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Topic: Excel Jerry Byrd Frypans |
Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 10:34 am |
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So, what's the story on these guitars? I know they're made in Japan by a premier steel guitar builder. It seems as though they are only available through Scotty.
Are these guitars still available? I never see them listed for sale here on the Forum. Does that mean that once you get one, you never let it go? A Google search doesn't yield much. I've seen a couple of them listed on Ebay, quite some time ago.
I've read all the cussin' and discussin' about the Sho-Bud version of these guitars. I'm curious to know more about the Excel versions.
Lee, from South Texas |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 11:08 am
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| Lee, I know nothing about the excel guitars but the ones made by shot under Jerrys specs are excellent. The original setup was 200 guitars. 100 long scales and 100 short. I have #10 of the long scale and my dauhter has #3 of the short. I believe Dwight Harris has #1 of the short scales. Now a few yrs after these guitars were sold, some outfit built copies and advertised them as originals. The workmanship was terrible to include a lousy Pup and Shot and Jerrys guitars got a bad rap due to these counterfiet ones. The true guitars have a certificate with them with the orig purchasers name and signed by Shot and Jerry as a limmited edition. The serial # is on the end of the headstock. Hope this helps. cc |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 11:30 am THere's MORE!
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I have a Jerry Byrd model manufactured by Shot Jackson, no certificate from Jerry Byrd, and with a fret board that displays Shot Jackson's name instead of JERRY BYRD's.
The Serial number on the end of the headstock has been obliterated.
So, how could this have happened? |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 11:34 am
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Please, let's keep the discussion and information focused on the Excel guitars. As I said before, the ones produced by Shot have been cussed and discussed on here quite a bit already.
Thanks! |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 12:48 pm
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Lee, you may already be aware of this, but there is a Jerry Byrd frypan listed in the For Sale: Instruments section right now. There has been discussion on the thread about whether it is one of the Sho-Bud ones or one of the Excels, but I can't get an answer to that from the discussion so far!  |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 1:07 pm
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No need to freak if the thread get's highjacked, it can always come back, and in the process more info may be had that otherwise could have been squandered.
The Excel fry-pans I've seen have a totally flat neck, about an inch thick all the way from body to headstock, and are very nice guitars. They were working on a tuning changer a while back, which was similar to the old Bigsby palm pedal, but better(?). |
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James Williamson
From:
California & Hawaii
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 2:53 pm Jerry Byrd Frypan
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Hey Lee,
I used to have relatives in Weslaco.
Anyway, yes the JB Frypans are build in Japan by a guy names "Fuzzy" Fujii. I was just there earlier this month and he's a great old guy with lots of Jerry Byrd stores.
He'll make you any flavor you want 6 string, 8 string are standard...I'm having a 7 string built.
He's also got short scale (which I prefer) and long scale.
As was mentioned, Scotty's carries them and they usually order a new batch once a quarter or so.
You can buy them directly from Fuzzy with wire transfer of payment or if you don't want to hassle all the exchange rates and shipping etc...Scotty's is the way to go.
If you need any further info let me know or else check out Fuzzy's web site http://www.fuzzypsg.com/
james |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 8:10 pm
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| I'm curious to know about the guitars. Are they good guitars? Desirable to own? Sound good? As I mentioned in my original post, I don't see much discussion about them on the web and don't see any used ones for sale. Are they limited production? Hard to come by? |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 9:12 pm
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| Lee Baucum wrote: |
| I'm curious to know about the guitars. Are they good guitars? Desirable to own? Sound good? As I mentioned in my original post, I don't see much discussion about them on the web and don't see any used ones for sale. Are they limited production? Hard to come by? |
(emphasis added)
Lee, did you see my post above? Could be it's a Shot Jackson one, but I confess to being unsure from reading the thread:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=148438 |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 30 Dec 2008 4:00 am
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Brint - I'm as confused as you are about that guitar.
Anybody have any info or opinions about the Excel guitars? |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2008 5:08 am
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I have had an Excel JB Frypan since 1987 ... bought it at Harry's Music in Honolulu ... on the advise of Jerry Byrd.
I've also worked on a few of others ... as well as some Sho-Buds ...
The newer Excel ones have a solid back (like prewar frypans) ... the older Excel ones had a removable back plate ... ala the postwar Ricky frypans ...
Very high quality casting ... and the new Excel ones I've seen have a very attractive finish ... sorta textured ... very nice !!!
The pickups are single coil ... use alnico 5 magnets ... and the DC resistance on the 8 string coils is around 14 k Ohm (probably 43 AWG magnet wire)
This pickup is placed inside a set of 1.25" non-magnetizable steel horseshoes ...
The space between the upper and lower flange of the U shaped steel "shoe" is 1" ... taller than a Ricky set of real horseshoes.
Having the conventional style pickup inside a steel shell ... does "bump" up the performance of the unit abit.
Backing any permanent magnet with steel increases the flux density at the opposite pole. And having steel over the poles ... alters the shape of the field in a favorable way (elongates the lines of force) ...
That said ... I've heard a few that had replacement units installed ... 
As far as the one listed ... Sho-Bud vs Excel ...
Both have identical "artwork" and overall body, neck, headstock shape ...
I can't see the pickup height adjusting/mounting screw that well on that photo ...
But the Sho-Buds that I have worked with had a "slot" ... where the pickup placement can be adjusted a tad ... slid up, back or angled .. abit.
Older Excels have a single hole for the height adjustment screw (not a slot) ...
And the newer Excels have the "Half Moon" mounting tabs (ala prewar Rickys) with a adjusting height screw.
Hope that helps ... |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 4 Jan 2009 12:40 am
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Ditto what Rick said.
I have owned both the Sho-Bud and the Excel, and the Excel Frypan is lighter in weight.
The Excel is well made with a good tone for playing with a band and light to travel with. 
Take a look at Excel Frypans
Aloha,
Don |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Jan 2009 7:40 pm
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I was looking to buy s/n 146 from "Fuzzy" when he was in Waikiki a few years ago. It was really a nice guitar, and came with a stand. But he went back to Japan that evening and we didn't get together again.
It was the solid back type that Rick described, and the textured finish was unusual and very nice.
Looking back now, I'm glad I didn't get one. Too many guitars!!  |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 4 Jan 2009 9:13 pm
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| Quote: |
| Looking back now, I'm glad I didn't get one. Too many guitars!! |
Bill, saying that you have too many guitars around on the Forum may come across a being a little too irreverant!!!  
Aloha, 
Don |
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