Tips for the Speedy West Jimmy Bryant Tone Knob Hammer On(?)

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 24 Dec 2019 4:09 pm

This is something I first saw done in Buddy Merrillâ€™s performance of â€œSouthâ€ on the variety show, but now I see where he got it fromâ€¦ give â€œRailroadinâ€™â€ by Speedy West a listen and he does it early on. My god he does it fast. I donâ€™t know how to play that fast how does he not have carpal tunnel? Why did I just hear of him today who knowsâ€¦ had to tell my dad who he was and he opened for Hankâ€¦ Iâ€™ve heard about the history of country my whole life but he missed out on Speedy West. Practice practice practice?

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 24 Dec 2019 4:19 pm

Very cool...
I remember hearing somewhere that Speedy West replaced the tone pot on his gtr with a doorbell switch... for those really fast tone shutters he did.

Don Ricketson · Post by **Don Ricketson** » 24 Dec 2019 7:37 pm

Regan I think he DID develop carpal tunnel. I met him in about '87 in St Louis and he couldn't play anymore. His hand was in a cast.

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 25 Dec 2019 6:29 am

Hahahaha you get what u pay for. And get payed for what you get... I guess.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 25 Dec 2019 6:53 am

Skip Edwards wrote:I remember hearing somewhere that Speedy West replaced the tone pot on his gtr with a doorbell switch... for those really fast tone shutters he did.

Many of the postwar Gibson consoles and pedal steels had a stutter button (in addition to the booh-wah button) that were basically doorbell switches.

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 25 Dec 2019 7:53 am

Demonstration of Speedys stutter switch on Speedys Bigsby..

https://youtu.be/PjvEo5b8dXo

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 25 Dec 2019 10:19 am

Man.... anybody know a way I can install this kind of thing on my non pedal steel?

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 25 Dec 2019 10:24 am

The typical stutter box plugs into the guitar's output jack. Cable plugs into the stutter box.

Works on any guitar.

h

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 25 Dec 2019 12:17 pm

I donâ€™t think weâ€™re on the same page. I donâ€™t think speedy west used a stutter, it appears he just slams the bar down while turning the tone knob at the same time...

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 25 Dec 2019 2:57 pm

Speedy said he held his bar arm clenched tight and kind of shook at the hand. Herby Wallace took lessons from Speedy and said something similar. I never got to see him play at St. Louis because he had his hand in a special glove by the time I was attending the shows.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 25 Dec 2019 3:05 pm

Speedy could..

I can't, hence the stutter box.

Rather that then hurt myself.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 25 Dec 2019 4:43 pm

I think this is from the Stratosphere Boogie liner notes:

In 1981 Speedy West had a debilitating stroke. At first he was partially paralyzed, but brain surgery helped him regain use of his arms and legs. But it couldnâ€™t help him play steel guitar. The stroke also left him with the feeling of extreme cold on the right half of his body. He still wears long underwear, even in the summer, and a brown glove on his right hand.

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 25 Dec 2019 5:08 pm

Damn, that sucks, I donâ€™t wanna get old :c

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 25 Dec 2019 6:04 pm

That stroke may have stopped Speedy from playing but it didn't stop his love and support for the steel guitar.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 26 Dec 2019 10:15 am

Fredrick Herb wrote:Demonstration of Speedys stutter switch on Speedys Bigsby..

https://youtu.be/PjvEo5b8dXo

Slightly off topic, excuse please, but what tuning is Wakefield using on Speedy's Bigsby here?

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 26 Dec 2019 9:56 pm

As simple as it gets.

I bought a "stutter" box (also called a "kill switch:) off Reverb for maybe $20. I'm sure you could put one together for $5.

Guitar ----> Box----->Amp. I velcro mine to the bottom of the guitar, where the finish was already funky.

https://www.facebook.com/jimfog/videos/ ... 605411300/

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Dec 2019 6:20 pm

The "stutter switch" was standard on the later Multi-Chord guitars. I guess they got the idea to make it easier for steelers to make a similar effect (like Speedy's bar slams). All the switch does is short out the pickup; it's not exactly the same sound as doing the bar slams, and it also doesn't affect the tone. But...it's close enough for those who can't master the technique.

Regan Branch · Post by **Regan Branch** » 28 Dec 2019 6:21 am

I ordered a custom black delrin 6.5 oz tone bar. I noticed speedy uses black bars. They're light. Maybe that will help me. I don't wanna fake it.

https://youtu.be/OHbbcyIJc5g

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 28 Dec 2019 2:27 pm

In regards to the tunings this should tell it all.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 29 Dec 2019 3:59 pm

Thanks Fredrick.