Jerry Byrd and the Fender guitar real story.

Jack Byrd · Post by **Jack Byrd** » 25 Sep 2001 3:17 pm

I sent the internet posting of the Fender Jerry Byrd model to my brother for his comments since it raised some questions in several peoples mind. Here are his comments.

I had heard that that guitar was being offered on E-Bay. The comments included were, mostly, correct, but not that it makes any difference, I will clear it up.

Forrest White was a strong JB “fan” even before he ever went to work for Fender – and so was Leo Fender, for that matter. I would see Forrest while playing at the NAMM conventions in New York, Chicago, et al., and he and I were close friends even though I did not play a Fender instrument. He often said; “Jerry – I don’t care what instrument you play – I like what you play.”

His offer to build an instrument for me would require some alterations to their stock instruments, i.e. a long-scale neck, string spacing, re-winding the pick-up coil to decrease the high treble tone (which I never liked) – plus other minor things. He agreed and thus the instrument was born. But the timing was bad. I had been working on a new tuning which I decided would require only 7 strings, and the need for a double-neck instrument presented itself.

I did use the Fender on a daily TV show on WSM-TV; a 5 day-a-week, one hour show for a short time and liked it very much. It was during this time that “Shot” Jackson wanted to build a double neck for me – one 8 and one 7 string neck. After much hassle with him it was finally completed and I used it on most everything I did.

One day the phone range and Chet Atkins was on the other end – he said – “do you still have that Fender steel?" I said “yeah sure,” although I was not at the time playing it. “Can I borrow it and see if I can learn to play anything on it”?? “Yeah – sure- I’ll bring it by your office.”

About a month or 6 weeks later he called and said “do you want to come by and get this thing – hell- I can’t play a damned thing on it”. We both laughed. So I said – “Look – will you send it back to Forrest White – that’s where it should go anyway.” Forrest was a Chet Atkins fan & friend also – so he sent it back to him. That was the last I ever heard of it until all this appeared on the internet.

When I recorded my Satin Strings of Steel LP I was using a 7 string Bakelite Rickenbacher for the songs that I felt needed it – so actually, 2 guitars were used on it. (The other was the Fender). Thus you are able to hear how they both compared together as far as tone in concerned.

Now I’d like to have it back again – since it is the only one of it’s kind in the world.
It truly was the only special built instrument that Fender ever made and for someone that never played Fender – and they were very few during that era. Truly a collector item.

Whomever tried to sell it earlier must not have been a musician – especially a steel guitarist – because of the incorrect spelling of names –i.e. – Chet Atkens and the heading under E-Bay (page 1) Jerry Bird.
I’m sure that there are –or were not any copies made – either domestic of foreign – and the one shown here is the one.

C.C. Johnson is in error on his statement that it was a 7 string instrument.

And it was, most assuredly, the only steel guitar that was ever touched by Chet----!

For those who are interested the Fender book is titled

Fender – The Inside Story by Forrest White, Milton Freeman Books see pages 143-144.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 25 Sep 2001 6:01 pm

Thank you for posting the real story. it's much appreciated.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 25 Sep 2001 6:10 pm

Hey Jack! Very nice of you to once again, provide we loyal Forumites, the accurate, behind the scenes facts as they relate to the musical life of your brother, my life-long mentor, and the finest steel guitarist in the whole wide world!
As Jerry's acknowledged NUMBER ONE, WORLDWIDE FAN, former Secretary of the Jerry Byrd Fan Club under the direction of Millie Annis of Grand Rapids, Michigan, I believe I can speak on behalf of all of Jerry's fans...
in saying that your contributions have proven to be extremely valuable to those of us interested in collecting facts about this remarkable brother of yours......as well as enlightening.....filling in those blank spots if you will, that so many of us have encountered while attempting to learn about Jerry and his fantabulous playing style and techniques.
Please keep the information flowing. We hang on every word and thought you share with us. Thanks so very much!

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 26 Sep 2001 1:50 am

Jack, Thanks very much for that information.
I've always been a big fan of Jerry's.
I used to watch that show on WSM-TV.
It was him and Chet Atkins. Wow!
Blake

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Sep 2001 8:06 am

Thank you Jack!

I posted the original question about Jerry playing a Fender, and I really appreciate your going right to the source to find out! Is this a great forum or what?

It's interesting to know that Jerry played both Fender and Rick on Satin Strings of Steel. That has always been my favorite steel guitar album. It has a great photo of the Fender in question on the cover. And now we know The Rest of the Story.

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www.dougbsteel.com

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 26 Sep 2001 9:35 am

I guess the real question here is how can we help Jerry get the guitar back.Anybody got any ideas,leads,phone numbers,etc? Was the guitar ever sold on E-Bay? To whom? Or not? When was the last sighting? Somebody must know something...-MJ-

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Sep 2001 9:48 am

Here's a link to the now-closed auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1463171417

The photo is no longer there.

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www.dougbsteel.com

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 26 September 2001 at 10:49 AM.]

Rick Jackson · Post by **Rick Jackson** » 28 Sep 2001 9:34 am

Hi Jack, Nick Maniscalco purchased the Black Fender that was for sale on ebay. He would like to have Jerry call him at 619 448-6706 to arrange getting the guitar back to Jerry. I saw the guitar this morning and it is beautiful and sound great. Regards...Rick Jackson

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If I could only play like Ralph Mooney and sing like Don Everly...

Garland Nash · Post by **Garland Nash** » 8 Jul 2004 5:47 pm

Ray Montee, Please keep us all informed as to whether Jerry gets his Fender Back. As thousands of us Byrd fans will want to know I would also like to know where i can purchase the satin strings of steel
Garland Nash

Jack Byrd · Post by **Jack Byrd** » 9 Jul 2004 8:45 am

Garland,

Since I first posted the story about the Fender things have changed. There was an effort back then to get the guitar back to Jerry but he re-thought the request and decided against it. Since then Jerry has passed along all but one frypan to friends. The Sho-bud he has used for years will be going to Scotty in October when comes through Hawaii. He had no room to store all of them and has essentially stopped playing since July 2000 except on the one frypan he uses during his lessons which he is still doing. He has six students at the present time and just graduated one and started a 14 year old boy in the past couple of weeks.

Jack

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Jul 2004 8:35 pm

Under the circumstances and who that guitar belonged to and the man who made that special
instrument for Jerry Byrd,my guess that guitar wherever it may be as we speak is worth a lot of money.

To think it was the "only" Fender ever made for a special person and a very special man did
this for Jerry Byrd,I would guess that guitar
is priceless. End of Story

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 11 Jul 2004 1:25 am

I remember this guitar going on auction twice, but I had just graduated (for the first time

) and knew I couldn't even bid on it. I'd love to be able to have and play this guitar someday...it's a "holy grail" in my book!

By the way, does anyone know if the "Two Guitars" shows were ever recorded? I'm too young to have seen it, but I bet it was great!!!

[This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 11 July 2004 at 02:25 AM.]

Frank Harris · Post by **Frank Harris** » 11 Jul 2004 8:31 am

to the best of my knownledge nick moved a long time ago to Weiser Idaho 208-549-0860 935 west 4th street 83672 fran harris

Greg Sullivan · Post by **Greg Sullivan** » 13 Jul 2004 7:15 pm

A good friend sent this oldie to me..maybe
it may interest you.

Thanks

Greg Sullivan

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/002877.html