Speedy West's 1948 Bigsby steel guitar has been found!!!
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Speedy West's 1948 Bigsby steel guitar has been found!!!
Friends--I'm reporting to the list from Nashville. I've known about this for some time, but can now reveal it publicly--believed lost, not seen since 1956, Speedy West's original 1948 Bigsby T-8 pedal steel guitar is now on display at the new "Bakersfield Sound" exhibit at the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
Here's the back story--the guitar is in very bad shape and appears to have been stored outside for some time. The front apron is long gone, the guitar has been poorly modified for pedal changers, and is missing the "Custom Made for..." plaque.
It was given to the Buck Owens people in Bakersfield with a story that it was Speedy West's guitar. Because this early example doesn't have the Bigsby logo and was missing the "Custom Made for..." plaque, the Buck Owens organization didn't really know what it was.
When the curators of the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville borrowed multiple items from the Buck Owens people for their "Bakersfield Sound" exhbiit, they sent the steel guitar to Nashville for examination.
The curators at the CMHoF determined it was a Bigsby, and the serial number (2748--Feb. 7, 1948) seemed to gibe with Speedy West's interview statement where he remembered getting the guitar on Feb. 8, 1948.
When i was at the CMHoF in January, in town to tape to Marty Stuart show, I saw the instrument in the back offices of the Hall of Fame. Of course, i was as excited as anybody that Speedy West's guitar might have finally turned up after all these years.
I asked the curators if they had matched the birdseye maple grain on the guitar to pictures of Speedy's steel. They replied they hadn't thought of that. Ten minutes later, a good quality picture of Speedy West with his guitar was brought into the office, and we conclusively matched the birdseye maple pattern (as well as a piece of discolored wood grain) to the guitar in front of us. Speedy West's long-lost Bigsby T-8 had been found!
The guitar has been basically left in "as-is" condition for the duration of the "Bakersfield Sound" exhibit at the Hall of Fame. The exhibit runs for another two years, so I urge you all to go check it out in person! You won't be sorry, it's an incredible exhibit with lots of guitars, steel guitars, suits, boots, and photos.
If I were an old-school carnival barker, I'd paint up a giant sign that read:
"SEE! SPEEDY WEST'S HISTORIC 1948 BIGSBY STEEL GUITAR! BELIEVED LOST OR DESTROYED! SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES FOR THE LOW PRICE OF ADMISSION!"
Seriously, it's worth checking out! Enjoy the pictures! They're as good as I could get given the lighting and situation.
Here's the back story--the guitar is in very bad shape and appears to have been stored outside for some time. The front apron is long gone, the guitar has been poorly modified for pedal changers, and is missing the "Custom Made for..." plaque.
It was given to the Buck Owens people in Bakersfield with a story that it was Speedy West's guitar. Because this early example doesn't have the Bigsby logo and was missing the "Custom Made for..." plaque, the Buck Owens organization didn't really know what it was.
When the curators of the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville borrowed multiple items from the Buck Owens people for their "Bakersfield Sound" exhbiit, they sent the steel guitar to Nashville for examination.
The curators at the CMHoF determined it was a Bigsby, and the serial number (2748--Feb. 7, 1948) seemed to gibe with Speedy West's interview statement where he remembered getting the guitar on Feb. 8, 1948.
When i was at the CMHoF in January, in town to tape to Marty Stuart show, I saw the instrument in the back offices of the Hall of Fame. Of course, i was as excited as anybody that Speedy West's guitar might have finally turned up after all these years.
I asked the curators if they had matched the birdseye maple grain on the guitar to pictures of Speedy's steel. They replied they hadn't thought of that. Ten minutes later, a good quality picture of Speedy West with his guitar was brought into the office, and we conclusively matched the birdseye maple pattern (as well as a piece of discolored wood grain) to the guitar in front of us. Speedy West's long-lost Bigsby T-8 had been found!
The guitar has been basically left in "as-is" condition for the duration of the "Bakersfield Sound" exhibit at the Hall of Fame. The exhibit runs for another two years, so I urge you all to go check it out in person! You won't be sorry, it's an incredible exhibit with lots of guitars, steel guitars, suits, boots, and photos.
