The Steel Guitar Forum

And here it is!


Michael, thank you for sending this.

What a chore that would have been to play (4 neck). The double neck looks modern. Not a lot has changed.

Mike (and others), I heard of this in-progress Bigsby book some time back but have been unable to find out much about it -- and so would greatly appreciate any information. Many thanks, guys.

Jim, I emailed the author, I'll give you an update when I hear from him.

Ok, just got an email from the author, he says the book is in full swing, no detailed publishing date yet of course. Since the author is not a steel player, he has and will consult people who are familiar with Bigsby steels. I assume some of the forumites have already contributed to this project, both with information and pictures. Like Mike already mentioned, the most interesting news is that PA's daughter Mary has also offered a lot of information for the book. Hopefully we will see the book ready by next spring, which I think was the original plan.

Jussi, Many thanks. I'll be looking forward to the book. And thanks to all others for a great topic, and some beautiful photos.

Bobbe S-I guess you forgot that it was I that bought the quad Bigsby from you about 14 years ago and as far as I am concerned it is the coolest quad on the whole planet-restored with all original Bigsby parts-1954 8-10-8-10 raised graphics 5 pedals on inside necks ash tray and side rails-Ray Montee's and mine are the only Bigsby quads known in existence today as he (Bigsby)is believed to have only made three of them and I have reason to believe that one of them was "cut up" most likely by Rudy Farmer to make separate lap steels from the necks-also to clarify a few things on this thread-I believe Larry Petrie's Bigsby was a 1951 not a 1953-Maurice Anderson's first Bigsby which is a triple eight did not have back wheels and both of Pee Wee Whitewing's triple necks were ordered without pedals and his first one (which I still own) does not have the "plunger type" tone changers in the headstocks but rather the more common changer bridge for the pedals which were added by Bigsby for Rudy Farmer in 1957

Paul, Larry's Bigsby was built for Billy Mize. The serial # I have for it is 31553. I wonder where that one is now?
I've gotta believe that Steve Brown in Seattle had a Bigsby quad. The way his widow replied to my question about his guitar was too natural. I'm convinced she knew what she was talking about. And why would an elderly woman make something like that up? She told me he only played in church and sold the guitar before he died in the 80's. He may have sold it to another religous musician in the area.
I'm hoping that the files will show build records.

BTW I went by the Phlox St. shop with Jimmy Roy around 01 or 02. I went by again in 04 and the whole lot had been leveled. We took a few pictures but some how they got erased!

Mike, As usual, you've got it right. I have had Larry's Bigsby since April 2005. It is indeed #31533. The underside has a note penciled in that reads "Pedals Installed 6-3-54". Larry's name was removed before I got it, but the shadow is still visible. This is the best sounding guitar I've ever played. I play it through a Standel 25L15 Re-issue, and I'm in heaven.

Mike, can you or Chas or Paul Warnik tell me whatever happened to Noel's Bigsby? Last I saw was a movie years ago where Noel was sharing the steel work with Les "Carrotop" Anderson who was playing a Fender Triple Neck Custom in a movie "Everybody's Dancing"
Starring Spade Cooley and his Great Band. Anyone???

Rich, Cool, They do sound great, even thru Standels! I wondered what happened to that steel when Nick started selling his stuff. The serial #'s I have around then are: Billy's 31553, Bob Black 41553 and Mack Thomas 51553. It's amazing how many guitars have the 15th in the serial #. There are several within a day or too either way also. What's that circled photo contain? Also are those your initials in the end plate or something else? I'll add your name as current owner on my list.
OH I figured it out it's "the ghost of Larry's name", sounds like a great band name
The side leg braces are really handy and not that common. There's no mention of them in his catalogs. It's interesting it has wheels. Does it "walk" at all when you use the pedals?

Jody, hope your well. I'll email you.
Noel's Bigsby was owned by Bob White. I heard his daughter had it. Whether she still has it or not is a ?? Maybe Ben Jack knows? That's one I'd like to see and get the serial #. I'd really like to know if he recorded alot, and what he recorded, with it. There's a shot of him sitting behind it in the studio with Tommy Duncan. Did he ever tell you how he liked it?

