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Topic: The Blade |
Mitch Ellis
From:
Collins, Mississippi USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2007 10:29 pm |
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Is the Blade a '69. Is it a cut-tail, wrap-around, or bolt-on? Is it a fat-back, and does it have the short keyhead? Thank you.
Mitch |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Dec 2007 11:25 pm
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Mitch
I think Buddy says it's actually a '67. It came out after the bolt on type guitar. It's a rosewood formica "split tail" push/pull. It's the guitar Buddy played on numerous albums! The keyhead is the typical keyhead used on all push/pulls of the time with Kluson tuning keys.
I believe it originally had single coil pickups, and featured nine pedals.
You can see it also on the cover of "Emmons Guitar Incorporated" or effectionately called "The Black Album."
Another album that shows The Blade (and it's bent tuning keys!) is the Flying Fish Records "Minors Aloud" with the great Lenny Breau.
The same guitar can also be seen on the "Ray Price & Cherokee Cowboys" album "Reunited" (ABC DOT Records 1977)
These are just a few of course.
"The Blade" is the guitar that set the standard for steel guitar, as far as I'm concerned, and has been heard on numerous albums.
Did I cover everything Buddy? 
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Kevin Mincke
From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2007 11:24 am
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But howw'd it get bent tuning keys  |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 8 Dec 2007 11:46 am
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What is the serial number of the Blade?
Larry Behm |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Dec 2007 1:03 pm
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The very first "Blade" was the guitar that Buddy recorded "Touch My Heart" (Ray Price) on but sold it. It's the one in the proverbial "wagon" story. Later, "The Blade" became the rosewood guitar, and has been so ever since. He still has it today. I believe the serial number is 1135 or somewhere around that. It's the one that you see on a lot of those "Good Ol' Nashville" shows, etc, and recorded for "years!"
There very first "Blade" (the infamous "turned into a wagon story") was a black "wrap around" guitar in the 1965 range and is long since gone. It was used on "much/most" of the '65 era Ray Price stuff.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Buddy!
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Dec 2007 1:40 pm
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...oh, one more thing. If you have one of the early prints of "Emmons Guitar Incorporated" (the black album) you will be able to see very easily that it is the rosewood "Blade" on the cover. However, "reprints" made the guitar look much darker than the original print and it appears to be black on the cover. It was indeed "rosewood" as my early print of the album shows. I believe the album came out '68-ish.
Dave
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http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 11:28 am
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Dave:
I was told by someone who should know the serial # is 1136. If so you were close ...
Old Bud |
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Dave Burr
From:
League City, TX
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 12:47 pm
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Quote:"I believe the serial number is 1135 or somewhere around that"
Missed it by one number...I'd say that was pretty good guess, eh? 
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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T. C. Furlong
From:
Lake County, Illinois, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 6:00 pm
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I'll confirm that Blade 1136D is a cut-tail/split-tail. I have older brother 1127D and it's a rosewood cut-tail with a wood "crossrod in the rest position" shelf. Some say that is a big part of the tone of the early cut-tails.
TC |
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Bruce Hamilton
From:
Vancouver BC Canada
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 7:14 pm
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T.C. what do you mean by " a wood cross rod in the shelf position"? Do you have any pictures? Thanks  |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 8:11 pm
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Bruce, I'm not T.C. and might be wrong in my thinking, however, I think he is referring to the ledge that the cross shaft rests against when idle. If you note where you hook the pedal rod in under the crank on the cross shaft that pedal rod end rested against a wooden ledge. The later pushpulls had metal there.
Jerry |
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Bruce Hamilton
From:
Vancouver BC Canada
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 8:41 pm
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| AHAA! That would make sense. T.C.and I had many a long discussion about this a few years ago. |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 8:47 pm
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what you're referring to is the "Stop Bar" on the inside of the front apron. Early guitars ('68 down) had wooden stop bars.
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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Johnny Cox
From:
Williamsom WVA, raised in Nashville TN, Lives in Hallettsville Texas
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Posted 12 Dec 2007 10:55 pm
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I was fortunate to be one of Buddy's neighbors for about ten years. He allowed me to come to his home on many occasions where I had the chance to play the Blade many times. I can tell you it is one outstanding guitar. But it only has "That Sound" when in the hands of it's master. I got a pretty good sound and have heard others get a good sound from the Blade. But she only slices at her best when Buddy has control of her. Thank you Buddy for those years of encouragement and opportunity. You and your sweet Peggy changed my life forever.
Coxface
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Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967. |
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T. C. Furlong
From:
Lake County, Illinois, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2007 5:12 am
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Jerry and Dave are calling the same thing ledge and stop bar. I have heard it referred to as a shelf. It is up against the front apron and Jerry's description is accurate as to it's function.
TC |
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Larry Moore
From:
Hampton, Ga. USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2007 8:31 pm
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I have the younger sister S/N 1153-D it's a Rosewood also.
Larry Moore |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2007 10:30 am
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I have #1128D rosewood.
Jerry |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 11:28 am
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Jerry 1128D and TC 1127D, now what are the chances of that happening here very often. I once owned the 1128, sold it like a fool, went with another brand for a year or two but could not stand to be away from the great sound of a PP. Bought one from a friend in Portland 1086D - rosewood also 9&4.
Nice to be back in the family
Larry Behm |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 12:03 pm
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My memory could be wrong but I think Larry Sasser has 1126D. I also have 1148D which is black. Larry is yours a split or bolt on?
Jerry
Last edited by Jerry Roller on 17 Dec 2007 8:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Steele (deceased)
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 12:16 pm
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Larry Sasser's black bolt-on (which he used on the Nashville Now show, and recorded the Slide album with) now lives at my house.
Although it has the number 2276 stamped on the endplate, Mike Cass assures me that this was not an original serial number, that it was added later. It also has a date (10-16-66) stamped on it.
-John |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 12:40 pm
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John, I have been trying to locate an old email that Larry sent me in response to one I sent him when I was trying to relocate #1128D and I think he also has #1126. I sure could be wrong as I often am.
Jerry |
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Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 6:52 pm
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Jerry,
I have 1077D its a D10 rosewood bolt on. It has a wooden pedal stop. Charlie Ward told me several times he thought the wood pedal stop had something to do the tone of these guitars.
Mike |
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Dyke Corson
From:
Fairmount, IL USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2007 8:13 pm
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| Jerry Roller that is very odd, I have a D-10 cut-tail 1146D!! Black w/ 8&5. Both this guitar and the Blade were at Dr. Cass's house at the same time. Is your's a D-10 too? |
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