Fenderbird on Craigslist

[Denis]

Kinda neat but from all those pics on his attached link, it looks to me like the necks on JAE's Fenderbirds were from P-basses.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/1593380597.html

FENDERBIRD Bass a'la John Entwhistle, The Who-RARE & Mint! - $2500 (Upper West Side)

Date: 2010-02-09, 2:52PM EST
Reply to: sale-gbnkm-1593380597@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE AD BEFORE CONTACTING ME!
I am selling a custom made Fenderbird bass with the body specs EXACTLY as John Entwhistle's (The Who) early '70s Fenderbird basses were made!
Here's a little history on the Fenderbird for those of you who have no clue what this rare bass is about...
John Entwhistle of The Who loved playing Fender Precisions and Gibson Thunderbird basses back in the late '60s to early '70s, but he really wanted the best of both
those basses, thus he came up with the idea to hybrid a bass from a '70s Fender P-bass maple neck/fretboard, and a body and electronics of a Gibson Thunderbird, only he had the luthier
make a hybrid T-bird body by slightly changing the body horns, and the overall thickness of the body and backside contour to match that of a P-bass giving the hybrid T-bird
more body mass, with more comfort. He had two of them made (one black, one orange). Have a look at John's Fenderbirds on this link and scroll down
http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear-71-74.html
This hybrid bass was dubbed, "Fenderbird" by John E. It was a brilliant idea, and it's a brilliant and unique bass that sounds, looks, and plays AWESOME!
I approached Ron Coups (the luthier and owner) of HMR Guitars about making me a custom made Fenderbird. Ron had gotten the actual specs of John E's Fenderbird body and pickguard, and he provided only
the mahogany wood, and his expertise to make the complete body and cut the pickguard.
Here's the kicker......I had to provide ALL the other necessary parts to send to Ron for him to complete my bass project. That took months of searching the internet on ebay, forums, and other links to find
ALL the necessary parts for my Fenderbird! My bass is RIGHT HANDED, so please excuse the pics which make it look like a lefty.
Here's what I was able to come up with to complete my one of a kind Fenderbird bass:
-a Fender 1972 Telecaster bass neck in superb condition dated Sept., 23, '72 (A neck like this is hard to come by and NOT CHEAP!)
-Contacted Seymour Duncan Custom shop to make their heralded '60s Reproduction Thunderbird bass pickups to spec! (that will put you back $400 delivered!)
-Electronics came from a recent Gibson EB-3 in mint condition (same specs as a T-bird)
-Early '70s new old stock Thunderbird pickup covers and pickup rings.
-'78 Fender Jazz bass, 3 hole "F" neck plate to accommodate the 3 hole '72 Tele bass neck, and a micro-tilt plate to make this bass neck fully adjustable
-I had a custom made '60s repro T-bird bridge by one of two guys that could make this kind of bridge. (not cheap!)
-I bought an uncut pick guard sheet in white pearloid & all necessary mounting screws, and Gibson style cherry red stain from Stewart MacDonold online.
-Ron had to charge me for the mahogany wood (a gorgeous and resonant piece!), and to shape the body with all routs, translucent paint job with polyurethane, and to put together ALL the parts I sent him
which is NOT a cheap undertaking! My Fenderbird, after all is said and done, is worth $3,500, and my bargain price of $2,500 is FIRM!!!!! The bass is less than a year old, and played out with only once! It's MINT!
The pics I took with my Macbook cam so it doesn't fully do this beauty full justice. A must see and play in person to fully appreciate this work of art! I have gotten my share of compliments with this unique, one of a kind bass.
No case or gig bag is included, so don't ask. I have more pics. ONLY SERIOUS INQUIRIES with CASH ready need reply! If you live far away, then have a verified paypal account, and buyer pays for ALL ship costs!
NO LOW BALLERS, NO TRADES, NO BULLSHIT!
Cheers!

[Dave W]

Can't spell Entwistle. Bad sign.

It's a parts bass that doesn't have a Precision neck or a real Gibson body. He won't get near his asking price although I wouldn't be surprised if he has that much in it.

[Highlander]

Why go to all that effort... and then sell the beastie...?

Obvious errors... no Precision neck (Dave noted too, but why a Tele - just not "EXACTLY" as per Peter Cook)... the "original" Peter Cook had a maho body iirc but those pics look as if the fin is transluscent, and isn't it a more orange fin on JAE's...? the "original" had a white, not pearloid pick-guard...

There was more than one built by Mr Cook...

Curt... opinions please...

[Chris P.]

Yep, real Fenderbirds have the very wide 44mm P neck.

If someone gave me a dollar everytime I read Entwhistle or Townsend (even in magazines and books), I was rich now!

I don't like the bass above. Like Kenny says, it needs a normal white pickguard and a solid colour.

[Basvarken]

Why is he naked?

[clankenstein]

maybe he couldnt afford clothes after the not cheap telecaster neck.

[Basvarken]

That must be it, yes.

[Chris P.]

I tried to avoid bringing up his nakedness...

[Barklessdog]

The body shape looks a bit off or odd to me.

Probably a nice bass though. Picked the wrong time to try & get top dollar (for anything)

[Chris P.]

His bodyshape or its bodyshape?

[Dave W]

Fortunately we don't get to see his whole body shape. I would guess his ego is large though.

[Highlander]

Just be thankful we had no "reflection" issues with pups... 

[dc10bass]

Why go to all that effort... and then sell the beastie...?

Obvious errors... no Precision neck (Dave noted too, but why a Tele - just not "EXACTLY" as per Peter Cook)... the "original" Peter Cook had a maho body iirc but those pics look as if the fin is transluscent, and isn't it a more orange fin on JAE's...? the "original" had a white, not pearloid pick-guard...

There was more than one built by Mr Cook...

Curt... opinions please...

Hey Guys...

Funny story...
This guy, his name is Robes [pronounced as it reads], plays in a band out of New York called "London Egg".
He called Ron Coats [not Coups] at HMR Guitars and asked him to build him a Fenderbird.
Ron is the same guy who built my Fenderbird with the body and pickguard templates I designed.
Robes had the Tele neck... he also called me to find out where to get all the parts for it.
I sent him to the guys here at The Outpost who make the replica Bridge and Tailpiece.
He insisted on having it stained cherry with the pearl pickguard and Tele neck.
I think the cherry stain looks cool. I got to check it out before Ron sent it to him.

I'm not quite sure he has $2500.00 into it...

Shirtless pictures with the bass you are trying to sell... hmmm, interesting.
Can you say BassPorn.

He should have taken the extra time to mirror the images so it looks right handed.

Honestly, I don't think he will get what he's asking... it's a "customized" replica bass.
Most people who are going to spend the cash for a replica bass will want it to look like the original...
...Just my opinion.

[Dave W]

Thanks for the explanation, Curt.

It's probably a fine bass. It's just that with something like this it's not likely you'll get your investment back even unless it's an actual Gibson body and Fender P neck, and probably not even then.

[Highlander]

...Just my opinion.

...from someone WHO's probably as close to the "real deal" as we'll ever get...