If I were an old-school carnival barker, I'd paint up a giant sign that read:
"SEE! SPEEDY WEST'S HISTORIC 1948 BIGSBY STEEL GUITAR! BELIEVED LOST OR DESTROYED! SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES FOR THE LOW PRICE OF ADMISSION!"
Seriously, it's worth checking out! Enjoy the pictures! They're as good as I could get given the lighting and situation.
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Yes!! Deke, I agree with Jussi... just not so many times.
Okay, Bud Isaacs' guitar has been found, Murph's guitar has been found, but where is Buddie's guitar?
That would complete the Trinity, IMHO.
Okay, Bud Isaacs' guitar has been found, Murph's guitar has been found, but where is Buddie's guitar?
That would complete the Trinity, IMHO.
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
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- Brad Bechtel
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Now what happens to it after it leaves the exhibition? Will someone restore it to its former glory?
Thanks for sharing this information, Deke.
Thanks for sharing this information, Deke.
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Speedy and I was friends from the time he arrived in So. Calif. from Missouri. When he first showed me his new Bigsby, as I recall, the mechanism for pulling the strings was located behind the Nuts of the necks and and pulled the strings prior to when they went on the tuhning pegs. I wonder if Bigsby later modified this set up ?
Here is a picture of the Double Neck homemade Steel
he played prior to the Bigsby. I had just left this Band to join the Ole Rasmussen Band and Speedy had taken my place as one of his first jobs in Calif.
Here is a picture of the Double Neck homemade Steel
he played prior to the Bigsby. I had just left this Band to join the Ole Rasmussen Band and Speedy had taken my place as one of his first jobs in Calif.
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Wow, Billy! I recognize Junior Nichols back there! I did some fun jobs with Junior back around 1970-72, including a fun gig with Tex Williams in Pismo Beach CA. Jr. had some Hank Thompson stories to tell, for sure.
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
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Speedy would be pleased to know that his Bigsby has finally surfaced. He talked to me many times about wishing to find it again. As I recall, he told me he had sold it to a lady in Phoenix for her husband who was in the navy. She made a down payment, and he never got the rest of the money....
Billy Easton
Billy Easton
Billy & Meriul Easton
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Nashville, TN
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- Tony Glassman
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Todd Clinesmith would be the best bet to refinish it.....if he has the time. He's reissuing the Bigsby guitars under his own logo since he bought the rights and original mfg equipment a while back. He is a true craftsman.
I don't know how many forumites would contribute, but if 100-200 of us chipped in $20 apiece, it might be worth Todd's while.
I don't know how many forumites would contribute, but if 100-200 of us chipped in $20 apiece, it might be worth Todd's while.
- Ray Montee
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Just an olde timers opinion.........................
My 1956, four neck, six pedal BIGSBY after all these years and hundreds of gigs......is still an extremely pretty musical instrument.
I must say however, that 'the finishes' I've seen on Todd's beautiful Clinesmith guitars is even more exciting and wonderful to behold than any other.
I can't see how you could possibly go wrong, choosing Todd for any refinishing needs.
So happy that this 'special guitar' has been found.
I must say however, that 'the finishes' I've seen on Todd's beautiful Clinesmith guitars is even more exciting and wonderful to behold than any other.
I can't see how you could possibly go wrong, choosing Todd for any refinishing needs.
So happy that this 'special guitar' has been found.
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Re: Speedy West's 1948 Bigsby steel guitar has been found!!!
Amazing stuff! Question: Do we know how it got to Buck's people?
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Happy to see that Speedy's axe finally surfaced!
I agree that Todd should do the restoration, should it ever come to pass.
About Buddy's Bigsby T-8; the story I heard was that Buddy was playing a show in Canada and a woman came up to him after the show and told him that she had his old Bigsby. He asked her what color it was and she said it was white. Apparently that confirmed it for him. The reason it was/is white is that E bleached the wood for whatever reason.
I agree that Todd should do the restoration, should it ever come to pass.
About Buddy's Bigsby T-8; the story I heard was that Buddy was playing a show in Canada and a woman came up to him after the show and told him that she had his old Bigsby. He asked her what color it was and she said it was white. Apparently that confirmed it for him. The reason it was/is white is that E bleached the wood for whatever reason.
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Fond Memory
I saw Speedy playing this guitar at the
ElMonte Legion,in 1952!
ElMonte Legion,in 1952!
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