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Author
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Topic: Fender Jerry Byrd steel guitar
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Max Laine
Member From: Pori, Finland
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posted 13 May 2000 02:12 PM
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This time I believe a picture tells more than a thousand words, what do you say about this: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=331771491 |
Al Gershen
Member From: Grants Pass, OR, USA
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posted 13 May 2000 02:35 PM
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Hi Max Laine:Thank for bring to light such an interesting Fender instrument. If anyone out the has access to the "Guitar Player" magazine article about this instrument, please summarize the author's comments under this subject tread. Judging by the case and hardware, I suspect this guitar was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Do any of you Jerry Byrd fans have a more accurate manufacturing date for this instrument? I placed an opening bid on eBay for this guitar but I suspect that others will join the frey and the final price will probably be quite high. Happy bidding to all. ------------------
Regards,
Al Gershen
Grants Pass, Oregon. USA
Fender 1000 (1957),
Fender PS 210 (1972) &
Gibson Electraharp EH-810
(1962)
Pictures of PS 210 &
EH-810 at http://www.rvi.net/~aldg
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Mike Black
Member From: New Mexico, USA
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posted 14 May 2000 08:13 PM
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Well thats cool! According to Forrest's Book, pg 143. "The only custom guitar we made from scratch to a musician's specs in those early years at Fender was in 1964 for Jerry Byrd" He goes on to describe it and his relations with Jerry. A photo shows the steel though it's kinda dark, but I don't doubt it's the same one. My guess would be it's a 22 +1/2" scale. His perfered length.
It sure looks real clean. Hope somebody on the Forum ends up with it!
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mikey
Member From: Hawaii, Big Island
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posted 14 May 2000 09:10 PM
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JB's request was for string through the body, like a Telecaster, not the tailpiece like a Stringmaster....and yes it's 22.5" scale,
Mike |
Mike Black
Member From: New Mexico, USA
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posted 14 May 2000 09:31 PM
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Mike, did he ever say how he liked the steel?. Did he give them specs for the pickups too? It dosen't sound like he kept it for long. Look at the nut and saddle too. I often wondered why Fender didn't make string through bodies for there steels. They did it on the early champs. I'd think it would be a good thing. I wonder if it was a manfacturing step they didn't want to make? It's more work for sure.
Does anybody have that Monument LP? Any comments on his tone? |
John Tipka
Member From: Reynoldsburg,OH
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posted 15 May 2000 06:58 AM
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These are the facts why Jerry Byrd didn't play Fender as straight from the lips of Jerry Byrd whom I was with last weekend in Honolulu.
Jerry was getting ready to play Frank Miller's T-8 Stringmaster and made the following comments before he started playing: He indicated he was at a trade show in Chicago about 35 years ago and Forrest White and Don Randall of Fender came to the Rickenbacker booth to listen to him play. They wondered why he didn't play Fender. He told them. They wondered if they could make a guitar for him according to his specifications for him to try. He eventually agreed to their offer and Fender made one for him.
Why he doesn't play Fender? The major points:
1)the guitar doesn't have strings-through-the-body and the tone suffers
2) he plays the C6/A7 tuning and his favorite key to play in is D flat. D flat is at the first fret in that tuning and the 1st and 8th string tuning machine keys are too close to the nut and the first fret for his hand to fit when playing in that key
3)adjacent string slants at the first, second, and third frets are difficult with the narrow Fender string spacing
4) 22 inch scale length vs 24-1/2 inch
5) Kluson tuning machines in tuner pan very difficult to operateJerry then proceeded to play "Aloha Sunset Land" in the key of C and then modulated and finished in D flat to demonstrate. Aloha, John[This message was edited by John Tipka on 15 May 2000 at 10:28 AM.] |
John Tipka
Member From: Reynoldsburg,OH
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posted 15 May 2000 07:12 AM
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Note the comments above are made about Fender guitars in general being made at that time and not about the guitar made for Jerry. |
Jay Jessup
Member From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
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posted 17 May 2000 07:20 AM
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Wow, the bidding on this item went from about $650 yesterday to $1275 today and there is still almost a week left in the auction. On top of that the reserve price has not been met. I had almost convinced myself I was interested in this item but I just got unconvinced real quick like!! |
jeffstro
unregistered
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posted 18 May 2000 12:54 AM
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Me too, Jay! Being a non-pedal player and a major Jerry Byrd fan, I'd love to have that guitar. I'm sure it will be worth every penny someone eventually pays for it, but unfortunately, it will be more than I can afford right now! |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 18 May 2000 12:43 PM
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It's at $1525 and still hasn't met the reserve! I don't think I've ever seen an S-8 non-pedal guitar sell for this much. It's worth it, though - what a great piece!------------------
 Bobby Lee quasar@b0b.com gigs CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra S-8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6) |
J D Sauser
Member From: E-03700-DENIA (Costa Blanca), Spain
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posted 21 May 2000 06:21 AM
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It indeed is a tempting instrument.
