004' -e- '4 i il '4'" t1' 'At Ft- 1 -it 4z VSS AK i '17-'''-'-- 1 X' 0 1 1- f'' A 1 A '-'7 Alt 14 I 1 4nt i le at -04 "re-se' 0 --25 A 1 's 01)11--'''''' Prh" A 9- '41-''' ''-'-i'- -''7-'' ''''-'T 0 Slott Photo IDy Kriston Jacobsen Nick Athens has collected a variety of vintage guitars Tone" His instrument collection includes a 1954 Fender basses and amplifiers that he keeps in his "Temple of Telecaster and an early-1950s model Les Paul amplifier By Vic Garcia Tribune Staff Writer "Rock 'n' roll is a very irresponsible thing it's very juvenile That's what makes it so fun" said Utahn Nicholas Athens self-proclaimed guitar "hack" and collector of vintage four-and-six-string instruments By practice Mr Athens explained he is a guitar player first and a collector second Yet after taking a look at about half the collection he started in 1978 even the casual musicologist would be able to point out the vintage the rare and the sought-after instruments within his collection Mr Athens 32 plays and collects mostly Fender guitars and amplifiers because as he explained "rock 'n' roll as we know it was founded on them" lie credits Leo Fender creator and founder of the instrument line with playing just as important a part in the creation of rock 'n' roll as Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly "To a guitar player and a collector there are important artists and sounds that have been captured with certain pieces of equipment I like to think of who used what on what album" he said "All those old records shaped the way we perceived the sound of the electric guitar A lot of those records were recorded with Fender equipment Rock 'n' roll wouldn't exist if it weren't for Leo Fender" Entering his Holladay "Temple of Tone" one is immediately struck with what could almost pass as an annex of a Hard Rock Cafe Memorabilia lines the walls The time is shown on a Fender Guitar clock for which he was once offered a "horrendous amount of money" A 1954 Fender Telecaster electric bass is flanked by a Fender Princeton Reverb II amplifier with oak cabinet one of only 100 manufactured He picks up a 1959 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst one of his cherished possessions and indicates this very guitar is reported to have shared the stage with Eric Clapton With it he points to a 1957 Fender Stratocaster reminiscent of his hero Jimi Hendrix with a pearloid pick-guard An early-1950s model Les Paul amplifier though well kept appears as a rock 'n' roll relic Yet Mr Athens demonstrates it still projects a powerfully warm distinctively blues ns demonstrates it still projects a powerfully warm distinctively blues sound At his feet lies his most recently acquired gem a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Yet his argument for being a player first and collector second is substantiated by the fact that every single piece of equipment is in "pristine operating condition" By this he means every guitar electric bass and amplifier in the room functions to his stringent specifications Unlike Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap fame who reportedly owns a Fender six-string bass which he never plays but is never without Mr Athens owns guitars to play them He does not hang them on the wall just for the sake of ownership "When I pick up a guitar I can tell within two seconds whether or not I want it in my collection" he said "I maintain guitars in their original form tone and 'playability' I get flak from some people saying that I shouldn't play them like I do But what good is a guitar if you can't play it?" Still on the collecting aspect he commented that vintage guitars carry with them a certain mystique because of inconsistencies in the materials and manufacturing processes used in the early days of electrically amplified music In many cases he said he has found old models which have turned out to be "dogs" It's when he can find the vintage guitar that plays and sounds like a legendary piece of rock 'n' roll that he pursues adding it to his collection Though he has already amassed an impressive collection by most standards he believes he is not nearly in the same league as some of his collector friends in Los Angeles New York and Texas Additions to his collection come intermittently He does however keep his eyes ears and hands open for elusive guitar gems because "chance favors the prepared mind I think