Found: Curly's Fender 1000

bob grossman · Post by **bob grossman** » 31 Aug 2006 4:31 pm

I was in Las Vegas in the mid 1960's when Curly ws playing at the Lariat Club. He was mainly singing and playing trumpet, but had a Fender 2000 set up and also owned a D10 ZB - one of the earliest ones. At the time, he considered the ZB the best of the custom built steels. I tried to not be a spook and he was very nice to me, even apologizing that he could not sit and talk during one of the intermissions (he did on two of them). He did play a few tunes for my benifit. I stayed until closing and couldn't get a taxi back to the motel, so I walked about two miles. Incidentally bob Hines (Sp?) was playing steel for Curly, also on a Fender 2000 (must have taken guts to play for Curly). I think Curly's brother Jim was the lead guitar player...not certain.
Sometime later, at one of the clambakes that Tom Bradshaw arranged in Dallas, Curly was playing a Sho-Bud crossover with seven on the floor. Some genius came and asked him to play "something like Emmons" and was put down big time in front of all listening...as he deserved.

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 31 Aug 2006 8:07 pm

Bob,I have some live recordings of the gig your talking about,Russ weaver gave them to me about seven years ago, not long after that I found Bob Hines he is in the Denver area.
He was very nice to talk to and, had a very sharp memory,of course I asked him how he felt about playing steel for Curly and, he said that Curly was very encouraging and, made him feel comfortable.
Bob said if I remember correctly, that Thumbs and,Curly showed up with no instruments and Bob scrounged up a Tele and when Curly wasnt singing he played Bobs 2000, theres a tenor playing on the recording and it isnt Art Pepper, I asked Bob who the lousy sax player was and there was a silent pause and he said that would have been me, talk about fox paw I said i beg your pardon, he laughed and, said yeah i was pretty rough.
I cant remember who the drummer was, but Jim Chalker is on bass, who incidently both Bob and Speedy West told me could play great steel in the Jerry Bryd Style, Thumbs and a jazz guitar player called George Morgan?.
Bob where you there with Gary Walker? I seem to remember Gary post about this band and I know you guys were playing Wright Custom/ Sierra in the mid 60s,did you know each other?.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 2 Sep 2006 6:56 pm

Lee, about the Fender 1000 pictures, We are closed 'til Tuesday, so it may be Wednesday before I can get Larry to post them.
Some one needs this incredible historical artifact.

Bobbe

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 2 Sep 2006 8:41 pm

Bobbe, if you loan me the money,I promise I will buy it.
Paying you back?, well maybe its a bad idea, I dont want the Nashville mafia paying me a visit, I have heard they do terrible things with a 14 string bar.
Joking aside Bobbe, like I said before, I bet theres a few folks who would love to see that horn.
I was just listening to Curly on a live recording from 64 with an outfit called the Ranch Hands, his version of Laura, it sounds like George Shearing and, on Kentucky he is Travis pickin, anyway im off to slam my hands in the car door.
Lee

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 3 Sep 2006 4:12 am

Bobbe
If it helps those who are interested in the guitar and want to see it with Curly at the helm, they can see it at http://www.westernswingjournal.com/images/Jubilee.jpg

They can enlarge the image.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 3 Sep 2006 4:44 am

I think the steel on the cover of BHOBS is an MSA. I always assumed that was what he was playing.

Now I'm even more amazed by the tone and musicianship he has shown on the Fender 1000.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 3 Sep 2006 7:53 am

Thanks Ken, Lee and Chip! Lee, you are hilarious,

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Sep 2006 11:26 am

I think the steel on the cover of BHOBS is an MSA.

