Wurlitzer bass?

[keith_h]

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.

[xlrogue6]

Had Univox scroll head for a bit, like the one pictured. Wouldn't be surprised if the same bass was sold as a Wurlitzer.

[allgood]

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

[mario_farufyno]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

Bass Rhodes - is the Fender-Rhodes Piano Bass?  Ray Manzarek used one onstage with the Doors.

Peter

[mario_farufyno]

Oh, yes, I think it is, Peter. Thanks, I knew knowledge would show up here in club, ha. Love this place!

[keith_h]

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. 

[gtrguy]

I played one this last week for sale at a local music store. It sounded like the lower keys on my regular Rhodes.

[edwardofhuncote]

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...

[allgood]

I don’t know much about Martins, but sounds like it might be a nice piece for someone’s collection.