Vintage Guitar and Bass forum

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?

Greetings people of the VGB (Hi Jules), the names obvious and the question heads her up...

This is my bird, back in 1979... next to my then brand new RD Artist, which is another story of angst and woe...

I've owned her (I'm the 3rd) since 1977, but have not been the most careful of owners... I have not really known of her "rarity" until recent years, and she is presently undergoing a major refit...! Her body is mahogany with an ebony board, fat frets; her neck is based on a "D" profile Precision, but is a three-piece laminate through the body... the "body" is the "neck" making up the center section, the 2 wings, and a backing piece on the centre section...


This is what she looked like from 1984 to Summer this year... as I said, a bit careless I was... (a reformed character... honest!) The case is her "original from new" home...


This is a mock-up of what she is going to look like - her original Gibson Thunderbird bridge and tail, and Schaller machines; bridge pup from my RD (going to "peel" and fit within a T'bird cover, when I get one); a 1972 Mudbucker; XLR connector... the electrics are still subject to a decision...
The laminate is myrtle burl, bookended...

I am curious to know how many of us (Peter Cook owners) there are out there...?

I know of the Axis range...? never seen one directly and can find no picture of one... and the "Nobbly Neds", and the "Ned Callans" ... I know of the Entwistle link... The "Fenderbird", the "Lightning Bolt", and the one that he used on TOTP (I know of a link to a picture - probably the closest to the original hardware on mine... that sold for silly money a few years back...

I was horrified after seeing how cheaply a doubleneck "Firebird" went for on "GREEDBAY" earlier this year... silly money for a true work of art... I just think that Mr Cook has been forgotten...

I met Peter Cook a couple of times, and he worked on my RD (defretting her)and "his" Thunderbird, but he smiled when he saw the case, saying "Oh, that one..." this made me curious as to who (no pun, honest!) she was built for, but he wouldn't say... She lives in a very flamboyant case, and all the hardware was gold-plated, even all the screws... someone fairly flamboyant, but why get rid of her...?

I'd love to know more about him and why he quit the industry...

That will do for an introduction, but...

I will warn you here (Jules already knows this) ... I can be a bit productive in my writing... the following links are a significant read, but if you'ld like to know more, be my guest... :)

This was my first posting about her...
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ac36eb78a9bddc0215d1b09eff7f03ca&topic=1944.msg24426#msg24426

2 rebuild threads... the first on my regular haunt...
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ac36eb78a9bddc0215d1b09eff7f03ca&topic=2774.0

This is one I'm running on ReRanch, to help with some rebuild hints...
http://reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?p=358106&sid=a51607ae029353480e0c63c6cf833c43#358106

jules

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Peter Cook
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2009, 11:45:13 AM »
Hi Ken
 
Great to have you here. Well it's certainly coming on. I like what you're doing to it. I'm also surprised Peter gave up the Inustry, especially with his connections to John Entwistle etc.
 
Perhaps we could track him down and interview him for the site?
 
I was hoping to get that doubleneck that came up, but I just never got round to bidding. What did it go for in the end?

I have an AXIS Bass
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2009, 06:23:00 PM »
I bought it back in the early 90s

It's maple mostly.  Recently I had the electrics fixed as I'm thinking of selling it.  I'm not a bass player and it never gets used now I have a 5 string for recording with.

I have also an Axis 6 string - mahogany. Here are some pictures of them

AXIS bass pic, and a Firebird
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2009, 08:08:26 PM »
Hi Jules... That double neck went for £471...

As I said... I just think Peter cook has dropped off the radar, unless there is provenance, and then it gets stupid...

I also agree, if traced, he would make a fascinating person to interview... someone on the site (that owns one) noted that he had gone into "retail" employment... he certainly knows more than most... Chris P over athe the Bass-Outpost would also like to interview him...

Maybe he just got fed-up of "Derek and Clive" connections...

I'd just like to know my T'bird's history, especially her "birthday"... (ok... also the person who commisioned her... :))

Hi Nunostrat... I have got to admit an interest if you did start decide to sell (and cheers for the pic - do you have a shot of her "head" - curious to see what he used for a "logo" as mine was purely a small "PETER COOK Custom" on a "smaller-than-gibson-LP" TRC)... I have also got to admit that I suspect there may be interest in "specialist-in-the-know" quarters, so she would probably be out of my range if placed in the "right-place", but I also should clearly point out to you that if a doubleneck Firebird can-not reach £500...

The Peter Cook Firebird doubleneck was (probably) the same colour as mine (cherry) - I have a pic of one in use (not the one for sale) in 1976 by Stray's Del Bromham... the 2 instruments differed as the 6/12 necks were reversed... so definitely not the same instrument...

I presume that the "AXIS" is a through-neck...?

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2009, 06:58:26 PM »
Quote from: Kenny Five-O;12546
Hi Jules... That double neck went for £471...
 
As I said... I just think Peter cook has dropped off the radar, unless there is provenance, and then it gets stupid...
 
I also agree, if traced, he would make a fascinating person to interview... someone on the site (that owns one) noted that he had gone into "retail" employment... he certainly knows more than most... Chris P over athe the Bass-Outpost would also like to interview him...
 
Maybe he just got fed-up of "Derek and Clive" connections...
 