Nope, it's a Sho~Bud "finger-tip" model, D10, 11+2.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 4 Sep 2006 8:31 am

Well, I stand corrected. I'm still more amazed, tho.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 4 Sep 2006 9:58 pm

In 1972 during the DJ Convention, Curly was interviewed. When asked about the Big Hits on Big Steel album, the interviewer asked if the project was done on the Sho-Bud as pictured on the album cover, he replied it was done on a Fender 2000. He praised Fender equipment as he had been an endorser for them since he had played on a Stringmaster in his early years. Being in the Fender Family, he was one of the first to get a 2000 when they came out in '64. He was able to walk into the Fender Factory and have his pick of two Bassman amps that were a sonically matched pair.
The 1000 that Bobbe has is the one that got everybody's attention, including mine, starting with the "Travis" album in '61. Then followed "Stirring Up The Ashes" and other with Hank Thompson and Roy Clark's sizzling instrumental album in '63. Other great recordings with Ferlin Huskey, Charlie Louvin and others make this steel a priceless piece of steel history, especially for the Chalker fan. Who knows, some of those shivering licks may still be lurking within. (probably password protected)

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 5 Sep 2006 5:32 am

Thank you Gary,

Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 5 Sep 2006 5:44 am

Ray M., yes, we found the antenna, the radio/CD player you gave us is working great! (and continuously).
Thank you, your visit was great, hope to see you again soon.

The Fender 1000 is still here and needing a new home,I still think its worth this much, just as a guitar disregarding its great history. Is this proof that "who owned a guitar" has nothing to do with its value?
Everyone talks about what ole' Lloyd's guitar must be worth, ole' Buddy's, or ole' so and so's, but this F-1000 has to have as much history as any, played and owned by possibly the greatest player of them all. Looks like who owned a certain guitar really makes no difference after all. HUH?

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 5 Sep 2006 3:49 pm

Smiley Roberts, shame on you! You know that steel cost more than that when Curly bought it!
We need to factor in a bit for inflation here,
to say nothing of the history!! Uncle Doug

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 5 Sep 2006 5:27 pm

I have a question, What would this guitar bring on E-BAY???

Inquiries from Nigeria?

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 5 Sep 2006 6:06 pm

I can't understand why this guitar is still for sale. If I wasn't just a poor musician I'd snap it up.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 6 Sep 2006 5:02 am

Gary Walker said:

In 1972 during the DJ Convention, Curly was interviewed. When asked about the Big Hits on Big Steel album, the interviewer asked if the project was done on the Sho-Bud as pictured on the album cover, he replied it was done on a Fender 2000.

So, is this the BHOBS steel guitar or not? Gary's statement conflicts with the rest of this post... including the part about this recording being done on 8 strings.

Respectfully,
David

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 6 Sep 2006 6:29 am

Curley told me himself once that he used a Fender 2000 on "Big Hits". The Travis album and the Hank Thompson stuff was a 1000.

Mike

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Sep 2006 9:47 pm

Sounds like curly, but he used the 1000 on everything, up to the Sho-Bud. Now he did admit experementing with the 2000 but rejected it because of weight, size and he stated that he just plain couldn't play it anywhere near as well as the 1000. I feel he had some plans to be a 2000 player, but the custom Sho-Bud came along before this could happen.
The perfect person to ask about this is Stu Basore, he and Curly were great friends in this era (Mid sixties) and Stu knew everything that was going on with Chalkers' guitars at this time.

Bobbe

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 8 Sep 2006 3:21 pm

Bobbe, Curly must of played a 2000, for at least a while, cause Tom Morrell had a custom colored 2000 (metalic green), that had been Curlys,it was lost in his house fire.
I was at Scottys one day and, Russ Weaver dug out a bunch of pics and, low and behold there was a pic of Curly on the bandstand playing a green 2000, judging by his clothes and, haircut it looked 66/68?.
Speaking of pictures you scamp, dont keep us in suspenders.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 8 Sep 2006 3:30 pm

WEll, it's still here Jim, A true value but I know what you mean. I have rejected some strange offers since I have been in charge of this sale,(from strange places where the guitar would never be heard from again,,,,,,,,,,,not Nigeria, but close Howard, Ha!)

Somone send me some bucks, quick, a good guitar!

Bobbe[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 08 September 2006 at 04:33 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 8 Sep 2006 3:34 pm

One more time, Curley Chalker recorded BIG HIT'S on a Fender 1000. Take that to the bank