Hey folks, I’m brand new to the page and I need your help!
I run a Donley’s Music in Canton, Georgia. I recently bought a bunch of bass stuff from the estate of a local bass player who has passed away. This bass is an interesting case.
It has no marking to speak of, but we found in the cavity an inscription written in pencil under the finish that reads “#1 MADE BY RED RHODES 1976” this is the only markings on the instrument.
It has 2 sets of Velvet Hammer P-Bass pickups installed….. Now the interesting part…
The only document instrument that I can seem to find that Red built is the guitar that he built for Glenn Campbell. That instrument is owned today by Carl Jackson. I spoke with Carl on the phone about this bass and he told me that he believes this to be 100% authentic for several reasons. Obviously the Velvet Hammer pickups and the inscription are the obvious signs, but he talked of a Bass that Red modified for Bill Graham, the bass player for Glenn when Carl was in the band with Campbell. He gave it to Red to do some work on, and Red customized his 1950’s Fender with this same style of pearloid around the edge, in attempt to make his bass more flashy. Carl goes on to tell me of a bass that may be in his possession that has the same pearloid inlay around the body, and has the same type of finish as my bass. That bass has a fender neck installed. He said he never looked into it, but he believes that Red may have made that bass body as well after looking at my bass, and knowing about Red’s affinity for this type of inlay. Also, the Glenn Campbell guitar and my bass share the same Ovation truss rod cover.
I am waiting for Carl to get back with me about this other bass. He isn’t sure if he still owns it or not.
There isn’t much written on line about Red and a bass at all. The only thing I could find was on a steel guitar forum. It was an account that someone had about Red lending a bass to Bobby Ray in the late 70’s. Bobby, sold this bass behind Red’s back, and Red was furious over this…
After doing some research into the gentleman whose estate this came from, I find out that he was from California. He lived in the same area that Red had his amplifier shop in the 70’s and 80’s. He moved to Georgia in 1993.
So this is what I need from yall. I need to talk to someone who knows something about this bass or Red. I need information on this to get it authenticated. I would love for someone to help me get in contact with Jeffery or Sidney Rhodes, Red’s son and grand daughter. They will not respond to my messages to this point.
Any information, contacts, pictures, or videos of my bass would be a great help. I attaching pictures of the bass and the inscription. It is very hard to get a good picture of. I am also attaching a picture of the Bill Graham customized Fender for reference.
I feel a responsibility to uncover the story of this bass. Why it exists, why Red built it, who he made it for, and who knows anything about it. I would also love for his family to know this exists.
I am documenting this entire process with the intention of putting together a video telling this story, and at the very least, getting the story of Red Rhodes out to more of the world. We all know he was a bad ass. But the world needs to hear this story.
Thank you all so much. God bless you all!
I run a Donley’s Music in Canton, Georgia. I recently bought a bunch of bass stuff from the estate of a local bass player who has passed away. This bass is an interesting case.
It has no marking to speak of, but we found in the cavity an inscription written in pencil under the finish that reads “#1 MADE BY RED RHODES 1976” this is the only markings on the instrument.
It has 2 sets of Velvet Hammer P-Bass pickups installed….. Now the interesting part…
The only document instrument that I can seem to find that Red built is the guitar that he built for Glenn Campbell. That instrument is owned today by Carl Jackson. I spoke with Carl on the phone about this bass and he told me that he believes this to be 100% authentic for several reasons. Obviously the Velvet Hammer pickups and the inscription are the obvious signs, but he talked of a Bass that Red modified for Bill Graham, the bass player for Glenn when Carl was in the band with Campbell. He gave it to Red to do some work on, and Red customized his 1950’s Fender with this same style of pearloid around the edge, in attempt to make his bass more flashy. Carl goes on to tell me of a bass that may be in his possession that has the same pearloid inlay around the body, and has the same type of finish as my bass. That bass has a fender neck installed. He said he never looked into it, but he believes that Red may have made that bass body as well after looking at my bass, and knowing about Red’s affinity for this type of inlay. Also, the Glenn Campbell guitar and my bass share the same Ovation truss rod cover.
I am waiting for Carl to get back with me about this other bass. He isn’t sure if he still owns it or not.
There isn’t much written on line about Red and a bass at all. The only thing I could find was on a steel guitar forum. It was an account that someone had about Red lending a bass to Bobby Ray in the late 70’s. Bobby, sold this bass behind Red’s back, and Red was furious over this…
After doing some research into the gentleman whose estate this came from, I find out that he was from California. He lived in the same area that Red had his amplifier shop in the 70’s and 80’s. He moved to Georgia in 1993.
So this is what I need from yall. I need to talk to someone who knows something about this bass or Red. I need information on this to get it authenticated. I would love for someone to help me get in contact with Jeffery or Sidney Rhodes, Red’s son and grand daughter. They will not respond to my messages to this point.
Any information, contacts, pictures, or videos of my bass would be a great help. I attaching pictures of the bass and the inscription. It is very hard to get a good picture of. I am also attaching a picture of the Bill Graham customized Fender for reference.
I feel a responsibility to uncover the story of this bass. Why it exists, why Red built it, who he made it for, and who knows anything about it. I would also love for his family to know this exists.
I am documenting this entire process with the intention of putting together a video telling this story, and at the very least, getting the story of Red Rhodes out to more of the world. We all know he was a bad ass. But the world needs to hear this story.
Thank you all so much. God bless you all!
