Peter Cook - Custom Guitars . . . . . . . .

Back in the day . . . . .

When you consider, that according to legend, the first Fender Stratocaster

hit our shores in 1959, imported by Cliff Richard.
Fiesta Red, serial # 34346, played by Hank Marvin, it's hardly surprising
that there were not many Custom Guitar builders around in the 60's.

As we move into the 1970's, there are perhaps a few more - John Birch was

busy in the Midlands, Tony Zemaitis Guitars began to gain fame and other

builders were starting to establish themselves.

Peter Cook was established as a renowned repairer and Custom Builder

in the early 70's, so it's no surprise that as well as the famous players of

the day, some less well known Guitarists and Bass Players, also sought

out Peter, so they could have a Custom Instrument made for them.

Since I started to research this subject, I have managed to track
down some of the instruments Peter made and have even met
some past owners.

Tracking more down, would be great but you have to bear in mind that

apart from the famous basses he made for John Entwistle, there are
perhaps only around fifty others that he made!

Yes, 50 - Five Zero!

As Peter said, "there were around fifty", there may be 51, 53 or 55 - it's
hard to tell, as once the job was done, he then moved onto repairs and
day to day things, before embarking on the next project.

So. . . . . . as well as the ones you have seen made for John and the Axis

range, that I have already detailed, these are some of the others.

The first one is known to me and has been with the current owner for almost
35 years. This thing has been played and played and played . . . .
It has morphed from "as it was" into a metal flake finish and then recently,
stripped, veneered and rebuilt and is still out there, earning it's keep.
Made in around 1972, we believe.













The next ones, I believe, belonged to the same owner, who I think
I am getting close to tracking down.
If you take it that there were 50, he had 6% of the Custom Builds!
The Twin Neck, is also featured in one of the magazine articles.







This is the only shot I have of the Vee, sent to me by another owner.
A Gibson TRC has been added but is is clearly one of Peter's,
you can just see Peter Cook Custom, near the controls.



There were two Firebird Twin Necks - mine, which is a 12 & 6
and the other one, a 6 & 12, which belonged to Del Bromham,
of "Stray", who are a band that still get out there and . . . . . . .
Do it LIVE!! http://www.stray-the-band.co.uk/







Below is Del, with mine.
I took it to see him at a gig - said it brought back a lot of memories!





The one below, is mine.

I would doubt Peter has seen it since it left his workshop.
The wiring configuration is slightly unusual but it all looks
untouched, so I assume it is original.
Some really great sounds and according to Del, easier to
play than his.
Del's was strapped at the top of the body - mine has another,
original strapping point, behind the bottom neck and balances
very nicely.















Just Gorgeous, absolutely Gorgeous!!!!



Well, I have almost come to the end of the Peter Cook story.


I asked Peter if he was happy with what I had done - was there
anything else that he wanted to add and was he aware of the
enthusiastic fans of the FenderBirds and ExplorerBirds, some
of which, have built there own "Tribute" instruments to match
his originals. . . . . . . . .

Eric

Great work - I really like your Blog, you’ve dug up
some good stuff.

Nothing else really comes to mind but it’s good to know
that the FenderBirds/ExplorerBirds live on ...

Next part will include some extra images, links and random
information, that I have found since I started this feature or
didn't quite fit in with the timeline/story, at the time.

So, pop back next week for the final part and then I'll get back
into the collection, starting with a Greco Rickenfaker . . . . . . .


Cheers. :)

Peter Cook - Gibson, Mighty Mite and The Music Press. . . . . .

"Following an approach by Rosetti & Company I assembled

and set up a limited edition custom range of Mighty Mite

guitars for them."




I also became Gibson’s man in the UK, all Gibson guitars

passed through my workshop before being certificated by

‘Peter Cook Guitars’ and released for distribution."

Peter was featured in several magazine articles and later,
went on to write for The British Music Press.






The shot above shows Peter working on a 12 String neck,
which I believe is the one on my Firebird Twin Neck, or
the one that Del Bromham, of Stray, had - some years ago.
Details and images of both, next time.

"On my travels to the States for the NAMM trade shows and

for Gibson I used to write for the British Music Press

(Sounds, Sounds International, Music World; Musik UK;

Music Maker) covering the trade shows and writing features

on American products e.g. Seymour Duncan."





Next time, Custom Builds.

Cheers. :)


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Peter Cook Axis Bass and Guitar. . . . .

I was going to do the Axis and some of the music press stuff, from

that period but I now find that I have all sorts of extra Axis Stuff.

"At this time I also developed and made the ‘Axis’ guitar and bass
with an active, on board parametric tonal system" . . . . . .

Apart from supplying me with some of the images that are here,

Peter didn't really expand on the above.

