Fender Jerry Byrd steel guitar

Max Laine · Post by **Max Laine** » 13 May 2000 1:12 pm

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 · Post by **Al Gershen** » 13 May 2000 1:35 pm

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

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 14 May 2000 7:13 pm

aaaxxx

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 14 May 2000 8:10 pm

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 · Post by **Mike Black** » 14 May 2000 8:31 pm

John Tipka · Post by **John Tipka** » 15 May 2000 5:58 am

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 operate

Jerry 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 · Post by **John Tipka** » 15 May 2000 6:12 am

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 · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 17 May 2000 6:20 am

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!!

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 18 May 2000 11:43 am

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!

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0bstamp.gif" width=72 height=72>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 · Post by **J D Sauser** » 21 May 2000 5:21 am

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...

------------------
jaydee@bellsouth.net[This message was edited by J D Sauser on 21 May 2000 at 06:24 AM.]

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 23 May 2000 7:03 am

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 · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 May 2000 10:58 am

I don't have "Satin Strings". How does it sound, compared to his trademark Rickenbacker tone?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 May 2000 12:14 pm

The auction just closed at $2448 and the reserve was still not met!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 May 2000 1:00 pm

I think it's safe to say,
"This auction was for the Byrds"

------------------

wayne yakes md · Post by **wayne yakes md** » 23 May 2000 1:43 pm

"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 · Post by **HowardR** » 23 May 2000 11:22 pm

The reserve on this instrument was $4500.00.
The seller would take $3500.00. Thanks,but no thanks.

------------------

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 24 May 2000 8:10 am

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 · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 24 May 2000 9:26 am

I'd buy it if I had money to burn.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 May 2000 10:03 am

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

------------------
www.dougbsteel.com

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 24 May 2000 10:23 am

b0b,about the money to burn,believe me,I searched my soul on this one and came up short on justification.

------------------

wayne yakes md · Post by **wayne yakes md** » 24 May 2000 2:44 pm

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 · Post by **mikey** » 24 May 2000 9:10 pm

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