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Topic: Gibson BR-9 |
Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2011 6:24 am |
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You see these on line all the time, and for not too much(for a Gibson). Are these any good? Do they just take a regular P90 pickup?
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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G Strout
From:
Carabelle, Florida
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Posted 28 Feb 2011 9:16 am
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Frank, the one I had for a short time had a P-90 in it with non adjustable poles. I think they changed to adjustable around 1950 or so. The BR 9 was a big seller for Gibson back then. I guess that is why there are so many around these days. They were, if I am not mistaken a fairly low priced budget guitar designed for the beginner.
I did not really like mine that much.... found it in a Pawn Shop in Albuquerque back around 98. Think I gave 50.00 for it back then.
Gary |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 28 Feb 2011 11:05 am
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You see a lot of these around because they were probably Gibson's most produced lap steel (something like 15,000 were made). They look cool, but the one I owned was severely hampered by the cover over the pickup. I ended up selling it and have never wanted another one.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 28 Feb 2011 12:35 pm
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| My very first "electric" was a BR 9 that I bought new, and sold while in Europe in the 50s. Had another one a few years back, and sold it for $125 The people on Ebay seem to want a lot of bucks for a student type guitar like the BR-9. |
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Ron Simpson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2011 3:48 pm
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| The pole spacing of a P90 for Gibson standard guitars is three eighths of an inch, and the pole spacing for the Gibson steel guitar version is seven sixteenths of an inch. |
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Russ Cudney
From:
Sonoma, California, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2011 10:11 pm
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I have a 49 and I like the tone. I agree that the pickup cover could have been done better. I tune mine to G and it works for me.
_________________
1958 D8 Stringmaster, 1958 T8 Stringmaster, 1955 Q8 Stringmaster (in basket), 1949 Gibson BR9, 1953 Silvertone, 1957 Harmony H4 (yeah the cool black pearloid one), 1947 National Princess, 1969 Shobud S10 3X1 |
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Mar 2011 3:18 pm
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A few years ago, there was a BR-9 on Ebait, and the seller listed it as "RARE". I asked him what was rare about it, since they built like 15 thousand of those. He didn't like my question, and was a bit hostile!! 
Kinda typical of lap steel sellers, and even worse these days.... |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 4 Mar 2011 2:22 am
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I believe that the BR-9's made before 1950 use the same wide oval pickup as the pre-1950 Century's and Ultratones although they only have the normal tone control (not the treble pass one). Owners of the older BR-9's are usually enthusiastic about the tone. So I think that they might be a less expensive alternate to their more exotic cousins.
I plan to get a pre-50's BR-9 sooner or later but I will remove the pickup cover/control plate and make up something that leaves the bridge free.
The 50's models with the P-90 are decent but not as valuable as the earlier ones. It seems like prices for all of the lap steels at eBay have been going up. We need to start a campaign saying that lap steels are crappy- only a fool would ever want to play one!!!- just to bring the prices down. 
Steve Ahola
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Robbie Bossert
From:
WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.
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Posted 6 Mar 2011 2:47 pm
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I love mine. Played it here in the clubs for many years. I just recently retired it because it has many autographs on it, including: John Hughey, Norm Hamlet, Buddy Emmons,Lloyd Mains, Junior Brown, Big Jim Murphy, even Dale Watson. Just wanna' hang it on the wall and admire it, Give old Bessey a well deserved rest. 
Robbie Bossert |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 7 Mar 2011 12:11 pm
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| I noticed 4 BR-9s on ebay today (Monday) One has the matching amp with it. |
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