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I am posting this for a friend I met when I was very young and wanted to learn to play Steel guitar….He is 92 and just placed in a home…His Sons, asked if I could get an idea what it might be worth, someone interested in it, or even if a Country Music Museum might be interested in it..He bought it brand new from Bigsby, receipt is included from 1958…I will post time pics and any input would be appreciated..I know you are all so helpful and knowledgeable..Thanks. Ed. He was so helpful and I went on to play professionally, recording and touring the world with Gord Lightfoot for 16 years..
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Hello Peewee,
Last I saw when available they seem to be offered for around $15,000.00 in decent condition.
That would seem to be about the usual asking price these days, but the actual getting price I have no idea because they are out of what I'd be spending and I wouldn't want to waste someones time bargaining for something I could or would not buy.
Has a lot to do with not just the condition, but also who owned it in the past. Those owned by a famous player usually seem to have more value. The kind of thing a serious collector would know better than me.
Hope that's a help?
Andy
Last edited by Andy DePaule on 6 Oct 2023 3:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
I hope this guitar goes to someone who will play it, not just sit in a museum. What a beautiful instrument. Wood necks are relatively rare from that late in Bigsby production, I think? The pedals are probably as they were when it was "re-built" in 1961. And it looks very very clean. And the original paperwork is included, which is very cool.
Copedent looks like C6 with 1st string G on the inside neck, Bud Isaacs E9 on middle and the outside neck has 3 pedals but I have no idea what the changes are?
This guitar looks well-loved and well taken care of.
This great conversation... but the comment will serve as a bump so there's still that -
Dear Peewee,
I want to thank you for all the wonderful steel guitar sounds you produced while playing with the LEGEND GORDON LIGHTFOOT. Some of my personal favourites are:
WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD
RAINY DAY PEOPLE
HI'WAY SONGS
BLACKBERRY WINE
...to name a few.
Once again - sorry to sidetrack. Someone please buy this guitar for a good price and help the old boy out!
This horn was not among previous listings of bigsby steels that were known to exist all bignby steel are rare but triple eights are most common the wood necks is what imho gives this horn added value
Impossible to make offer for this guitar without
details. Peewee is unresponsive to PM's asking for
more info.
I purchased a T8/10/8 from P.A. in 1956. Cost with add
ons for 10 string-neck,leg braces and 6 pedals was
$1000. This 1958 receipt (written by P.A.) does not
mention charge for wood necks.My guess is the 1958
guitar had aluminum necks and 4-5 pedals. The 1961
rebuild (possibly done by P.A.) changed to wooden
necks and added pedals.
I did some work on this steel a few years ago for the family. It is very nice. and sounds great. I made a new case for it,set it up, cleaned it up and repaired one of the platforms.
It did have the Isaacs tuning and a 6th tuning. I forget what the other neck was tuned to. Possibly an E9 variation.
I believe the wood necks to be original, and it went back in 61 to have more pedals added and the set up altered as Bill thought.
Once again it is a very nice sounding guitar, and in good condition. The owner knows the value of the steel. So if someone is looking for a Bigsby at fair market value from an original owner this would be a great example
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