The Buzzard Brothers...

DiMarco

nutcase
Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
6,979
Reaction score
4,738
VERY similar tone. Only bass nerds will notice the difference, which is the buzztard sounding a little bigger in the lower mids but only a fraction.
And the G is slightly out of tune on the other buzzard. :cool:
 

Hardy

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
6,466
Reaction score
7,347
VERY similar tone. Only bass nerds will notice the difference, which is the buzztard sounding a little bigger in the lower mids but only a fraction.
And the G is slightly out of tune on the other buzzard. :cool:

That’s right. The 1990 Buzzard with Barts also has no hissing at all, the new preamp is just slightly making noise, still this gets worse when increasing treble.

G string out of tune? Strings are new, maybe it still moved a bit.
 

Hardy

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
6,466
Reaction score
7,347
Here we go again. One big difference between the two basses: passive/active sound of the BuzzTard is without difference when eq is flat. The 1990 Buzzard has a clear difference here.

As you can see I now wear it in the correct position with my elbow rested on the fin. Comfortable for the right hand, tuning is now a question of help from the singer.


 

Henrythe8

Dolphin Hoarder
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Messages
2,528
Reaction score
957
Age
50
I was wondering why you switched positions. Seems weird to me to have the same bass and not the same "strap setting" :) )
 

Hardy

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
6,466
Reaction score
7,347
I was wondering why you switched positions. Seems weird to me to have the same bass and not the same "strap setting" :) )

BuzzTard on my knees: easy playing of the low frets, left arm in natural position, sometimes nearly upright playing, Rock‘n‘Roll posing.
Buzzard flying high: easy playing for the right hand, left arm often outstretched. These are completely different ways of playing. Both with advantages and disadvantages.
 

Hardy

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
6,466
Reaction score
7,347
Buzzzöööörd!!!

470486C1-1E53-4371-8366-00AB868711F8.jpeg
 
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
231
Reaction score
487
Real Name
John Beck
My first exposure to a Buzzard was in 1987 when I worked for Guitar Center in Chicago. I had set up several synthesizer rigs for a show called the NAMM JAM at the Vic Theatre, and had to make a repair to a keyboard backstage. I needed to check my repairs, so I went to the warm up room to plug into an amp, and there was John Entwistle, playing one! Of course I was struck by seeing JE, but what really shook me was his bass; a gorgeous Zebrano Buzzard. I thought to myself, “That thing must’ve been made just for me! I must have one!" It is truly one of my most prized possessions.

Cheers!


fullsizeoutput_10d6.jpeg
 

Hardy

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
6,466
Reaction score
7,347
Cool story! I never had the chance to see him. For a long time the Buzzard was the ugliest bass I could think of. Today it’s always by my side! Cheers!
D7F3EEDB-42E1-4232-B3FD-573F366F9F15.jpeg


Here you can see that I share the heads shape with my bass: :p
BDEC83D7-5D42-4D86-B04D-CD437A19BBB6.jpeg
 

Hoggles

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
2,208
Reaction score
1,928
Yeah, there seems to be 2 camps; love it or hate it :)

View attachment 20392

3 camps.... scared of it :eek:

Beauty you have there. One of the first. Smooth bottom horn, no front knob. Very cool! According to my copy of Bass Culture, John says the non "gun grip" was a prototype....yet yours has the mirrored P's. Very interesting. @Hardy what do think about this? Would this be considered a prototype?

If you get a chance, we'd love to see some more detailed pics.
 
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
231
Reaction score
487
Real Name
John Beck
Here are the specs (from Hans-Peter):

Bass
Serial Number I 56 86
The I would be today an J !!!!
Year 1986
Month September
Number 56
Neck Wood Wenge Wood
Fingerboard Wenge
with real mother of Pearl Number Inlays
Frets Bronce Warwick Frets
Nut Just a Nut Brass Version
Neck construction Neckthrough hiddenneck construction
Body 3 pcs. solid Zebrano Wood
Surface Oil Finish
Pickups active P Pickups from EMG
Electronic active MEC 2 Band Electronic
Hardware Gold Hardware made by Schaller for Warwick

IMG_3890.jpg
 

Hoggles

Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
2,208
Reaction score
1,928
Very special Wick you have there. Not a stretch to say John may have touched that while in the factory. Others know more about the Buzzard than I do, but I wonder if any of these smooth "original" lower horns were made, after the gun grip was thought of. Any? Just a few? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know :cool:

Also, different knob layout, input placement than the smooth one from John's book.
 
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
231
Reaction score
487
Real Name
John Beck
There used to be a website, buzzardbass.com, that had more info on those kinds of things, but it seems to have been taken down. :(
 
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
231
Reaction score
487
Real Name
John Beck
So, what I can glean from the archived site is that #17 had a smooth, non-pistol grip lower horn, same knob layout and headstock as mine. #75 had the pistol grip lower horn, the newer headstock, two-piece Warwick bridge and MEC pickups; pretty much the "final" design. No mention of when the lower horn was changed, or if any non-grip models were made after the first. The site states "Only the first 20 had the Entwistle trademark forward master volume knob with top mounted jack." Seems there were a lot of unique variants in those days.
 
Top Bottom