From our conversation and emails, it seems that there were only

around eight basses and eight guitars made.

Below are images of serial number 200 and 216, so perhaps the

first and the last?









I know the owner of the one below and he is a very proud custodian
of his Peter Cook Axis.









The one below is slightly different to all the others I know of, as
there is only one additional switch.


This is Peter, an Axis Bass and someone who Peter knew very well!



A "workshop shot" with an Axis Bass.



Peter at one of the Trade Shows, along with
a couple of well known people from the industry.
He is holding what I believe is my Axis Bass.
From memory, Peter said that he thought all but
one of the basses had XLR sockets - mine was
the only one with a Jack.



There was a Power Pack option - how advanced was that, for
it's day?? This fed power to the active circuit and connected
the guitar to the amp, via a Jack Plug.

The owner of this unit, who used to own an Axis some years
ago, has now incorporated it into a Ray Cooper, Custom Bass,
which he says, is still reliable all those years later.




George Ford, the bass player who used to play with Steve Harley had

one, as he appeared on stage with one with The Shadows.
Look carefully, you can just about see it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vft1hF-5p-w

This one is mine, serial number 208.

That's all for now, back next week with more.

Cheers. :)

Peter Cook - FenderBirds and other work for The Who . . . . . .

I asked Peter about the FenderBirds and ExplorerBirds - how

they came about, how many were made and the odd one out -
the Deep Cut FenderBird.

As Peter explained to me, during our discussion - all of this was
about 35 years ago and with his other custom builds, work with
various artists and with companies in the music business, he must
have seen and touched a great deal of guitars and basses.

At the time, it was just a case of getting on with it, and detailed notes
were not kept, so as Peter says - "going from memory". . . . . . . .

John said he liked the T’bird body & fittings but he preferred the
Precision neck – he gave me the hardware and I did the rest.

When the pickups & bridges ran out I made them as well.

I think there were about six Fenderbirds and 6 Explorerbirds

I don’t recall the deep-cut FB.

I also designed and built a number of ‘off the wall’ basses for him.

John would come up with a concept and I would make it happen:

The Axe – used in Tommy.

This is the only image I could find - I'm sure there is another
version of this - Different hardware??

The Lightning – used on the album cover of ‘The Who by Numbers’

My recollection is that John had a basic concept and wanted Dan Electro

Pickups – I took the concept, designed it and made it a reality.

Peter told me that designing the head was as much of a challenge as the

rest of it - trying to get it to look right and to get the tuners in line.

He was quite surprised when I told him that there were now copies made

of his work - The Lightning Bolt and a whole bunch of FenderBird and

ExplorerBird clones.

The Flame – used on Top of the Pops – Same deal but with my pickups etc.

Peter worked on other basses of John's and his name is mentioned several

times in "Bass Culture", a book which details the bulk of John's collection.

I have a couple of other details, that I have found out during my research

but I need to check these and and may add to the final posting about Peter.

Through my association with John I also customised a number of
Pete Townshend’s stage Les Pauls, to the same exacting specification - by
removing the neck volute, re-profiling the neck, fitting a third middle pickup
with extra switching options.






At this time I also developed and made the ‘Axis’ guitar and bass
with an active onboard parametric tonal system. . . . . . . . . .


Next time, Axis - work with Gibson, Mighty Mite and
The British Music Press.

Cheers. :)


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latest post, go here:
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Happy New Year . . . . . .

Happy New Year

Bonne Année

Guten Rutsch

Godt nytår

Feliz Año Nuevo

Felice Anno Nuovo

Feliz Ano Novo

akemashite omedetō gozaimasu

xīn nián kuài lè / gōng xǐ fā cái

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit

С наступающим Новым Годом

Selamat Tahun Baru

υτυχισμένο το Νέο Ετος

Gelukkige nuwe jaar

Щастлива Нова Година

helol alseneh aljedīdah

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku

Hi to all of you out there - Happy New Year!

I have been a little busy over the last couple of weeks, so I have not

been up to speed with the blog - I will be continuing the story of

Peter Cook and when that is completed, I will be back into the job

of listing the collection.

There are more Ibanez, Aria, Fender, Gibson, Ovation, Peavey,

Brian May Red Special, a rare 70's Ibanez Destroyer Bass, a

feature on the Doug Wilkes Custom, Peter Cook Firebird Twin,

a unique JayDee, Cimar, Greco, Jim Cairns, Lincoln. . . . . . . . .

still a long way to go.

So for the time being, sit tight and I'll get the ball rolling again soon.

I'll leave you with a pic of BOTH Odyssey Basses at our last gig

of the year - a Cracking Night!



Cheers. :)