Bigsby sound clips,

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

I'm going to solo an "H" model this Sunday, it's about 50 kts faster than the "D" models, then I have to get back into my PA-28-180 and fly home with nothing but an empty pocket and memories.

We all have to do something to keep our hearts pounding, women won't have me any more! I'm just too crazy, but I do love the 1700 HP Merlins,


Bobbe<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 18 January 2006 at 10:13 PM.]</p></FONT>
Jussi Huhtakangas
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Post by Jussi Huhtakangas »

Hey Nathan, thanks, will be good to see you again in Vegas!!
Tim Tweedale
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Post by Tim Tweedale »

That's some mighty pretty playing, Bobbe.

I've got to find out more about this Arnold Nelson fellow...

-Tim
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Bob Hickish
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Post by Bob Hickish »

bobbe
I'm still trying to get my Type rated on
my Sierra 8-5 heavy ! It's over 12,500# I'm sure
I didn't know that a
bigsby 51-H was over 12,500 & required
a Type rating other than single pedal /land
I'm sure things have changed sence I left the industrey !

I'll bet you didn't know I use to Fly Fish !! Image

Hick
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

Bob! Ha! Love it! "Single pedal land huh,"


Bobbeaux<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 19 January 2006 at 10:56 AM.]</p></FONT>
Ron Brennan
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Post by Ron Brennan »

I dunno,

I'd give Bobbe a Multi-Pedal, Land & Water Type Rating too. And a Commercial ticket, fer sure.

With his instrument rating.....I wonder if he ever played in BNA (Nasville) Minimums (Fog) with his single pedal setup??

I'll betcha, he's probably got over 5,000 Cross Country Hrs. time with Bigsby/Fender/Emmons,Shobud Heavy equipment to boot!!!

Bigsby or P51H??...P51H or Bigsby??...The Agony and the Ecstasy...Priceless.....Enjoy both Brother..

Now let's start-up that Bigsby T8 beauty again with "Crazy"..."The C6th Plate, please"....."Contact!!"..."Clear right!!"...TX
rgds,
Ron
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 19 January 2006 at 05:10 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 20 January 2006 at 05:42 AM.]</p></FONT>
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Darryl Hattenhauer
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Post by Darryl Hattenhauer »

Ray,

I'm pretty sure that Vance Terry played a Bigsby on all of his recording with Billy Jack Wills (and then went to Fender with Jimmie Rivers).

As a kid in Sacramento, I heard the Billy Jack band almost daily on the radio. Even went swimming at Wills Point Plunge. Now THAT'S a privileged childhood!

------------------
"Drinking up the future, and living down the past"--unknown singer in Phoenix
Nathan Hernandez
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Post by Nathan Hernandez »

Vance did play a Bigsby on the Billy Jack Wills stuff and the Jimmie Rivers stuff,,,, but his other guitars were Wright customs.
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

From '49 to '59 almost every great steel player played Bigsby, if he or she could get one.
At that time, if you just owned a Bigsby you could have about any job you wanted. (Hank Thompson had two in his band). Owning one was proof enough you could play.
Paul A.Bigsby wouldn't sell you one if you couldn't!
This sounds funny in this day and time, but Paul didn't care, he was on a full retirement pention when he started building steels. It was actually sort of a hobby at first.

I know of one instance when Paul rode a motorcycle that he had built himself to go hear a new player perform before he'd accept his order. Paul rode from L.A. to Vancouver to hear Arnold Nelson first, Hope he combined some additional reason to make this greuling long trip, but I haven't heard of one yet. Paul was 55 at the time. Whew!

You should hear what Paul reportedly told Webb Pierce when Webb wanted to use his money and fame to cut to the front of the Bigsby waiting line.

Webb ended up buying Johnny Siebert's double neck for Sonny Burnett to play in his band.

Exciting days, Bigsby was THE steel guitar, if you didn't have one, you wanted one.

Bobbe <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 11 April 2006 at 10:11 PM.]</p></FONT>
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Darryl Hattenhauer
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Post by Darryl Hattenhauer »

Paul Bigsby--the only man loonier than Bobbe Seymour.

When I took lessons from Tiny Moore (imagine the pity and patience he had!) that 5 string electric Bigsby mando was always there. Those pick-ups were bigger than waffle irons.
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

HA! I'LL TAKE THAT, WITH HONOR!
Mike Black
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Post by Mike Black »

xxzz
Last edited by Mike Black on 12 May 2011 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

Mike Black, good, so this is the "rest of the story", I didn't want to believe Paul rode that far just to see Arnie!
However, because of all this, Arnold Nelson and I are great friends today. I'm sure glad Paul Bigsby put names on the front of his fabulous guitars. This is also the reason you and I are good friends Mike!
Bobbe <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 14 April 2006 at 05:32 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 14 April 2006 at 05:33 PM.]</p></FONT>
Mike Black
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Post by Mike Black »

zzz
Last edited by Mike Black on 12 May 2011 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

Mike: yes on making Bigsby style pickups, and even a lot more than that, the story may go a lot deeper.

Now, why cover up Arnold's name you ask, well the reason is, to protect Arnolds reputation as a great steel player. If someone that didn't know either Arnie or myself saw me playing this guitar with his name on it and thought it was him playing, he'd have grounds for a good lawsuit for ruining his reputation. So, it was to protect Arnold Nelson. This way Arnie and I are still friends,
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Rick Schmidt
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Post by Rick Schmidt »

Bobbe...that Bigsby sound really nice, but YOU sound Great! Thanks!

-rick-
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Todd Clinesmith
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Post by Todd Clinesmith »

Great thread...

Jussi...great playing ...where can I get some of your recordings ?

Bobbe I can't open any of your links ? I am sure it is great but I think it must be foreign to my Mac.


keep em coming

Todd
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chas smith
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Post by chas smith »

<SMALL>yes on making Bigsby style pickups,</SMALL>
Will the dimensions be identical? including covers? 10-string? I'm thinking of boot-legging a D-10. I have and/or can make everything except the pickups.
Jussi Huhtakangas
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Post by Jussi Huhtakangas »

Todd, thanks!! You can try Hep Cat Records/Collector's Choice in CA or www.goofinrecords.com
Mike Black
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Post by Mike Black »

zzz
Last edited by Mike Black on 12 May 2011 2:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jussi Huhtakangas
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Post by Jussi Huhtakangas »

Chas, you're planning to bootleg it with or without pedals?
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chas smith
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Post by chas smith »

Jussi, the plan, if you can call it that, would be to have the "top" of the guitar, traditional Bigsby, and the underneath, more modern, with an 8-4 or 8-6.

When I did over, the S-10, there had been a previously unsuccessful attempt to combine a "birdcage" changer with the Bigsby fingers. The Bigsby fingers had been sawed in half and the bent-over nails, were a design flaw. I took this to be "license" to continue.

Given, that I think the "birdcage" is a great sounding changer, the Bigsby fingers are unique and I didn't want to cut the guitar, I was able to weld an aluminum tab on the bottom of the fingers and a stainless tab, as an offset, on the tops of the changers.
Image
The guitar still sounds like a Bigsby, but now, has a more modern under-carriage.
Bobbe Seymour
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Post by Bobbe Seymour »

Now we're tawkin'! Good job Chas.
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