I'd just like to know my T'bird's history, especially her "birthday"... (ok... also the person who commisioned her... :))
 
Hi Nunostrat... I have got to admit an interest if you did start decide to sell (and cheers for the pic - do you have a shot of her "head" - curious to see what he used for a "logo" as mine was purely a small "PETER COOK Custom" on a "smaller-than-gibson-LP" TRC)... I have also got to admit that I suspect there may be interest in "specialist-in-the-know" quarters, so she would probably be out of my range if placed in the "right-place", but I also should clearly point out to you that if a doubleneck Firebird can-not reach £500...
 
The Peter Cook Firebird doubleneck was (probably) the same colour as mine (cherry) - I have a pic of one in use (not the one for sale) in 1976 by Stray's Del Bromham... the 2 instruments differed as the 6/12 necks were reversed... so definitely not the same instrument...
 
I presume that the "AXIS" is a through-neck...?
If this works (bit of a Newbie, so not sure) You should
see something very interesting.
Fingers crossed.
http://photobucket.com/flatericpics
 
No, maybe not!
When I can work out how to post images, I think you will find it worthwhile.
I'll come back to you.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2009, 07:01:18 PM by Flat Eric »

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2009, 07:06:46 PM »

jules

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PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2009, 09:12:48 PM »
Ahhh,
 
so you're the lucky winner? Or is this another one?

Lucky b*st*rd...
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2009, 10:03:16 PM »
:The one that belonged to Del Bromham is DEFINITELY NOT that one...

You jammy so-an-so, Eric... £471

How does she play...? If she's anywhere near as good an instrument as my bass you have got the bargain of the century...!

For that matter, what county are you in...? (being stupid - East Midlands!)

And then there was four... :)
« Last Edit: December 02, 2009, 10:09:27 PM by Kenny Five-O »

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2009, 12:38:51 PM »
Very lucky indeed but I bought it from the other buyer!
So, still worth the $$$ but not at the figure you list :)
What is it like?
Well, to tell you the truth, I have only played it for about
10 minutes!!!! Yes, sad but true.
It is currently in hospital, as there are electrical issues with
the switches and it needs a good clean, strings and set-up.
What I did get out of it sounded pretty good.
I also think I have managed to find one of the owners of Del's,
someone called Kevin, London. I will try to find out more.
Never seen a pic of that one but would be great to do so.
Saw Del & Stray at The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham.
What a pro!! An amp blew, or something happend, the band busked
along while a swap was done and about 16 bars later, joined in again.
On top of that, broke a string and battled through a solo.
They don't make 'em like that any more!!
Will keep you posted on this one - perhaps get round to it over the
Christmas break. :)
I will put up some more pics over the next couple of weeks - something
to do while I munch on a sandwich!!
So, until tomorrow lunch - bye for now.

Cheers.
Flat Eric. :)

Del Bromham's Double Neck Firebird
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2009, 11:24:21 PM »
Are you brave enough to admit what you paid...? :)

Del's firebird...? Do you mean this one...?


an unrepaired shot I took of them supporting Kiss in 1976 at Hammersmith... as you can see, the necks are reversed to yours... I could get a better shot if you need one...

I saw them dozens of times, still have all the old vinyl and quite a few singles... but still haven't started to get the CD's, much to my shame (and bank-balance!) ... there was a time during the seventies that you could almost not see someone at the Odeon without Stray being the support... they supported Rush on their first tour in '77 was another time I saw them...

The great shame is that they were an "also-ran" - never quite made the first division...

I consider some of their material to be "STANDARDS..."

Looking forward to your postings, Flat Eric... still got a "green-eyed-god" sitting on my shoulder... ;-)

PS
I presume she's mahogany with thru necks and ebony boards...?
« Last Edit: December 03, 2009, 11:28:02 PM by Kenny Five-O »

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2009, 01:20:31 PM »
Mmm, looks like we are both lucky. :)
I have only seen Del once, you are obviously an "avid" fan!
The guy who used to have Del's, said it balanced really badly
and made some odd reference to Ian Drury!
I will post up details of that, later on.
Mine has two strap positions - one where Del's is and one
behind the bottom neck.
Mine was on the neck one and balances very well indeed,
as good or better that other Twin Necks.
What did I pay?
Well, a gentleman never discusses that sort of thing. 8)
Construction is neck- through, most likely mahogany, maple
and ebony - I will check it out and come back to you.

Cheers.
Flat Eric. :)

Gentlemen prefer mahogany...
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2009, 10:45:10 PM »
Ian Drury...? "Reasons to be cheerful...?" :)

Well, we both have work to do and investigations to carry out, to restore our beauties to their former glories...

I think we're both very lucky people and I'd call those "reasons to be cheerful...!"

Oh yes, mine's a "diver", what Thunderbird isn't... :-D

PETER COOK THUNDERBIRD - any other Peter Cook owners out there...?
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2009, 05:11:54 PM »




Hope this works - Still not up to speed with this Photobucket stuff.
This is what I found out about one of the owners of Del's Twin.
This is where the reference about Ian Drury came from.

Cheers.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2010, 04:06:12 PM by Flat Eric »

Serial double necker...?
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2009, 11:53:20 PM »
Rush fan, too...?

A Ricky double neck... 8)

Shame you're not London based... might be cool to have a jam once I get my 'Bird back together... ;-)

More on mine
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2009, 11:09:17 AM »
I've a photo of the head but the string covers the AXIS logo - sorry - the cover is Brass with Peter Cook in the same script as on the plastic ones then AXIS in a more bold font

My 6 string has same truss cover as yours.

No neither the 6 or the bass are neck through they are set neck.   the bass looks more like it should be but it's definitely a tenon joint

I'll try and load the head shot

 

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