Pasteur said that" As for the dollar value of his collection Mr Athens perishes the thought of putting a price tag on any piece of equipment "There is no amount of money that would make me want to sell some of these guitars I'm fascinated with the weight the tone the neck dimensions There just isn't any amount of money that can replace a guitar's tone or 'playability' s'io-n-s-Ther-e just Isn't any amount of money that can replace a guitar's tone or 'playability' By Keith Phillips Associated Press Writer ATLANTA In a basement on the campus of Oglethorpe University rests the Crypt of Civilization a slice of life from the late 1930s that will be an archaeological gold mine if anyone remembers to open it in 8113 Entombed behind a stainless steel door in a former swimming pool are thousands of items designed to provide a picture of life in 1936 From bottle caps to appliances the Crypt of Civilization is "the first successful attempt to bury a record of this culture for future inhabitants or visitors to the planet" according to the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records Thornwell Jacobs then-president of Oglethorpe conceived the idea for the time capsule in 1936 said Paul Hudson Oglethorpe registrar history lecturer and unofficial keeper of the crypt Inspired by the archaeological finds of the Egyptian pyramids and frightened by the rise of fascism and a looming world war Jacobs thought a complete record of civilization might be needed "Remember this was on the eve of World War II and there was a sense that civilization was dying" Hudson said Jacobs advanced the idea in a Scientific American magazine article He added 6177 years the amount of time that had passed since the establishment of the Egyptian calendar to 1936 and came up with 8113 Ali "It took hold in an enormous way People were flooding in with suggestions of things to put into the Crypt of Civilization" Hudson said One respondent was TK Peters an archaeologist and photographer who had explored the Egyptian Pyramids and developed a microfilm camera "In a sense he had been training all his life for this- Hudson said Peters became the archivist deciding what should go into the tomb He also set up three shifts of students microfilming more than 800 written works including complete encyclopedia sets the Bible the Koran even the novel "Gone With the By Keith Phillips Associated Press Writer ATLANTA In a basement on the campus of Oglethorpe University rests the Crypt of Civilization a slice of life from the late 1930s that will be an archaeological gold mine if anyone remembers to open it in B113 Entombed behind a stainless steel door in a former swimming pool are thousands of items designed to pro- vide a picture of life in 1936 From bottle caps to appliances the Crypt of Civilization is the first successful attempt to bury a record of this culture for future inhabitants or visitors to the planet" according to the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records Thornwell Jacobs then president of Oglethorpe conceived the idea for the time capsule in 1936 said Paul Hudson Oglethorpe registrar histo- ry lecturer and unofficial keeper of the crypt Inspired by the archaeological finds of the Egyptian pyramids and frightened by the rise of fascism and a looming world war Jacobs thought a complete record of civilization might be needed "Remember this was on the eve of World War II and there was a sense that civilization was dying" Hudson said Jacobs advanced the idea in a Sci- entific American magazine article He added 6177 years the amount of time that had passed since the es- tablishment of the Egyptian calen- dar to 1936 and came up with 8113 AD "It took hold in an enormous way People vvere flooding in with sugges- tions of things to put into the Crypt of Civilization- Hudson said One respondent was TK Peters an archaeologi st and photographer who had explored the Egyptian Pr amids and developed a microfilm camera "In a sense he had been training all his life for this- Hudson said Peters became the archivist de- ciding what should go into the tomb He also set up three shifts of stu- dents microfilming more than 800 written works including complete encyclopedia sets the Bible the Ko- ran even the no "Gone With the Crypt Entombs Secrets of 1930s For Habitants of 82nd Century $2995 Wind" The microfilmed documents were sealed in stainless steel containers