1954 Bigsby T-8_This guitar has sold, please close

[chas smith]

This is the Bigsby T-8, Serial # 21154, with 6 pedals that was originally made for Norm Hamlet. Norm bought the guitar in 1954 and had 3 pedals added in 1958. In 1963 he sold the guitar to Rudy Farmer, a steel guitar player, who was known to cut up Bigsbys into single neck guitars for Ethel Starr’s students.

In 1957, Rudy Farmer bought Pee Wee Whitewing’s Bigsby and sent it back to Paul Bigsby to have Pee Wee’s name removed and 5 pedals added. Which leads me to believe that Rudy wasn’t skilled at removing names and adding pedals and pedal mechanisms. Although I’m not familiar with the mechanisms of the Bigsby guitars from 1963 and 64, the changer and parts in the pedal mechanisms on Norm’s guitar, all seem to have the “Bigsby” consistency and the pedal bar, for the 6 pedals, is Bigsby. This guitar is at Steel Guitars of North Country: http://www.steelguitars.me

I have lowered the price of this guitar to $15,000.

Please contact Jim Palenscar:
Email SteelGuitars@cox.net
<mailto>
Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Ave. Suite D
Oceanside, California 92058
760-754-2120
Hours: Tues-Sat 10AM-5PM

[Art Beard]

That is beautiful instrument. how does it sound.

[Jerry Hayes]

What's the price or is it going to be a "bidding war"?...........JH in Va.

[Jon Zimmerman]

Was always curious to know if Leo Fender ever got hold of (borrowed?) one like this to examine the operation. Then let his "punch-press" creative juices loose..in preference to PB's carefully crafted process, of working castings, extrusions, solid exotic maple?

[Rick Abbott]

What's the price or is it going to be a "bidding war"?...........JH in Va.

The guitar is at Steel Guitars of North County. The link is in the first post. The price is listed there.

[Former Member]

?
Ok, I took the time to see,
It's listed at 20 thousand dollars.

[Dwight Cook]

those pedals were made and installed by junior blankenship in amarillo tx.

[Andy DePaule]

What's the price or is it going to be a "bidding war"?...........JH in Va.

I'd bet it's that old saying "If you have to ask, you can't afford it!"

Wish I had the $$$, but maybe not in this lifetime.
I'll just have to wait until next spring when Todd finishes my T-8 console.

[Russell Davis]

Bump for a beautiful guitar. Someone's going to get a great guitar.

[chas smith]

I've had some questions as to, did I do the undercarriage on Norm's guitar? I also saw Dwight's post about Junior Blankenship making and installing the pedals.

The pedals and pedal bar look like the other pedals and pedal bars that I've seen on Bigsby guitars. For example, Norm's guitar and Maurice Andersons's T-8:



I don't know for sure who did the undercarriage on Norm's guitar. It wasn't me. This was the undercarriage that I did on Maurice Anderson's S-10 that I got as a very damaged basket case. The changer, a birdcage, had been modified with bent over nails and the fingers had been cut in half. I welded the Bigsby finger tops to the Bud birdcage bottoms and added a few knees.:

[Andy DePaule]

Hi Chas,
Thank for the PM.
Looks to me like you did a great job on this bringing it back to life.
I've never had the chance to actually play any real Bigsby, all original or not so can't comment on them in that way.

Your right that Todds workmanship is top notch.
I'm retired from being a luthier, though now planning to set up shop again and making a few just for the fun of it. Planning on doing some lap steels and more electric fiddles as well as a couple of copies of Bigsby standard guitars, 6 string and a 4 string short scale bass.
As a luthier since 1969 I can attest to the fine quality of Todd's work which you seem to know quite well.
Best wishes,
Andy

[Dwight Cook]

sorry folks i said that junior installed the pedals,he built the mold from a sample that paul sent him and cast the pedals,my post about (installed)was wrong.

[Gary Walker]

Norm's Bigsby is the first pedal steel I ever sat down and it was in 1961. Norm and Gene Breeden had a recording studio in Visalia, CA at 1818 S Garden. Gene was manager at White's Music in Visalia. Norm was working weekends with the Farmer Boys in the Palmdale area and giving lessons to a very young Barbara Mandrell. We did a pre recorded program for a local station in Tulare. I have often wondered what ever became of this guitar as Norm started playing a Wright Custom when he sold this.

[Jon Zimmerman]

Yes..history and the mods made on these fascinating relic survivors is a tale not often told, and memories of who did what with whom? Tough to recall. Not all is archived like a Bible is..but thanks all the same Dwight. Gary, and all who were around back then. The greatest things on four legs to come along since Hope n Crosby to our eyes AND ears. No apology necessary.

[chas smith]

Dwight, did Junior cast pedals for Paul Bigsby? Because Bigsby did the casting for the Crocker motorcycle.

[Dwight Cook]

when junior finished the mold,paul came here and they cast several pedals , i don't know how many.
after that paul did the casting,after junior passed away i gave the pattern's to larry agan(star steel)when larry passed away the pattern's, i have no idea .
albert talley may know , so thats my story from junior.

[chas smith]

Dwight_thank you for the history -- cheers

[chas smith]

The price has been lowered, bump.

[Todd Clinesmith]

Nice looking guitar Chas. At that price I would think it would sell pretty fast.

Not to steer the topic away, but there is no way Junior Blankenship made the mold for Paul Bigsby's pedals. With all due respect, I think Dwight has the characters in the story mixed up a bit.
The story I heard was Junior saw a Bigsby come through town and tried building similar steels. The castings on a Bigsby and a Blankenship are far from equal. The internet has a way of changing history and I can't let this one go by...

[Andy DePaule]

Happy 64th Birthday to a sweet old Bigsby.
Hope someone buys this before I blow my retirement funds!

[Art Beard]

MM-more space and MONEY is what I need. 5th wheels are not meant 4 soon to be 5 pedal steels & other guitars and equipment. CAA

[Bill Fisher]

Take a look at the black and white photo of Norm that is shown above the "for sale" Bigsby guitar. Look at the "Norman Hamlett" name shown on the original. It doesn't seem that the name "Norman" was ever removed from the "for sale" guitar. Perhaps a different guitar?

Bill

[chas smith]

Bill, the serial number is Norm's guitar and the wood grain on the top plate seems to match. I don't know what that discoloration is. I bought the guitar from Herby Wallace.

[Chance Wilson]

I'm with Todd-there's nothing Blankenship there. I can also say the cross shafts were not added by the other likely California candidates: Chuck Wright, John Frye, Rudy etc. I don't recognize them. Isn't this the one Seymour used in his videos? -Maybe ask Cass or someone in Tn.

[Abe Levy]

The cross shafts look VERY similar to the ones on the Blankenship double Todd C was selling a couple months back...