Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

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Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by WonderCouncil » Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:49 pm

Just came across this and love everything about it. If is it a custom made one by an Fender employee I'd love to know the history of the tremolo. Looks like a mini Bronco style. Doesn't look like it was cut down either but actually manufactured that way, kind of odd for a one off it would seem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251084211251
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Reminds me of a Erlewine Chiquita.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by egosheep » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:04 pm

Wonder if this was made by Roger Rossmeisl (he worked at Fender after leaving Rickenbacker). He did a lot of German carving at RIC:

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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by mongoose » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:04 am

Did you happen to notice that there has been only one offer made so far... ? :ph34r:
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by barry.b » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:19 am

what pickups are they - bullet bass?

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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by mongoose » Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:44 am

barry.b wrote:what pickups are they - bullet bass?
No, they're likely original XII pickups. Still doesn't justify a $1500 price tag though.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by Orang Goreng » Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:23 am

WonderCouncil wrote: If is it a custom made one by an Fender employee I'd love to know the history of the tremolo.
The wording of the ad allows for the possibility that it was a Fender accountant who wipped this up in his garage on a rainy Sunday, though.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by mongoose » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:59 am

Orang Goreng wrote:
The wording of the ad allows for the possibility that it was a Fender accountant who wipped this up in his garage on a rainy Sunday, though.
Good point. I'm honestly interested in it as a player. A cool provenance/history would be a great plus; but I couldn't really care either way, so long as it plays and sounds good.

BTW- It isn't a bouzouki at all: it's a Banjoline. The low string(s) should be an octave "C" (although I'd tune them to "Ds") the next course unison "Gs", and then a single "B" and "D". In other words, a plectrum guitar with a little extra jangle. 26" scale. Leo did make a Mustang-style prototype for Eddie Peabody (there was an extensive thread on here about it), but it looked nothing like this one. In fact, it looked just like THIS:


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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by egosheep » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:33 pm

Upon posting this on the RRF Ric forum, there is a lot of circumstantial evidence that it could have been made by Rossmeisl(body shape, neck lamination, double binding, German carve, acoustic headstock, gold pickguard, etc). If that's the case, and it can be established, it could be worth a lot more than $1500.

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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by mongoose » Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:17 am

egosheep wrote:Upon posting this on the RRF Ric forum, there is a lot of circumstantial evidence that it could have been made by Rossmeisl(body shape, neck lamination, double binding, German carve, acoustic headstock, gold pickguard, etc). If that's the case, and it can be established, it could be worth a lot more than $1500.
True: but that's a lot of "IFs". And if the seller (a woman who inherited it) had any of that provenance verified, she would've shared it. In any case, it is a mighty cool instrument.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by sangandongo » Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:55 am

I bought it. I think it's a Rossmeisl for sure.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by mongoose » Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:08 pm

sangandongo wrote:I bought it. I think it's a Rossmeisl for sure.
I hope you didn't pay more than the $1200 they counter-offered me...
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by sangandongo » Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:46 pm

I did, but called them on the phone and negotiated a partial refund.

Tom, the owner of the guitar store, had it on consignment and wasn't at the store when it came in. The lady who he was selling for knew so little about it. As soon as I said the name Rossmeisl to him on the line, he said, "oh shit - you know, you're absolutely right." Sounded like he regretted selling it. He said he thought he had seen the guitar in an old Collector's magazine before.

I'm not quite sure why he didn't do more to sell the thing or at least research it's age. Would have been as simple as opening it up and looking at the pots.

Rossmeisl joined Fender in '62. The "F" tuners weren't available until Fall of '65. My guess is that it's a 67-68. I'll know in a couple days.
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by WonderCouncil » Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:43 pm

Wow so much info and background, really cool stuff. Had no idea of the possible Ric connection. It's certainly a beautifully done body. I've always had a soft spot for the acoustic/Coronado headstock shape. In that first picture of the Mustang Banjoline thingy, the headstock looks sorta wonky. Not just out of proportion but oddly bent/angled. Maybe it's just the picture.

Congrats on the score sangandongo, really looking forward to seeing what you discover when you get it. Also, sound sample are mandatory ;D That tremolo is interesting for sure.

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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by sangandongo » Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:54 pm

WonderCouncil wrote:Wow so much info and background, really cool stuff. Had no idea of the possible Ric connection. It's certainly a beautifully done body. I've always had a soft spot for the acoustic/Coronado headstock shape. In that first picture of the Mustang Banjoline thingy, the headstock looks sorta wonky. Not just out of proportion but oddly bent/angled. Maybe it's just the picture.

Congrats on the score sangandongo, really looking forward to seeing what you discover when you get it. Also, sound sample are mandatory That tremolo is interesting for sure.
I have to be honest... I'm taking a gamble here, but my gut tells me it's a Rossmeisl creation. The attributes all point to that. His work on the Rickenbacker Combo instruments in the 50s is amazing and it's unmistakably reflected in this instrument. I have a feeling that once I pull that neck off and peek at it, as well as get a look at those electronics, it'll all become clear.

My intent is not to keep this, but I will definitely make a few recordings of it. I've written a few tracks which have banjo, and I think it might be fun to try them out with this puppy.
j.k - Offsets: '62 Jaguar (slab), '66 Jaguar (B&B), '64 Gibson Firebird III
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Re: Fender bouzouki custom. (Attn. Mongoose)

Post by CROSS_guitars » Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:02 pm

cool. It must be where they got the idea for the cyclone.

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