Anyone ever had or used a Bigsby Palm Pedal............

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 4 Aug 2011 9:24 am

I've been really into B-Benders (or B&G benders) for a long time now and really love 'em. A few years ago I decided to look for some on the internet as they haven't made them for a very long time. So far I've came up with five units including one gold trapeze type. I have 'em installed on an Epiphone Les Paul, a Gibson SG, an old Gibson Les Paul, an Epiphone Sheraton II and an Epiphone Casino.

Has anyone ever used one of these devices. They're my favorite in the world of guitar string benders. Here's some shot(s) of my "herd".....JH in Va.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 4 Aug 2011 12:55 pm

In the early 80s I had a very nice brand-new SG with factory-installed Palm Pedals on layaway, but I let it go when I took up PSG. As I recall it had mini-humbuckers. That's one that I still kick myself for.

When I let it go, the sales guy said to a colleague who said "I didn't know we had anything like that," "Yeah, we'll get rid of those things and put a regular Bigsby on there." Bah! $:\$

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 4 Aug 2011 6:41 pm

Shades of Al Bruno!!

Doyle Weigold · Post by **Doyle Weigold** » 4 Aug 2011 6:43 pm

I worked a show a long time ago with a guy by the name of Glen Barber. He had palm pedals. I had to have them on a tele. He had hinges in the middle so he could flip them up out of the way. I worked with them for quite a while and finally gave up. Glen is a super picker, and used them very effectivley. DW

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 5 Aug 2011 10:29 am

As Skip Edwards said "shades of Al Bruno". He was Conway Twitty's guitar player during the early years and who recorded with Merle Haggard, has one on his Gibson 355, here:

http://www.brunobearmusic.com/al-bruno- ... /dsc01318/

Geo

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 6 Aug 2011 7:47 am

Jerry, those benders look fantastic! I have played guitar for years but mostly rock oriented and only with a tremelo bar. Now that I have discovered pedal steel guitar and country music, I have been looking at b bender guitars more than twice. I was hoping to add a Tele with their bender to my arsenal soon, or at least a hipshot as a cheap alternative to an existing guitar, but a Gibson with Bigsby Palm Pedals looks like a dream!

Clete

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 6 Aug 2011 11:17 am

I've never seen a Palm Pedal except in photos,so I've never played one,but it seems to me if you can find one on a B5 platform it'd probably fit a Telecaster.You'd think with all the B-bender buzz that's been going on the Bigsby folks would put the Palm Pedal back in production.
Jerry,how "stiff" are your B5 style Palm Pedals compared to a regular B5?

Doyle Weigold · Post by **Doyle Weigold** » 6 Aug 2011 2:50 pm

I'll make you a good deal on a used palm pedal e-mail me at guitarmandoyle@yahoo.com

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 6 Aug 2011 7:07 pm

Hey Doyle, I couldn't get your email to work so I sent you a PM.........JH

Skip, here's a shot or two of Al Bruno the palm pedal man....

Dave H....The Palm Pedals aren't stiff at all as each lever only pulls one string. It's actually easier than doing a finger bend.....JH in Va.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 7 Aug 2011 1:22 pm

Yep, that's Al doing his thing. Thanks, Jerry.
I saw him last year at Archie's funeral, and he told me he can't really play much anymore due to his shoulder problems. Really pained me to hear that...Al plays like nobody else.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 9 Aug 2011 5:03 am

Hey Skip, yes it's bad that Al has his problem but he's still got the famous Bruno great attitude on life and living. He's really a special person and friend. That middle picture on my previous post was taken in November of '05 when Al and Sue Ellen came to Virginia and stayed with Kay and I for a few days. He wanted to know if there were any places we could go to pick so I took him to Surrey, Va. to a Saturday night jam held in a converted barn on the second floor which used to be the hay loft.

I took my steel guitar and mandolin and an amp for Al to use and we set up right in front. There were five or six other lead guitarists also set up as it's an "open" jam. When it started, everyone would take a ride on every song. As the set progressed one guitar player put his guitar down and went and sat right in front of the bandstand. Within in an hour all of 'em except Tommy Griggs (dark haired player next to Al) had left the bandstand and were out front watching Al. I guess they'd never seen a player like him before. Every time he took a solo they brought the roof down with applause. I was glad I'd brought him to a place where his talent was appreciated. Here's a shot of Al with Kris Kristofferson, Carl Perkins and Willie Nelson....JH in Va.