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Rick Hulett


From:
Hood River, OR
Post  Posted 27 Jul 2008 1:03 pm    
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I've been trying to figure out a tune by Speedy West called "Flipping the Lid". I got it from a CD called "Radio & Recording Rarities, Vol 6". See it at:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/rareradio6

I'm sure it's been out before on other recordings, but this is where I found it. Does anyone have any idea what setup he might have been using? I'm trying to figure out how to play it on standard C6th tuning. Was he even using pedals at that time? Anyone have any info? Thanks.
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Derby D10, Hilton, Peavey 112
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J D Sauser


From:
Wellington, Florida
Post  Posted 27 Jul 2008 2:50 pm    
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In my opinion the string voicing paired with gauges of a typical PSG C6th tuning is very different than what Speedy did or may have been using on his most typical recordings.
I have had more luck with A6th and the E9th PSG tuning. Yet, on the later the "chromatics" are in the way for a lot of the techniques used by Speedy West.

... J-D.
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Rick Hulett


From:
Hood River, OR
Post  Posted 27 Jul 2008 4:29 pm    
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Might well be. I've got the first 8 bars sounding pretty good like this:





After that it gets a little more difficult. I guess I'll just play it the way I can and not worry so much about doing it exactly like Speedy. It sure is a bizarre chord progression. It's almost like a bunch of random dominant chords that never quite repeat exactly like you think they should.
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Derby D10, Hilton, Peavey 112
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 28 Jul 2008 6:51 pm     As a BIGSBY owner.......................
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Three of my four Bisby necks were set-up for Speedy West per Paul A. Bigsby. In those days, the regular
hot-shots, were not constantly changing their tunings but rather, honed their skills on the one or two or three of their favorites.

I'd bet that the first verse was the C6th tuning that is tuned two whole tones higher, top string being G and on down the list. Starting with the top HIGH little string, it goes something like this (?)
G E-flat C# A G E-flat C# G#

The Bridge sounds like A 6th!

If there's any of that bar slamming stuff on that tune that has a dramatic dive bomber sound going up the neck, that would be Speedy's C#min with the two chromatic strings on the bottom.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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Rick Hulett


From:
Hood River, OR
Post  Posted 28 Jul 2008 7:35 pm    
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Ah, that explains why it seemed to make sense and then suddenly I just couldn't figure out what he was doing. Thanks Ray, I'd love to take a gander at your Bigsby some time.

Rick
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2008 7:34 am     "Taking a gander".....................
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Just email me........

You're welcome to drop by when in the area.
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