lined with asbestos and filled with inert nitrogen A swimming pool in the basement of Hearst Hall was drained and waterproofed It was lined with pitch and marble then encased in enamel to create a crypt 20 feet long and 10 feet wide Thousands of items from paper clips to messages from world leaders were donated There are newsreels recordings newspapers Donald Duck toys models pictures even a specially sealed ampul of Budweiser beer Pictographs showing human development are painted on the walls And in case the tomb's openers no longer speak English a hand-operated device is at the entrance to teach English "The first thing you see when you go in is what TK Peters called his mechanical Rosetta stone" Hudson said The project was completed in May 1940 The air in the tomb was replaced with nitrogen the crypt was sealed and the steel door welded in place Directions to the capsule were written in seven Asiatic and seven European languages and mailed to libraries monasteries and other repositories worldwide Peters made sure the instructions provided landmarks such as Stone Mountain as reference points But a common problem with time capsules is that they are forgotten That's why Hudson and others want to form an organization to track capsules creating a database to pass along information and help people trying to set up capsules "There is no way of ensuring that something will survive" said Knute Berger an authority on capsules and executive director of a capsule project in Washington state "Lots of time capsules get lost A lot of them get damaged" But the surest way to preserve and remember is word of mouth "Indian myths get passed on from generation to generation Myths that are thousands of years old manage to survive relatively intact for vast distances of time" he said Retail $3995 Save $1000 ri-M-VIITED TIME OFFER 1 NO LIMIT WITH THIS AD ONLY SEAGULL BOOK Er TAPE 273 WEST 500 SOUTH BOUNTIFUL HOURS (In 5th South Plaza) 9 30-6 30 295-3434 MON -SAT fftr i-f XI get 7771 '42 4i'AL i I trJ4---- vo 1L1 --p 1 A 1-gia -r '---t---'''t3t: tvr---i-u Lr 'A 1 ki 0 ct '4'4'4' i '450r -r --4'tj 7 114 f-'-v----- 4 I 4 1t- zyl'itef4 -4 4Lit-: 1- bb ENJOY LIFE'S PLEASURES AT A COMFORTABLE COST Wise builders install natural gas lines for these appliances knowing that houses with energy-efficient appliances sell faster new homeowners will pay less for all heat-related functions (space heating water hearing cooking drying "spa-ing" etc) natural gas is being used more and more in residential commercial arid industrial applications because it is friendly to the environment Clean abundant natural gas protects the air we breathe and the environment we live in iiiiI Visit the Trendsetting Davis County Parade of Homes August 31 through September 7 Visit the All-Natural Gas "Sunrise II" 1306 North I f0 VVe! oon Built by David Faerber of Overland Homes Sunrise couitAnes and elegance with affordability Wood and oak catnnet! add elegance a natural gas heatet natural gas water heater and natural gq clottws dryer add offic'ency The heart of this home is the combination dining room located near a co7y larnty room include a master bedroom with vaulted ceding a tilCd ui doors and vondow seats throughout the tLttne Visit the All-Alatura Anw built by Mary Fowler of ()nu Rf the F1011'y 4r1t)r yas and inciodes a rietora: tivater skylighPitwo lofts overlooking thi: (iffrs ciry atmosphere 7he highlight net( hen the among cnefs With forma ind honi entertaining but a ri'Lli lff4a nnn tru-35tcr bed00m hes a dres14 roorr boo C1050t arid a covered pprui THF NATURAL GAS Hrsi'VES LT YES OF -1-)3VES r1 Bring the World to your Doorstep Read The Salt Lake Tribune 41 Crypt Entombs Secrets of 1930s T----- For Habitants of 82nd Century 1 Wind" qw The microfilmed documents were II sealed in stainless steel containers "11111 lin ittra 1 er ot r4 ri ti lined with asbestos and filled with in- 1Vise 1P Utititi a Offer 1 1 ert nitrogen 1 A swimming pool in the basement I With AI I of Hearst Hall was drained and wa- terproofed It was lined with pitch Loaded Wan options I and marble then encased in enamel it to create a crypt 20 feet long and 10 feet wide Thousands of items from paper I clips to messages from world leaders I were donated There are newsreels 1 recordings newspapers Donald Co endsetting the Visit 1 4- 70 1 l'f'll 7- 1 1 County Duck even a -t Trendsetting Davis 7 917Z I 1 specially sealed ampul of Budweiser i i-r4-rir-11)tpsr rt1 Parade of Homes August 31 through September 7 7 40 1 ---t! vAii 4k Tt beer Pictographs showing human de- 1 r4gui A 'tti4k IC8-7 velopment are painted on the walls 1 0 '14511: A -1- t7'I 4 1-77 rtr --e4 A( The Sunrise -r 4 ys -I -1 ANt "L- And in case the tomb's openers no 111 ''''1' t' II --'itil)14'hl hh 4 r- 7 longer speak English a hand-operat- '4 2 --tio ed device is at the entrance to teach I fi -4 4 --I'4 4'7! r'- '4- 4t English The first thing 0- ou see 4----)' -t 4 eh14h Th to trlait i t- rrr when you go in is what 'LK Peters 4-fq -mVpF pe 0g 1110 Pet c'? 