Bigsby volume pedal

Jim Myers · Post by **Jim Myers** » 24 Oct 2000 9:07 pm

What a great forum I've found. A friend has a chance to buy a Bigsby volume pedal can anyone tell me what it might be worth. He hooked it up and it works. tia Jim

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Oct 2000 5:29 pm

Probably from $40-$100, depending on the condition. A really mint example might bring a little more. These things are so simple that it's the cosmetics that really matters!

jkard883 · Post by **jkard883** » 30 Oct 2000 7:02 pm

What about a volume/tone pedal. What are those generally going for?

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 2 Nov 2000 9:00 pm

I haven't seen a volume/tone pedal for years. If there are some makers out there, I have not heard of them. As far as I know, all Bigsby's were a combination pedal. I owned one and changing the pot was an EXPERIENCE! The pedal almost had to be dismantled to do it. That is a good question, though. Does anyone else know of a volume/tone combo pedal?

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 2 Nov 2000 9:24 pm

Fender, also made a volume/tone pedal.

Greg

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 2 Nov 2000 11:20 pm

Jim Bob, DeArmand also made a volume/tone pedal. There are no known vol/tone pedals being manufactured that I am aware of by todays builders.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 2 Nov 2000 11:29 pm

They will bring more than $100 if they are in good condition, try eBay and you'll be amazed !

Andy

Vern Kendrick · Post by **Vern Kendrick** » 3 Nov 2000 8:18 pm

I'm using a Bigsby pedal I bought from Paul Bigsby about '55 or'56 I was still learning to walk.I used it for about 15 yr's,completely wore it out,went thru 15 or 20 volume pots,when I got it the first thing I did was eliminate the tone control and lock the top plate,I've got 7 or 8 other pedals,Sho~bud's,Goodrich ect.,A couple of years ago I got a friend of mine to make some bushings for it,I buffed the aluminum,repainted the logo put in a new pot and Voila,a brand new Bigsby pedal,How Sweet It Is,[This message was edited by Vern Kendrick on 03 November 2000 at 08:20 PM.][This message was edited by Vern Kendrick on 09 November 2000 at 09:27 PM.]

Patrick Ickes · Post by **Patrick Ickes** » 3 Nov 2000 8:27 pm

On e-bay, you will be amazed at how much soiled diapers go for!!!!

Pat

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 3 Nov 2000 11:53 pm

you're so right...watch them Mavericks go up and up

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Nov 2000 9:45 am

Two years ago I bought a brand new Bigsby volume/tone pedal from the Bigsby company for $160 retail. That was when Ted McCarty still owned the company, however; I don't know if Gretsch has any parts or inventory on hand to sell to the civilians.

Vern Kendrick · Post by **Vern Kendrick** » 4 Nov 2000 6:23 pm

Herb,I just came across a letter from Paul Bigsby from 1957, The price of a new "foot volume and tone control"was 55.00 plus 1.85 shipping and insurance.I also found a drink coaster that says..."Set your drink here -Set your heart on a Bigsby Guitar"

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Nov 2000 2:10 am

Vern
I have one of those coasters also!

I think that $55 in 1957 was probably a very high price for a volume pedal, but then again, Bigsbys were high-dollar guitars in those days.

Based on the Consumer Price Index, I would say that an item that sold for $55 in 1957 would probably cost around 300-400 today, if the market demand was the same.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 5 Nov 2000 7:25 pm

Herb-

Was that Ted McCarty the one who was president of Gibson in Kalamazoo, MIch.?

If so, I met him at the Gibson factory and played my Electra-Harp down there and they had me try out their new experimental models.
I didn't like them. Then along came Fender..

We had lunch together. That was in the 50's...al

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Nov 2000 9:01 pm

Al
The same guy. McCarty retired from Gibson in the mid-60's, and bought the Bigsby Co. from Paul B in (as I remember) 1967. Might have been 1966.

Anyway, I think by that time Paul was completely in the business of making vibrato units and no longer built steels or standard guitars. McCarty bought the parts inventory and the business of vibratos.

In the early 1990's, Bigsby collector Paul Warnik bought all the parts relating to steel guitars from Ted. It was with these parts that he assembled, with ace engineer/machinist Dave Peterson, 9 "P.A. Reissue" guitars that were exact replicas of 1956 Bigsby triple-neck pedal guitars. I consider myself fortunate indeed to own one of those guitars. Among other happy owners of "PA Reissues" are Ry Cooder and Jr. Brown.

Not to talk out of school, but word on the street is that Warnik/Peterson are building Jr. Brown a "PA Reissue" Guit-Steel! Fuhgeddaboudit, THAT puppy should be a serious piece of work!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages

db · Post by db » 9 Nov 2000 4:45 pm

They are still available new...
But,they cost $265.00 and are available only in minimum quantities of 100 pieces.

Vern Kendrick · Post by **Vern Kendrick** » 9 Nov 2000 9:35 pm

Saywuhhhhhhh!?????

db · Post by db » 10 Nov 2000 6:10 pm

Fred Gretsch is selling off the Volume-Tone pedal inventory and manufaturing rights for six figures. It includes minimum parts quantities for less that 100 pieces.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Nov 2000 9:50 pm

Funny that this topic should come up now... a couple of days ago I bought a 50's/60's Bigsby volume/tone pedal from a local guitar shop. It's never been used. The thing is so clean... it's scary. I've been having a lot of fun playing the Jerry Byrd "BooWah" tone thing, but I don't think I'll be using this pedal on too many gigs. This one's going into the safe deposit box.

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www.dougbsteel.com

Charley Bond · Post by **Charley Bond** » 1 Dec 2007 6:10 pm

My friend has 2 Bigsby Pedals for sale. Cosmetically they are in good condition. They work, however the wiring is for dual volume control instead of volume-tone (???).

Send an email to charleybond@tds.net

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