Speedy West's Custom Double Neck For Sale in Florida

[Lowell Gilbertson]

I saw this posting on Craigslist

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/msg/1915515672.html


Could this really be Speedy West's guitar? Does anybody know?

[Lowell Gilbertson]

It's going for 1500. Very cheap, I would say, for a piece of history.

[J D Sauser]

Well, well... It's a Marlen "Speedy West" PSG. StL. Stadler made many of those with that label on them.

That is not to say that it was Speedy's personal guitar, unless the seller would have some kind of paperwork to prove it was or at least could provide tuning and setup chart which would show that it has Speedy's tunings on it.

It's a D12! I have never heard or seen any evidence that Speedy West ever plaid 12 stringers (which doesn't mean anything, I know!) ... but I actually feel it may have proven somewhat unhelpful to his style.

... J-D.

[John Billings]

I zoomed in, and the front, top edge looks pretty banged up. Still, $1,500?

[J D Sauser]

I zoomed in, and the front, top edge looks pretty banged up. Still, $1,500?

Are you suggesting traces of bar slams, John?

... J-D.

[John Billings]

They'd have to be slams that totally missed the strings JD! 8^)

[Lowell Gilbertson]

I emailed the Craigslist poster and here is the reply:

"We have an album cover that shows speedy west with this model. Thats all. It has labels all over it and the tuner is engraved with speedy west. You will have to draw your own conclusions. We have been asking around. It is labeled as speedy west and taht is all we are representing. The serial number shows Model SW12D SN 270825, Stadler Music Co., Reidsville, NC 27320 Marlen Fret board and tuner. I think I sent pictures. You can call Leroy at 941-624-0581 for any oterh information. It works fine he says. His sis"

[J D Sauser]

I emailed the Craigslist poster and here is the reply:

"We have an album cover that shows speedy west with this model. ...

A Speedy West album with him pictured playing a Marlen on it? WHICH album would that be? All albums I'd know of show Fender guitars.

... J-D.

[Lowell Gilbertson]

I'll see if I can get them to post a picture of the album.

[J D Sauser]

I emailed the Craigslist poster and here is the reply:

"We have an album cover that shows speedy west with this model. ...

A Speedy West album with him pictured playing a Marlen on it? WHICH album would that be? All albums I'd know of show Fender guitars.

... J-D.

A quick search on e-bay, and lookie, lookie:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pedal-Steel-Guitar- ... ?pt=Guitar

There are more pictures INCLUDING a picture of the ominous CD album mentioned with the Speedy West Picture (promo pic for either MusicMan amps or L. Stadler's Speedy West Series Marlen PSG's?).

The PSG on that album (Buster Bronco Mono CD #9054, ever heard of that one... seems bootleg?) is a D-10 (If Leroy's sister is reading this, she may help her brother count the FIVE (5) tuning machines on one side of the keyhead.
Besides, the guitar pictured, has a two tone color scheme.



The guitar offered is NOT the guitar pictured on the album's picture and it is as like to have been touched by Speedy West as any of the many Marlen Speedy West series PSG's built by Stadler.

The guitar pictured seems more likely to be this one:




Furthermore, Leroy's Sister's claim that they are only representing that it MAY be the guitar pictured seems oblivious of the fact that their mere title on BOTH, the Craiglist offering and the recent e-bay auction would seem to suggest otherwise: "... custom made for Speedy West"

I am however glad this has been brought up, since it helped me find a CD of Speedy I don't own yet.

... J-D.

[Lowell Gilbertson]

JD...

Very Nice Work! Were you a detective in a past life?

I agree they are being misleading, but, judging by their grammar, I think it might just be from not knowing.

[J D Sauser]

JD...

Very Nice Work! Were you a detective in a past life?

I agree they are being misleading, but, judging by their grammar, I think it might just be from not knowing.

I don't know about the past life... even though I have recurring dreams of being a gunner in a flying fortress or something the like, shooting at ME 109's. It's so intense, I believe I'd know how to do it.

Aren't you glad you asked about my previous live?

Anyways, in THIS life, I am just generally suspicious and careful. When you live in countries like the ones I am and have lived in, you can't help but...

And the promise of being maybe able to own one of Speedy's guitars, did perk my interest... but then, did I mention I tend to be suspicious?

This one was easy. Once I saw the picture of the album referred too... I counted off the oddest thing, the 12 string issue.


... J-D.

[Larry Bell]

I watched Speedy West playing in St Louis every year from the early 70s until Speedy's health prevented his continuing to play. He never played 12 string guitars. I am and have always been a 12 string player. If Speedy had played a D-12 I would have noticed.

I'm sure there are others who followed his career more closely who will validate this observation. I guess it's possible he might have OWNED one (not too likely, IMHO) but playing one on one of his instrumental albums, I DON'T THINK SO.

Like others on this thread, I suspect that the owners jumped to conclusions after seeing the Speedy West name in several locations on the guitar and seeing something on an album cover that looked similar. It is a good price == and just down the road a piece from me (in fact I'm playing in Fort Myers tomorrow night).

[b0b]

I had one of those, a D-10. They're nice, but the pull-release changer is pretty limited. The price ($1500) is a little high, in my opinion, unless you have been looking for one specifically. I sold mine for a lot less.

The feel of the pedals is really smooth and direct, and the pickups sound just great. I really enjoyed the one I had. Plus they look really cool.

