Entwistles spyder

[elwoodblue]

The last thread's divergence got me wondering;
Can anyone confirm that spyder #1 is hanging at a Hard Rock cafe? I have what I believe is a hardshell case for it... and ever since recieving it I've been bothered with the concept of it being separated from the instrument it belongs with. Why would someone do that?  To save storage space?  
   If it''s all on the level then I can rest my worried mind,if not on the level I'll see what I can do to rectify the situation.
 ...or maybe I was duped into thinking this is the real deal,(a lesser sin in my opinion).
 any input appreciated.
Kris

[David Houck]

According to Oliver (senmen), one of Johns original Spyder basses .. is currently on  
display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Berlin/Germany.  In another thread, Oliver referred to this bass as Entwistle's first main used Spyder.  Oliver posted a pic of the Hard Rock display here.  There are lots of threads in our club discussing Entwistle's basses.  Oliver posted a group pic of the basses here.

[borisspyder]

I believe Rock Star Guitars sold 3 road cases for the basses a few years ago..one red, one white, one blue...I'm assuming there were several cases for each instrument (original, custom road cases, etc.)and I'm sure they were swapped around depending on the tour, timeframe...John also kept many instruments on stands around the house with cases stored elsewhere.
I refuse to get sentimental about anything owned by the Hard Rock...they buy in bulk & display for profit. Keep the case & enjoy the memories, it's better in your hands than theirs.

[ox_junior]

According to Oliver, yes, John's main Spyder was sold to the Hard Rock.  His other 4-string and 8-string Spyders were sold at the Sotheby's auction to a private collector.
 
Your case might very well be the original case that one of John's Spyders was delivered in from the factory.  Of course, he used flight cases when he went on the road, and as mentioned most of his basses were just kept on stands at Quarwood (as opposed to in their cases) when not in use.
 
I am looking for a flightcase for my Spyder.  Would sure be a kick to have one of John's.  I remember that these were sold on Rock Stars Guitars awhile back.
 
It's not exactly matching it with John's original bass, but I would LOVE to have John's roadcase for my Spyder, as I will be traveling with it soon!  
 
Mike

[senmen]

Kris, Dave, Irwin,
as already told by Irwin 3 Spyder cases had been sold by Rock Stars Guitars some years ago. Kris, plse send me a pic of your case and I will let you know more (send to senmen@web.de).
As for Johns basses:
as I said in an old posting John?s main Spyder 1, the one which failed at the Live Aid gig, was hanging for some years at the wall of the HRC in Berlin Germany. After Number 2 and the V-head Spyder were auctioned off at Sothebys and brought such high amounts they realised how valuable No.1 is and relocated the No.1 to the HR Vault in Orlando. In the meantime I heard that the Vault is closed but don?t know for sure.
Number 2 and the V-head Spyder are currently in the posession of a prominent owner.
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

[elwoodblue]

Thanks All for the quick response,
  I  figured there might be a few cases for each.
I am glad to hear that it wasn't some employee who thought it'd be easy money.
  I'll send some pics once I am home again; it should be in a week or so.The case I have is a hardshell black plastic with the exterior shape of a Spyder.The inside is a low nap purple fuzz. It has a tag, which looks a bit old, that says Alembic 001.
   
 I used to have an exploiter Bass and guitar, ...as instruments go, Alembics no longer in my collection are very easy to regret letting go of.
  If I ever part with the case I promise it will go to a heartfelt collector here in the group.
 
Kris

[senmen]

Kris,
waiting for your pics to come....
But in the meantime I can tell you that the three cases talked before and sold by Rock Stars Guitars had been three different rectangular flightcases and from your explanation this is a Spyder-shaped case.
Honestly spoken I never heard about a Spyder-shaped case. Maybe Mica can help us identifying this?! Maybe Johns former Spyder No.1 was delivered in a shaped case? Maybe it was seperated from the bass as it was purchased by the HRC?
Anyway your gesture to sell the case (if you ever let it go) to one of the  die-hard JE fans is very honorable.
 
Many greetings
Oliver (Spyderman)

[elwoodblue]

I have pics on the way,
...a friend in town should be  e-mailing me them soon.
 If only cases could talk.
... 'till soon,
Kris

[dfung60]

My bro is an avid collector and knows one of the buyers for the Hard Rock collection.  He's mentioned that it's regular practice for the Hard Rock to sell the cases that came with the instruments, although they sell them to intermediaries rather than directly.  Many of the cases have the road ID of the artists, and I guess the agents that buy them from the Hard Rock might be the ones who contact the artist or their tour people to get letters of authenticity.  
 
Once the Hard Rock gets the instruments, they go on display and apparently it's just not worth their effort to try to keep and track all the cases.  So off they go.  
 
If there's no markings on the case and no formal claim of authenticity, there's probably no reason to believe that the case is anything special.  Hard to believe that this didn't come out of the factory in a regular G&G rectangular case or an Anvil flight case, but who knows what else could have shown up along the way.  At least when touring with the Who, I'd be surprised if the stage instruments went in individual flight cases as opposed to the big Anvil vaults that hold the whole sets of basses.  The vaults are more secure for the instruments and less likely to walk off unnoticed (not that an Alembic in a flight case is walking anywhere on it's own).
 
David Fung