Lee Jeffreiss photo

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 14 May 2012 1:59 pm

Cribbed from a Facebook post today. Great pic of Lee. But seriously, couldn't this stand in for say, 1953?

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 14 May 2012 4:54 pm

Great photo!

Great old triple neck BIGSBY.......with WHEELS!!!
I wonder if it too, had an ash tray?

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 14 May 2012 7:55 pm

Yes it does look like the 50's era. Lee even resembles Speedy a bit...

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 14 May 2012 9:35 pm

Notice the turned up cuffs on the Levis. This could go back into the 40's when I was in High School. Some of the guys look like they were wearing what we called "Tennis Shoes" with a brand name of "Keds".

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 15 May 2012 5:31 am

Billy Tonnesen wrote:Notice the turned up cuffs on the Levis. This could go back into the 40's when I was in High School. Some of the guys look like they were wearing what we called "Tennis Shoes" with a brand name of "Keds".

The B&W photo effect does take you back.... that guy playing the nearest Mosrite (check it!) has on Chuck Taylors... the only available alternative to Keds or (my own choice) PF Flyers.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 15 May 2012 5:34 am

l to r: Lee Jeffriess, Dave Stuckey, unknown bassist, Deke Dickerson.

Is that a washtub bass behind Lee?

For anyone who wants to read about Lee and his Bigsby:

Conversation with Lee Jeffriess

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 15 May 2012 8:16 am

not enough people smoking to be 1953 - but yeah, that is spooky cool.
i like the washtub as amp stand

Jon A. Ross · Post by **Jon A. Ross** » 15 May 2012 10:08 am

Jerome Hawkes wrote:not enough people smoking to be 1953 -

That's a dead giveaway, f'sure! Been watching Madmen lately so I'm all over the "smoking as a period indicator" thing. Everyone's got the right hair/clothing styles!

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 15 May 2012 11:42 am

Thanks Andy....that is pretty cool

Doug Freeman · Post by **Doug Freeman** » 16 May 2012 9:26 pm

That pic's probably about 1993 as it is, so it's already close to 30 years old. Ouch!

Charlie Vegas · Post by **Charlie Vegas** » 17 May 2012 11:26 am

Doug Freeman wrote:That pic's probably about 1993 as it is, so it's already close to 30 years old. Ouch!

errr...1993?...thats only 19 years...still old though

Steve Waltz · Post by **Steve Waltz** » 17 May 2012 12:16 pm

Here's a new video of Lee in Southern Ca. from October.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... =2AQEjL1LP

www.westcoastramblers.com

Doug Freeman · Post by **Doug Freeman** » 17 May 2012 12:41 pm

Charlie Vegas wrote:errr...1993?...thats only 19 years...still old though

Gulp. I need arithmecheck on my computer.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 17 May 2012 1:40 pm

The bass player is Lloyd Martin

Lee even resembles Speedy a bit

I always thought he looked like Wynn Stewart.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 17 May 2012 1:43 pm

That pic's probably about 1993 as it is, so it's already close to 30 years old.

Hey Doug....about the 3 R's ....

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 18 May 2012 4:28 am

Steve,

Yeah, that's the Lee we all love...but YOU are damn good too!! What a band!!!!!!!

Thank you for sharing....please tour the Midwest.

Geoff Cline · Post by **Geoff Cline** » 20 May 2012 10:22 am

DF--Arithmatick; Arithmatock...(or is that Arithmitalk?)

I'm thinking that Deke's sneakers (er, kicks) may be the much loved Jack Purcells (by Converse)...which were the "air Jordans" of their day AND are still one of the coolest shoes around.

But nothing is cooler than a Bigsby steel.

Steve Waltz · Post by **Steve Waltz** » 21 May 2012 3:14 pm

Thanks Rick.

Steve

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 22 May 2012 5:22 pm

What was with the big rivets on the front panel?

Was THAT, really a BIGSBY?

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 22 May 2012 11:12 pm

Ray, that's a very early Sierra/Wright Custom.

Tom Franke · Post by **Tom Franke** » 23 May 2012 5:23 am

Jerome Hawkes wrote:not enough people smoking to be 1953 - but yeah, that is spooky cool.

Or, at least a pack rolled up in their T-shirt sleeves.

Another thing--notice the guys sitting on the step with the two women in long dresses standing like they just took a break from kitchen duty to catch the band, maybe hearing a favorite song before going back in.

That pic has a lot of great period feel to it.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 23 May 2012 9:37 am

Boy, this post has legs!

The two non-50s period giveaways to me are the microphone and the T-shirt with writing on it. T-shirts were plain white until approximately the early-mid 60s.

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 23 May 2012 10:51 am

Geoff, +1 on the joys of Purcells. As a Canuck it's practically a duty to wear them (though I also love Chucks).

Andy - yeah, a better mic might be the Shure 55SH: http://www.shure.com/americas/products/ ... microphone.

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 23 May 2012 10:21 pm

@Ray, yes it did have an ash tray and it was the best sounding ash tray you ever heard.
There's probably no way to verify it, but I think the guitar was # 12 (10/31/50) Halloween 50.
It was commissioned by Hank Thompson he got it for Lefty Nason, who apparently wasn't that into it.
Nason took a Fender endorsement and returned the guitar to Hank.
In 51 Dusty Stewart joined the Brazos Valley Boys and Hank offered him the guitar, Dusty told me that he jumped at it, but didn't have that kind of money.
Hank allowed him to pay it off slowly so he could get by and while out on the West coast he had Paul Bigsby inlay a name plaque over Lefty's name.
Ray I think that's when you met Dusty on that tour ?
Lee

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 2 Jun 2012 7:42 am

While watching the WC Ramblers videos I see what looks to be a 1" black bar that Lee is using. I have an old E.R. Watson bakelite bar I've been using...only to discover it won't take the abuse...chipping and whatnot. So, I'm thinking about something that acts like a bakelite bar and has the slightly muted high end, but with sizzle.

What ya using there Lee? If you don't mind sayin'

The Steel Guitar Forum

Lee Jeffreiss photo

Lee Jeffreiss photo

How 'bout that!

Was that REALLY a Bigsby?

Bigsby