Fly with the Funderbird
The Hot Wire Funderbird Bass has been well received for 20 years! In these two decades we have built a lot of different versions for enthusiastic bassists - today we present our current F-Bird model in this new video.
How did it happen? It all started with an idea. The legendary John Entwistle of "The Who" loved eccentric bass designs with a large body.
Hot Wire mastermind Bert remembers:
"That was my idea, the Fenderbird," John told me in an interview for German FACHBLATT Magazine, more than 30 years ago. He favored the early Thunderbird models with their powerful sound, but the necks were too lean and unstable for his playing style. Peter Cook in London attached a massive 70's Precision maple neck onto the Gibson Body and so John got the best of both worlds! His original Fenderbird can be seen in the Hardrock Cafe in London.
I was curious so we built a mahogany T-Bird Body and attached a maple neck! The Hot Wire Funderbird was born, with a rocking look and a rolling sound! The pickups are Hot Wire Funderbuckers, Soapbars developed with BassCulture that are close to the original sound, but with a little more flexibility - and a coiltap.
The Funderbird on the left is the first one we built in 2003. Thanks to Andi D. for the loan! The black bird on the right is the latest one, which we made in 2023 exactly as requested. In between are twenty years and various four-, five-, and also three-string Funderbirds!
Mahogany versus Swamp Ash
The Funderbird on the left features a light swamp ash body, the one on the right has a mahogany body. Otherwise, both basses are identical in construction, but still sound different. Mahogany has a warm basic sound, the swamp ash is more brillant in tone and has more attack.
We looked at many pictures of John's bass and also examined an original Thunderbird. We developed a body that looks and feels good, whether you are sitting or standing. The bass is not as top-heavy as you might think!
We use light machines on the Hot Wire neck, and when the bassist puts up his right arm on the body, the bass is automatically brought into the ideal playing position. Of course, we also offer this model as a five-string. There is also a left-handed version. Neck width and body color can be set by the customer.
Meanwhile, we have made many Funderbird variations: Alternatively, with a lightweight body made of swamp ash, in special finishes, with neck through, as a five-string, with various pickup combinations and active electronics. We can fulfill all wishes in this regard.
For an adventurous customer, we built the Blackbyrd. Thru neck, two Northstrand pickups with a sophisticated passive electronics Setup that rocks ....! Add to that the Hipshot "Supertone" Bridge.
You like it hard and heavy? Then this one is for you! Played in low B-E-A-D Tuning and some distortion on a heavy electronic backbeat, this bird can really fly!
At the very bottom left see the Non-Reversebird: Thru neck and body made of mahogany, a maple fingerboard with dark pearl block inlays, a Candy Apple high gloss finish and a Pearl pickguard. Two Funderbuckers and East electronics provide a powerful tone.
Quite different is the passive three string, Bolt neck bass tuned E A D. Dig in!
https://hotwire-bass.de/en/custom-shop/2022/8/18/three-string-bass