There's no way that this D-12 was actually Speedy West's guitar. He lent his name to a Marlen model, that's all. I have a couple of the Speedy West name plaques that Leonard sent me in my parts bin.

[Bill Ford]

A Speedy West album with him pictured playing a Marlen on it? WHICH album would that be? All albums I'd know of show Fender guitars.

... J-D.

Also Bigsby with the apron on front georgus birdseye maple. Here's one with Bigsby, and one with Fender, the last/bottom picture was on an album that I had. ...Bill

[J D Sauser]

I had one of those, a D-10. They're nice, but the pull-release changer is pretty limited. The price ($1500) is a little high, in my opinion, unless you have been looking for one specifically. I sold mine for a lot less.

The feel of the pedals is really smooth and direct, and the pickups sound just great. I really enjoyed the one I had. Plus they look really cool.

There's no way that this D-12 was actually Speedy West's guitar. He lent his name to a Marlen model, that's all. I have a couple of the Speedy West name plaques that Leonard sent me in my parts bin.

I remember when you bought yours, Bob... O don't know why but I do. Yours was one like Speedys.
The one offered has the later all pull changer.

... J-D.

[J D Sauser]

I've written thru e-bay to the seller.
I've explained them that this was not the guitar on the album picture and that it is utterly unlikely that this was Speedy West's personal guitar.

They've sent me a short "thank you for your information" note and amended their auction's title. However, they chose to leave a sentence in the description which suggest that their guitar MIGHT be the one in the picture.

Anyways...


... J-D.

[J D Sauser]

The saga continues. After a couple of courteous e-mail exchanges with the owner's Sister, I now got this message:

Dear jean-d.,

My son advised me of a comment forum in which you have posted my messages to you and the responses. I noticed a comment about being a detective. Well, for your information, I have been a private investigator for a number of years and since moving to Florida I am registered with the state as Hanna Polygraph and Hanna Detection systems. I investigate all types of issues and not finding sufficient information on the Speedy West guitar I solicited input from what I hoped were experts and specifically contacted Larry Bell since he was in the area. Any comments against my character is taken very seriously. Leroys Sis

- hotsully3

To which I chose to respond as follows:

I am not sure how I am to interpret your last message, Mrs. Leroy's Sis.

But I may remind you that I have clearly demonstrated to you that the guitar shown in the picture of Speedy West YOU posted on your auction and the one you are offering, are NOT / CANNOT be the same.

Nevertheless, against my advice (and sure, you are not bound by my advice!) you still chose to leave one sentence on your auction description which SUGGESTS the guitar you sell MAY be the one on the picture:

"In pictures is the speedy west album with a steel guitar that may be the one I have for auction. Don't know for sure..."

This is obviously TWICE not correct:

1. I have demonstrated that the guitar on the album cover is a D-10 (two TEN string necks), while yours is a D12. Count the tuners!
2. Once you did have that information, you DID (DO) KNOW for SURE.


I have never brought up issues of character. I posted on the SG Forum (and I PROVIDED you with the link to that discussion), that I had had an e-mail exchange with you and that you had subsequently changed the auction's title, but also that apparently chosen to leave the sentence in which still suggests that the guitar you are selling MAY be the one on the picture (while I had demonstrated to you that it cannot).

Someone else congratulated me on my findings and posting of information and JOCKINGLY suggested I could have been a detective in my PREVIOUS life.

If you object to that, I suggest you direct your discontent to the person I was in my PREVIOUS LIFE. And since YOU now are the PI in you present life (I hope), and may thus be able to FIND out who that person WAS, I hope you will grant me the courtesy of letting me know of my findings. I am certainly looking forward to pay my previous me my respects and try to get at least part of my previous wealth (if there was any) BACK!

Sincerely... J-D. Sauser

... J-D.

[Kevin Hatton]

JD, were you Phillip Marlow? He was gooood.

[Larry Bell]

I investigate all types of issues and not finding sufficient information on the Speedy West guitar I solicited input from what I hoped were experts and specifically contacted Larry Bell since he was in the area.

Unless my memory fails me, nobody contacted me -- regardless of what 'Sis' said. I wonder how she contacted me or even knew how to reach me. I do play a lot of gigs in the Fort Myers / Fort Myers Beach / Sanibel / Captiva area and may have casually spoken with someone and not recalled the conversation but I have certainly never seen the guitar in question.

I just searched my EMail archives and found no matches. My first thought when I saw the picture was 'wow -- I didn't know there were any 12 string Marlen guitars'.

I am somewhat familiar with Marlen guitars -- I did know Len Stadler and have played and seen both pull-release and all-pull Marlen guitars -- but I'm certainly no expert and have never owned a Marlen.

I had another look at the Craigslist posting and the text seems to have changed somewhat since the last time I looked. I would have been happy to take a look at the guitar -- the post indicates Port Charlotte where I'm, coincidentally, playing tonight and every Thursday night. To my recollection, nobody has ever asked.

[Bill Howard]

If you need help heres the man for the Job Old fearless himself

[Larry Bell]

(sniff, sniff) Well, Ang, throughout the course of history you have your Lincolns, your Jeffersons, and you Fifes.

[Pete Burak]

Nip It In The Bud!

[Dave Simonis]

Maybe ole Hubcap Lesh is the seller?