Sonny Burnette and his Bigsby

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 25 Dec 2019 7:53 am

I saw Webb Pierce in the mid 1950's in the Minneapolis, MN area--As I remember, Sonny Burnette was the only musician with Webb--local musicians did back up for Webb. The thing I remember is that Sonny retuned his Bigsby while Webb told that Sonny was experimenting with some new sounds; then he sang Slowly and More and More and Sonny did the rest. I've read on the Forum that this Bigsby was made for Johnny Sibert and Webb bought it for Sonny to get the Bud Issacs sound; one place I read said it had no pedals and another place said that it had pedals--does anyone know the true story about this Bigsby and what was Sonny tuning to.

I'm just wondering since the early History of the pedal steel is fascinating.

Bob Jennings

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 26 Dec 2019 10:40 am

deleted (meaningless due to change of context)

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Dec 2019 11:11 am

I'm sure it must have had pedals.
That was the sound that made Webb popular, it sure wasn't his voice.

Erv

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 26 Dec 2019 11:37 am

The Bigsby did indeed have pedals. The Bigsby was later modified by Shot Jackson and sold to Lloyd Green.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 26 Dec 2019 11:52 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:it sure wasn't his voice

Often thought it, feel better now Erv's said it

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Dec 2019 2:03 pm

Ian,
Thanks for reinforcing my opinion.

Erv

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 26 Dec 2019 3:20 pm

Gentlemen:

Thank you for the info.

Bob J.

Richard Ingley · Post by **Richard Ingley** » 26 Dec 2019 8:47 pm

I remember listening to the Louisiana Hayride as a kid and Webb would be on there every now and then and he almost always had a problem staying on tune.

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 26 Dec 2019 10:08 pm

I disagree, Erv. That's Hillbilly Music at it's BEST.

Bill

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 27 Dec 2019 5:10 am

Webb obviously wasn't the best singer of his time, but I dont think he was a terrible singer either. I mean he would've had to have been the biggest country singer of the 50s for a reason other than steel guitar.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 27 Dec 2019 7:15 am

Of course there's more to being a singer than just the singing.
He may well have had appeal over and above what we hear now just from the records.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Dec 2019 8:52 am

Just because you're popular doesn't make you a good singer.

Erv

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 15 Oct 2020 9:34 pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=you ... vgYzjAtn6I

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Oct 2020 7:17 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:I'm sure it must have had pedals.
That was the sound that made Webb popular, it sure wasn't his voice.
Erv

Erv, how 'bout a little respect. Webb had thirteen #1 records, another fifty in the Top 20, and a career that spanned over 30 years.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Oct 2020 7:28 am

I don't care for Bob Dylan, either.
See how you want to handle that.

Erv

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 17 Oct 2020 9:14 pm

What Bill F. said. Italics, boldfaced, underlined, 48-pt. and excessive exclamation marks.

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 18 Oct 2020 1:59 am

Thanks, Ben. The great Hillbilly voices that brought the steel guitar to its peak, yet many don't appreciate them. Hard to understand. Same with the 5 string banjo. The great Bill Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs. The best Bluegrass, ever. Yet, the 5-string gets bad-mouthed here, too. And the Dobro. There is just one (1) great Dobro player, and that is Uncle Josh Graves. Many rave about a current player, but he isn't even close to Josh in Bluegrass quality. Wouldn't consider the current a Bluegrass player.

Don't you love opinions?

Bill

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 18 Oct 2020 11:57 am

Yes, Sonny Burnette!

The player that (according to Buddy Emmons) first split the A&B pedals.

Erv Niehaus wrote: I don't care for Bob Dylan, either.
See how you want to handle that. Whoa!
Erv

I handle it just fine, Erv. Kinda "apples and oranges", though. You see...Bob Dylan never had a #1 record.

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