Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: allgood on December 07, 2018, 07:21:18 PM
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My first bass had the name Wurlitzer.. My parents gave it to me in the mid 70’s, purchased from a pawn shop in Memphis. Also gave me a Univox amp. It had a scrolled head, like you would see on an upright. It was maroon. I expect someone else made it and put the Wurlitzer name on it, since O have only heard of Wurlitzer organs, but I really have no idea. I though I would see if anyone ever heard of or has seen such an animal. Any other cool or unusual “first” basses? Thanks!
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I have a parlor guitar made by Eugene Howard a little over a hundred years ago that was distributed by Wurlitzer and has a Wurlitzer logo on the back of the peghead.
Bill, tgo
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Very cool.
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I admit I am unfamiliar with Wurlitzer basses, but (besides organs) I have seen pianos, electric pianos, and jukeboxes (and one band sign/music stand made out of the light-up parts of that last one).
But a quick Google comes up with this guitar (https://reverb.com/item/14489877-wurlitzer-wildcat-1966-black?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIidrdw6mP3wIVCzxpCh0QCQqGEAQYAiABEgKSYPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&pla=1) and this one (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Wurlitzer/Vintage-1960s-Hollow-Body-Hollow-Body-Electric-Guitar-114479479.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIidrdw6mP3wIVCzxpCh0QCQqGEAQYASABEgLqtPD_BwE), so I'm guessing they probably did make your bass.
Peter
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And just a few clicks more gave me a bass (http://www.wurlitzerguitars.com/gallery/gallery.php?d=Bass&t=Bass); no scroll, but there you go - they did make (well, sell; they were jobbed out (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222492)) basses.
Peter
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Yeah, I guess I have searched on eBay, but not just a google search. I see what you are talking about, and the body brings back some memories, but in my mind I see a maroon scrolled head. I only find Ampegs with the scroll. Mine was solid, not with the cutouts I am seeing on the Ampegs. I do remember the Ampegs. I remember I always wanted an Ampeg baby bass. I’ll keep looking. Maybe I am mis-remembering the scroll. But I remember the scroll more than the rest of it! Thanks.
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Found photos of a Silvertone, Höfner, Ventura, and Teisco with the scroll head I remember. I wonder if Wurlitzer ever put its name on one of those. I didn’t see any Holman’s that looked like it.
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Here's a Wurlitzer I've been eyeing:
ebay link (https://www.ebay.com/itm/143038481599?ViewItem=&item=143038481599)
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Any other cool or unusual “first” basses?
I never had one, but definitely an unusual beast ..with a pseudo-scroll,
(https://www.angledbox.com/images/cache/Electric_Guitars_Burns/BalwinShadowsBass-E-2.600.JPG)
...and a Rezo-Tube !! ???
(https://www.angledbox.com/images/cache/Electric_Guitars_Burns/BalwinShadowsBass-E-3.600.JPG)
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Found photos of a Silvertone, Höfner, Ventura, and Teisco with the scroll head I remember. I wonder if Wurlitzer ever put its name on one of those. I didn’t see any Holman’s that looked like it.
I also see Aria, Sears, Apollo, Conrad, Bruno, Pan, Raven
as brand named scroll basses.
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The last one obviously a continuation of the Burns models named for The Shadows. The writing on the bridge and the pickups even says "James O. Burns". They got bought up by Baldwin. IIRC the originals had an even more pronounced scroll head.
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Here's a Wurlitzer I've been eyeing:
ebay link (https://www.ebay.com/itm/143038481599?ViewItem=&item=143038481599)
We own one.
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Woah... cool !!!!
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The former Wurlitzer factory here in DeKalb collapsed a few years ago; fortunately no injuries, and (while obviously the whole building was unusable) the actual collapse was at the far end and did no damage beyond displacement to the luthier and the steel-pan builder who had shops there.
Peter
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Is that a 'baby' butterfly? I have a Wulitzer electronic 720 and 140B piano. There is a local piano company that has two Wurlitzer butterflies on display. They are pretty cool! I saw a vintage Wurlitzer snare drum yesterday at a vintage drum shop.
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Is that a 'baby' butterfly? I have a Wulitzer electronic 720 and 140B piano. There is a local piano company that has two Wurlitzer butterflies on display. They are pretty cool! I saw a vintage Wurlitzer snare drum yesterday at a vintage drum shop.
It is a Wurlitzer student model butterfly acoustic piano. It was in pretty bad shape when we got it having been stored in a barn. It was originally white but the finish was too damaged to save. While the restorer couldn't save the decal from the panel behind the keys they did manage to save a couple of the others. I haven't tuned it for a while but when in tune it sounds surprisingly good for its size.
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Had Univox scroll head for a bit, like the one pictured. Wouldn't be surprised if the same bass was sold as a Wurlitzer.
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Could be. I wish I could remember more about the body. I don’t think it had the Höfner style body. But... seems like most of the scroll heads do. Thanks
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Sometime ago I stumbled in a Bass Rhodes with just one and a half octave range. The owner told me it was meant to be used by keyboardists playing bass lines with that incredible Rhodes mellow tone while playing chords in another keys with right hand. Never saw any other like it again. Thought that was the case in this thread, ha ha
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Bass Rhodes - is the Fender-Rhodes Piano Bass? Ray Manzarek used one onstage with the Doors.
Peter
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Oh, yes, I think it is, Peter. Thanks, I knew knowledge would show up here in club, ha. Love this place!
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The Bass Rhodes was popular with dinner dance and lounge bands back in the 60's/70's in my area. It let them cut out a player and get a bigger cut of the $100 gig fee and tip jar. It kind of went the way of the Dodo once synthesizers and bass pedals came down in price.
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I played one this last week for sale at a local music store. It sounded like the lower keys on my regular Rhodes.
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Just ran across this Wurlitzer guitar (for sale) on one of the other discussion forums I frequent, built by the C.F. Martin & Co. in 1966. It's based on their 12-fret body D-35, and according to the poster, it is one of only three made. Although Martin has a well-documented history of building guitars for Wurlitzer, that makes this one a pretty rare item. The Brazilian rosewood adds to the allure. (and the price tag...)
https://umgf.com/fs-1966-martin-d35sw-usd4-750-obo-t196261.html#p2357549
Anyway, I thought about this thread when I saw it.
~Ed of H, who has been a C.F. Martin & Co. geek for a really, really long time...
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I don’t know much about Martins, but sounds like it might be a nice piece for someone’s collection.