EASTHAMPTON — For renowned luthier and inlay artist and avid Red Sox fan Harvey Leach, a perfect way to commemorate the Red Sox 2004 World Series title was to do what he does best — make a guitar.
And that guitar now resides in Goat Peak Strings in Easthampton, an estimated $30,000 homage to the squad that lifted the Curse of the Bambino, Babe Ruth.
“Everything on this guitar has to do with 1918 and 2004 Red Sox,” said Alex Gray, who co-owns Goat Peak at 81 Main St. with Jane Hamel.
The Reverse the Curse guitar is made from wood from wine casks made in 1918 and includes a number of images and symbols of the Red Sox 2004 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The neck of the guitar features the Red Sox logo eclipsing the Yankees logo, a symbol of the Red Sox historic victory over the Yankees to get to the World Series.
The sound box has the logos of the four teams the Red Sox beat in the 2004 postseason, and the neck is topped with a figure who resembles 2004 World Series MVP Manny Ramirez.
Gray said the guitar is probably the most expensive piece in the store at the moment.
Gray and Hamel both said they aren’t especially Red Sox fans, or even baseball fans. Hamel claims to have met Ted Williams once and when Gray moved to Massachusetts from New York, he said the first thing his wife’s parents said to him was “So you’re a Yankees fan?”
Gray said because the guitar crosses into sports memorabilia, that it’s “a little out of our comfort zone.”
They decided to display the guitar, which is on consignment, because they thought it would attract customers into the store and they appreciated the hand craftsmanship and uniqueness of the piece.
Store manager Ian Hamel, Jane’s son, said the guitar was “something truly unique” and store luthier Luis Freilicher calls it “one of a kind.”
Gray said the guitars hefty price tag is a result of the uniqueness of the piece, and the reputation of Leach, who is considered one of the best luthiers and inlay artists in the world. Gray said the guitar is emblematic of the experimental style that many West Coast luthiers have. That contrasts with Goat Peak’s style, which Jane Hamel describes as more of the “old school” variety typically found among the East Coast luthiers.
“We keep it traditional,” said Hamel.
Goat Peak Strings opened four years ago by luthiers Gray and Hamel. The store sells, repairs and makes rare and fine instruments. Gray and Hamel have over 75 years of combined experience and Freilicher has been working as a luthier for 20 years.
Despite the high quality of the instruments in their store, the staff insists that they aren’t “guitar snobs,” and will repair any instrument.
“We fix everything,” said Gray, “if someone walks in and wants their Squire fixed, we’ll fix it.”
Gray specializes in repairs, antiques being his favorites, and says he gets especially giddy if he sees someone walk in the door with an old case.
“He is like a kid on Christmas,” said Freilicher.
Hamel said that while they fix anything, they only buy and sell high quality and antique instruments.
“Our reputation is growing as one of the higher quality luthiers in the area,” Hamel said.
The store also sells violins, cellos, ukuleles and basically any stringed instrument. The oldest piece in the store is a violin from 1697.
Gray said that the Red Sox guitar will probably stay in the store for a while and serve as a promotional item to get people into the store, but he has been entertaining offers from some people.
“I see us selling it to a sports collector,” said Gray.
Gray said he hopes whoever it goes to treats it well. He says he becomes infuriated when he sees people treat antique and instruments of high quality with little respect.
Gray said the piece complements the store nicely, and adds to the museum feel the store already has. He said people walk into the store all the time to just look at the instruments with no intention of buying anything, which is fine by him.
“As long as people have respect and appreciation for the instrument,” said Gray.