1 i I 1 I called his mechanical Rosetta 4 '4-i' i ey-' 'r 1 113 144---i sk-- --21--: I stone" Hudson said 4 561''71 ir 017 --11-0t 41-0 -01 on' ics 011 tor op Ivo 1 4 -J -4 0r 11 The project was completed in May r11kt ---(' 1 1 :4 -tr i 7 7 sou 1 i 1940 The air in the tomb was re- 1 i I hh4 placed with nitrogen the crypt was r'471'7fr1 ing'' I A -I I I 7- ''-'t 'Or sealed and the steel door welded in ''i- ilv ru7-17''A 11firirt t-r vak 1 place '4tee 422 )-- ))))4 tit qtvort --sA i or fly Orefri-o-eW' ll'rktilti 1r Directions to the capsule were f74 "4TV: illt it04 NINCLIky14 1 written in seven Asiatic and seven 1 g'--0' re' 4V -P- 4 lit1! 01- Visit the All Gas "Sunrise II" 1306 North lf0 drtori Built by 1 European languages and mailed to 10 70 David Faerber of Overland Homes Sunrise II crr7ibltie! toxyy and elegance libraries monasteries and other re- --44--7'4m1-- with affordability Wood and oak add ctelivice a riaturar gas positories worldwide Peters made I heatei natural gas water heater and natural gis clothes orr add effic'em sure the instructions provided land- Loi4-e-i---4---4 The heart of this home is the combination kitchiq- ra141rI ii marks such as Stone Mountain range-and dining room located near a co7y family morn (-1 1-)')iti)! as reference points include a master bedroom with vatitted ceiling a tiled Lii) coloria! 1 But a common problem with time doors and window seats througho he tL)r ut tne 1 1 capsules is that they are forgotten ENJOY ME'S 1 That's why Hudson and others want PLEASURES AT A 1 to form an organization to track cap-I COMFORTABLE COST 4-' -i- 1 sules creating a database to pass The 1 1 Wise builders install natural "Ho Ann along information and help people 'Ii '-7- 1" 1 gas lines for these tt 4-- fir et--- 7 i---- -i 1- I 1 trying to set up capsules 1 appliances knowing that li va- 7- -ir -t-1-- t-- cA 1 "There is no way of ensuring that 1 i 1 7r I --'') vi something vvill surve" said Knute 1 houses with energy- 7 1- -fe''' efficient Berger an authority on capsules and 1 appliances sell I ''''''10' ---7--'Z' 1 1 tlo 1 ii 4' ii cogr executive director of a capsule pro- faster ject in Washington state "Lots of new homeowners wiff go 'p time capsules get lost A lot of them pay less for all heat- I get damaged'' related functions (space But the surest way to preserve and heating water heating 4 I ci --) Al 2 1 1 remember is word of mouth cooking drying "spa-ing" '1'----''' -''04: 11 "Indian myths get passed on from etc) I generation to generation Myths natural gas is being used that are thousands of years old 1 more and more in Ga manage to survi residential commercial ve relatively intact Visit the All-Natura Holly Anna 47- 5)r' 11)u- built for vast distances of time he said by wiry Fpwler of Onito Rf i1' the Fiolly 41h A iicie a nt 1 nd industrial gas and inclodes a wasw- haoat 0rta va skylqihts 1 1' applications because two lofts overlooking 1t tp r- dro iy matr ff dri ()I it is friendly to the atmosphere -The litghtigt! -1z t( hen tta t): ad fa ft 1 fftl 1 I '(11 I ill i a I environment among chefs Vv'tth forma Ivn: ind cf- ig 2 Akil )1 I I I 01 fli 0" 0 -9 -41 I I- 1 orittrtaineno but a ridtifa! Gw lff2r13 1 0r: 0 ii' 7t Clean abundant natura gas I 1 trya5tfr beciouni hef a ')'31' 1(0 jt" T)r' ir protects the air we breathe 2995 and the environment we live in ot a id a td 11 cli 1 )) I )1 MIT THE NATURAL GAS KNES LT OF r'L'f'lEs Retail $3995 Save $1000 I LIMITED OFFER IFT's i I fk-- IN r-ri Q----- i rol f----'1-1 :1 w--'1--- '1-- i 4-- 'r lk i-r oi- i 1 klelp 1 nt 1 I 14 i 1 NO LIMIT WITH THIS AD ONLY t-! SEAGULL BOOK gr TAPE -A 273 WEST 500 SOUTH BOUNTIFUL HO (in 5th South Plaza) 9 30URS' -6 30 295-3434 Bring the World to your Doorstep-9 Read The Salt Lake Tribune MON -SAT -1.