However, I am always supicious (it's too much money not to want to be a little suspicious) and I wished the seller would have shown some type of proof (that he also mentions having) as to the athenticity of the instrument and it's history.
Sure, it looks like no other Fender I've ever seen before. As a matter of fact, it looks better than any Fender instrument I've ever seen.
Couldn't there have been 1, 2 or 3 built... some prototypes maybe...?
I've e-mailed the seller yesterday, asking him to provide the mentioned "proof" before bidding, but I have yet to receive a response...Does anybody know if the above mentioned year (1964) matches the making of the record (Satin Strings) the seller says it was used on? In Loreene Ruymar's book The Hawaiian Steel Guitar, on page 55 at the bottom right corner there is a picture of Jerry Byrd holding an apparently black guitar with what could look like a Fender style fretboard... is that the one? If it IS the guitar, I'd sure love to have it  , but then wouldn't we all...  ------------------
.... J-D.[This message was edited by J D Sauser on 21 May 2000 at 06:24 AM.] |
Jay Jessup
Member From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
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posted 23 May 2000 08:03 AM
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This auction ends sometime today and the price has moved up a little to $1575. It will be interesting to see if this makes the sellers reserve. I frankly can't believe it hasn't made it already. |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 23 May 2000 11:58 AM
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I don't have "Satin Strings". How does it sound, compared to his trademark Rickenbacker tone? |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 23 May 2000 01:14 PM
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The auction just closed at $2448 and the reserve was still not met! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 23 May 2000 02:00 PM
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I think it's safe to say,
"This auction was for the Byrds"------------------
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wayne yakes md
Member From: denver, colorado
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posted 23 May 2000 02:43 PM
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"Satin Strings" was also, I believe, released as "Memories of Maria" on another release of the album. It is to die for! Think I'll go home tonight and listen to it! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 24 May 2000 12:22 AM
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The reserve on this instrument was $4500.00.
The seller would take $3500.00. Thanks,but no thanks.------------------
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Jay Jessup
Member From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
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posted 24 May 2000 09:10 AM
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The same fellow had a prototype stringmaster with Fender 1000 pickups but no legs or case that only made around $700 in the same auction and didn't make reserve either, anyone know what he would take for that one?
In any case I think it's safe to say that they are both extremly unique instruments and I hope the current owner continues to enjoy then cause I can't imagine they would sell at the price he's thinking of. |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 24 May 2000 10:26 AM
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I'd buy it if I had money to burn. |
Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 24 May 2000 11:03 AM
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Satin Strings of Steel is a fantastic album. It features Jerry's glistening steel with strings in the background. I get chills every time I hear it! Here are the tunes:Bells of St Mary's
Ebb Tide
Orchids in the Moonlight
Among My Souvenirs
Green Eyes
Harbor Lights
Memories of Maria
Last Date
Breath of Summer
Golden Earings
Torchy
Cold, Cold Heart Tom Bradshaw (Pedal Steel Guitar Products) sells this on cassette. As for the $2448 with no reserve met... ridiculous. dougb
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www.dougbsteel.com
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 24 May 2000 11:23 AM
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b0b,about the money to burn,believe me,I searched my soul on this one and came up short on justification.------------------
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wayne yakes md
Member From: denver, colorado
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posted 24 May 2000 03:44 PM
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Listen to "Among My Souvenirs". Jimmy Day "stole" Byrd's ending and made it the major theme on W.Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away". I asked Jimmy about that and he said "I did indeed!". |
mikey
Member From: Hawaii, Big Island
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posted 24 May 2000 10:10 PM
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I saw this guitar when it was for sale in a shop on the mainland.....the tag said $10,000 US...I laughed at the guy....he got offended...then said make an offer....I passed.....
Mike |
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