Bigsby vs. Magnatone

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Nils Fliegner
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009 9:01 am
Location: Germany

Bigsby vs. Magnatone

Post by Nils Fliegner »

Image
As seen on eBay:
Am I mistaken or do the fretboard markers on this cheap Magnatone look egg-xactly like the ones that P. A. Bigsby used on all his steels and most of his standard guitars?
(Maybe a retro-fit..?)
Anthony Locke
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Joined: 19 Nov 2007 2:54 pm
Location: Texas, USA

Post by Anthony Locke »

Hello Nils,
That is the stock fretboard that came with that Magnatone. My 1956 Magnatone Maestro has the same fretboards. Paul Bigsby helped with the design of the guitars, but didn't play any part in the assembly.
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Todd Clinesmith
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Location: Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Post by Todd Clinesmith »

Hi Nils,
The fretboards are similar in design, but are different materials. The Bigsby fretboards are brass, etched and plated, where as the Magnatones seem to be aluminum. Also there are stars on the Magnatones where PA had dots.
As Anthony noted PA helped with the design of a few mid fifties Magnatone steels and standard guitars. Those Magnatones sound pretty good too. Anthony makes his sound great.
Todd
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