John Entwistle Status Graphite Buzzard I Bass

[beelee]

I recently visited the Status Graphite website to look at their Buzzard I and Mark King Artist basses and could no longer find the Buzzard I bass, so I emailed Rob Green and this is what he had to say:  
 
Unfortunately, we have a problem with future production of the Buzzard-1 bass.
 
To my surprise, John Entwistle's lawyers have recently signed an exclusive agreement with a German bass company for the use of John's name, signature and image regarding anything to do with bass guitars.
This excludes us from any production of the bass John used for the last 10 years.  
 
I can guess who the unmentioned german company is.
 
I was very disappointed to receive this news. I feel this is very unfair to Status Graphite and anyone else that would be interested in owning one of these fine instruments. Mr. Entwistle went to them to build his bass and Status Graphite should still have the right to make them as much as W does. I feel it is in poor judgement and in John's generous nature he would not have wanted this to occur.
 
Well at least there still is the Spyder, Explorer and Dragon Wing Alembic models to choose from.
 
I do prefer wood over graphite, but the Status Graphite Buzzard I bass is (was)  a pretty neat looking bass.
 
That really ticks me off tho, I can only imagine how Rob Green feels.
 
Bruce
 
(Message edited by beelee on October 02, 2005)

[senmen]

Bruce,
yes you are right. This is really a shame and the german company you refer to is W......!
I had heard about this as a rumour on the german music fair in February and Rob had confirmed this to me some months ago.
In the meantime I heard from him that they are judicially also trying to have him destroyed the Buzzard molds. Also the Buzzard 2 may not named Buzzard any more and has to be named B-2 now.  
Problem is that they own the rights now on the name Buzzard and also the name John Entwistle in collaboration with any musical instrument. You also can see it with the W...... Cruiser/Stryker bass, which was advertised as fully endorsed by the Entwistle estate. Well, I really don?t know what there is happening.
Well, the Cruiser/Stryker is a really bad rip-off of our beloved Spyders. I know about what I am speaking, as I do own and play both a Spyder 4 and Spyder 8 and I am waiting on a Dragon Wing.
I am sure that the prices on the Buzzard I will go up soon even when you keep in mind that only a really few were buildt.
I don?t think that there are more than 25-30 Buzz I out there. And five of them are in the posession of the Hard Rock Cafe and are hanging at the wall.
And also there are at least only 3 8-string Buzzards out there. Now a really rare bird !
If you need any more info, plse let me know.
Many greetings
Oliver (Spyderman)

[mattheus]

This is not the way things should work... Shame on W.....

[beelee]

Rob is a great guy, I spoke with him on the phone almost 2 years ago about the Buzzard and King basses in detail, as I was really interested in having both made in the near future for myself.
 
If I knew this was going to happen, I would have gotten off my arse, got a loan or something to get a Buzzard or 2 made ( a 5 and an 8 possibly)
 
that really bites, I wish something could be done about this.......... its just not right

[rogertvr]

I'm glad I bought my Buzzard when I did.  I'd be extremely fed-up if I'd missed the boat on this, I love my Buzzard!
 
And the way Status have been treated is appalling!!
 
Rog

[palembic]

Yep ...I remember you receiving that bass.
As a gift of your wife ....iff I remember well???
 
Anyway ...it seems to become a true gem.
 
Paul TBO

[ox_junior]

I spoke to Rob a few months ago...he had me THIS CLOSE to getting a graphite Buzzard.  Now I'm kicking myself for not getting the real thing while I had the chance.  Sorry but a W#%^&*! Buzzard doesn't compare to the graphite Status version.  
 
There's a reason why John switched from wood to graphite.  Sucks that we no longer have the same option, as far as this instrument is concerned.
 
Thank goodness for my customized Spyder!!!

[rogertvr]

Paul - yes, it was my 40th birthday present from Jacqueline.
 
I think there are about 40 Status Graphite Buzzards of varying configurations in existence.
 
Of the first two prototypes (without the serial numbers), only one survives as one of them failed and collapsed.  I'm not sure if these are counted in the total number built.
 
Rob told me that (without checking the records) there are only two 8-strings in existence (one of which was John's) and one fretless (which was also John's).
 
It's largely academic now.  There won't be any more.
 
I won't be buying a W bass in future either!!
 
Cheers,
 
Rog

[senmen]

Hi Rog my friend,
how are you? I hope fine.
As for the 8strings, there are 3 pieces out there.
Two were owned (and now in HRC posession) by John and one is owned by a private person.
Seems, that the prices go up. I have two offers for regular Buzz 1\s. One guy is asking 7500 EUR, the other one EUR 11000.........
 
Rog, you lucky one to have done the decision to have gotten it as a gift right in time....
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

[rogertvr]

I'm fine thanks, Oliver.  Spending FAR too much time getting my new business off the ground but at least it's fun and also I'm working for myself, and not for someone else.  How are things with yourself?
 
I didn't know John had two 8-strings.  Rob said he had one but he hadn't checked the build records and for the number of instruments Status sell, I'm sure we can all forgive him forgetting details!
 
My Buzzard isn't for sale, but it's interesting to see how much people want for theirs!
 
Rog

[mattheus]

Let make those 'W' guys crazy and ask for info about the real JE  all-graphite Buzzard basses there.... hahaha
 
I hope that Alembic has covered their rights for the Spyder basses...

[karl]

That's terrible news. But it does explain something for me: a while back I bought a copy of the coffee table book of photographs of JE's bass collection - can't remember what it's called, but it's got a white 'W' Buzzard on the cover. Anyway, it's a beautiful book, but I was concerned by the fact that it didn't show any of JE's Status Buzzard basses, particularly given the fact that those were what he had been using in the majority of the last few years' of photos I'd seen of him. There were of course loads of shots of his 'W' Buzzards in there. I'd always wondered why Status seemed to have been left out of the book, and I guess this lawsuit explains why. It seems particularly sad because JE seemed to have a very good relationship with Status - I recall him appearing in a lot of their ads. I'm no expert but I can't imagine John would have wanted Rob Green and Status to be treated in such a way after many years of providing great instruments for him. Very sad, and I'm definitely resolved never to use 'W' gear as a result of hearing this. I would add that I heartily recommend Rob Green and Status: they really care about their customers and their instruments and never provide anything less than perfect service.
 
K.

[senmen]

Karl,
I just wanted to let you know why there are no Status basses in Johns book. Well, it has nothing to do with this lawsuit matter.
Reason is that the complete photographing of this book has been made in the early ninetees. The book was for discussion to be published in the early 90ies but never found it?s way. So now after Johns dead they did publish it. That?s the reason why there are no Status basses in it as John didn?t own any at this early stage.
 
Many greetings
Oliver (Spyderman)

[kmh364]

See, this is why Herr Baumann is indespensible as the site's leading JAE historian!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

[bigbadbill]

I'm quite staggered that this is the case. I'm sure John would've preferred Rob to have exclusive rights if anyone did, seeing as they became his bass of choice. I feel rather glad that I recently sold my last Warwick, however nice it was.  
 
And there goes my chance of ever getting a Buzzard....maybe a B2 instead?