Mike, It doesn't walk. But I'm not using the pedals. The way it was set up when I got it doesn't fit the tunings I am using. I've thought of reconfiguring the pulleys/cables, to work with my tunings, but so far, I haven't changed anything.

Mike, someone once posted here that the # on Noel's guitar is 11448. Should that be Jan 14th or Nov 4th, I don't know, my guess is Jan 14th. If so, it'd be right after Joaquin's, could even be the second T8 PA built.

Jodi and Jussi-I briefly played Noel's Bigsby before Bob White passed away-as you know Bob owned it-I begged him to sell it to me offering him several times what I was paying for Bigsbys at the time-He declined saying that "It took Him back" As I recall the serial number was a 1947 date not 1948-Bob told me that he was going to leave the guitar to his daughter (Snow) because he feared if it was left to one of his sons it would end up in a pawn shop (his very words to me) Unfortunately the guitar went missing shortly after Pee Wee Whitwing used it to cut "No peddalers allowed" with Tom Morrell-Pee Wee tried several times as did I to contact Bob's daughter about the guitar but to no avail-If Ben Jack does not have it then who knows where it is?

Can anyone post Noel Playing his Walnut Quad? I had one but lost it when my computer crashed.....help!!!!

Mike Black wrote:Rich, Cool, They do sound great, even thru Standels! I wondered what happened to that steel when Nick started selling his stuff. The serial #'s I have around then are: Billy's 31553, Bob Black 41553 and Mack Thomas 51553. It's amazing how many guitars have the 15th in the serial #. There are several within a day or too either way also. What's that circled photo contain? Also are those your initials in the end plate or something else? I'll add your name as current owner on my list.
OH I figured it out it's "the ghost of Larry's name", sounds like a great band name
The side leg braces are really handy and not that common. There's no mention of them in his catalogs. It's interesting it has wheels. Does it "walk" at all when you use the pedals?

Jody, hope your well. I'll email you.
Noel's Bigsby was owned by Bob White. I heard his daughter had it. Whether she still has it or not is a ?? Maybe Ben Jack knows? That's one I'd like to see and get the serial #. I'd really like to know if he recorded alot, and what he recorded, with it. There's a shot of him sitting behind it in the studio with Tommy Duncan. Did he ever tell you how he liked it?

Mike send it..yes he liked the Bigsby but was too close with Leo and he joined the Tweed Team until the end..

[quote="Rick Alexander"]Well, Leo Fender's first Quad came out in 53 . .
...and Paul Warnik has Paul Bigsby's first quad which was made in 1954 so Fender came before Bigsby with a quad
Nice to see you back Jody
I am wondering how many Wright Custom quads were made
I know of at least four of them so He (Chuck) made more of them than Paul Bigsby did
I am guessing the first Wright quad would have been made probably around the same time as Fender and Bigsby

Todd

Todd-thanks Amigo for posting pics of my quad (sans pedals)
I believe it is the coolest one in the world
8/10/8/10 Raised Graphics on necks
Five pedals now (work center two necks)
Side Rails
Flip out ash tray
How about the front shot while we are at it

CHRIS LUCKER-Are You LOOKING

Yeah, c'mon let's see the front too!!!!

Double post

Heres the front for you guys


and while were at it....



This guitar is as clean in person as it looks on these photos.

Did PB do his own casting? Or did he farm that out? Sure look to be a lot better than Shobud castings!

John B-I doubt Bigsby did the casting himself
Todd C-Thanks again for posting the nice pictures that you took-If I knew they were gonna wind up here on the Forum I would have attached the pedal rack
About the copedant-It's been awhile since I played it-over a year now since Todd took the pic's
Top neck I believe is E13TH (Leon's)
10 string neck (pedaled) D9TH Chromatic with (Emmons) split pedals (3&4) and pedal 5 lowers strings 4 and 8 1/2 tone (like knee lever would)
8 string neck with two pedals E9TH-Bud Issacs tuning
Bottom neck 10-string non-pedal C6TH
Ash tray has original glass insert (not shown-hard to find item)
I think the serial number is 121554
I will have to double check that-No idea who the Bigsby was originally ordered by
THANKS BOBBE!