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Post new topic Sneaky Pete's Fender 400
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Author Topic:  Sneaky Pete's Fender 400
Bill Bassett

 

From:
Papamoa New Zealand
Post  Posted 10 May 2011 3:30 pm    
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I am hoping to find a photo of the old Fender that Sneaky Pete played back in the day. You know the one, all painted up hippie like. I have searched for a picture on line but to no avail. I have an image of it in my mind so I know I have seen a picture somewhere. Does anyone have one?

Reason I asked is I just picked up a little project steel. It's a Market-Rite Thinline Mark II. It was a kit guitar from the 70s that looks a lot like a Maverick. I just thought it might be fun to paint it up hippie like and play some psychedelic era music through it. I'd leave it as is if it weren't black, everyone knows black guitars sound best and that's really not what I'm after here. So a photographic example of Sneaky's famous Fender is what I need.

Thanks,

Bill
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Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 10 May 2011 3:59 pm    
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He played the blonde one most of the time.
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Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
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Stephen Calhoun


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 10 May 2011 3:59 pm    
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If you search at Google image search for:

"Pacific Steel" "Sneaky Pete Kleinow"

The 3rd picture shows this guitar, taken from the rear cover of Pacific Steel.

Fender Steel Guitar forum has a lot of amazing hi-res pictures too.

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Fender_Steel_Forum/index.php?
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Kevin Mincke


From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
Post  Posted 10 May 2011 4:05 pm    
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AIC_BLhpQI&feature=channel
Watch about 2:00 into song
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 11 May 2011 6:22 am    
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Dave threw a knuckle curve with his post -

I think he and I are the only two that are convinced Pete had TWO 400's - the blond one and the stripped-finish one. I saw him many times live in and around L.A.during the 70's and 80's and even had him (he volunteered!) spend about 45 minutes going over every detail after a gig at the Golden Bear. Unfortunately I didn't play steel then and the info didn't "take".

But there were various switch mountings that seem to alternate at different times, leading to the idea that he had the blond "#1" with one set of controls and the stripped/paisley with another. We do know for certain he had a bunch of instruments (he usually gave away non-Fenders that other manufacturers gave him to try), and he gave short-scale parts to Gene Parsons to use in Clarence White's B-bender mechanism.

I also *swear* I saw a '69 show in Hermosa Beach with Bernie Leadon after Gram had "left" where Pete was playing a D-? sunburst. At the time I was more into the overall sound and didn't think much of the different steel...as it was the first Burritos show I saw.

The "wallpaper" also seemed to change a couple times. I recall green stuff on there at least once.
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1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Ian Sutton


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 11 May 2011 7:26 am    
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If I recall correctly there are a some pictures of his Fender 400 in the 2nd issue of Steel Guitarist. I forget if they're in color or black and white...
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Duncan Hodge


From:
DeLand, FL USA
Post  Posted 11 May 2011 4:00 pm    
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I just found this beautiful Lowell George tune with some extra fine playing by Mr. Sneaky. I haven't heard it an about 20 years. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
Duncan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh-9W19da-I
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Russ Tkac


Post  Posted 11 May 2011 5:01 pm    
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Thanks Duncan! Smile
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Michael Maddex


From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
Post  Posted 11 May 2011 6:47 pm    
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Here's one of the photos from the Steel Guitarist magazine interview:



Enjoy.
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Ron Pruter

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 12 May 2011 3:06 am    
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I played on a show at The Arogon Ballroom in Chicago. The FBB was also on the show. It was what they called their train tour. I think Gram was deathly affraid of flying. I talked to Pete for quite a while. I was playing a Harlen Bro's Multicord and was surprised to hear Pete say that's what he started with. Ron
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Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 12 May 2011 4:53 am    
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Ron, this memory must be invaluable!
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Chuck McGill


From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 13 May 2011 10:33 am    
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Oh yeah Duncan. Pete sounds slippery.
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 13 May 2011 5:57 pm    
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i always thought it was interesting that pete's steel was so ugly, considering what a talented animator/artist he was.
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Brian Herder

 

From:
Philadelphia, Pa. USA
Post  Posted 14 May 2011 11:39 am    
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The originl Little Feat version of that tune also features Sneaky Pete.. one of my favorites by Lowell George and also of Pete's. I love the doubled part he does at the end of the solo... Could possibly be my one "desert island" recording.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccDP5y5Xpvw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Chuck McGill


From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 16 May 2011 5:19 am    
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Cool Brian. Love Pete's parts and of course Lowell's
vocal.
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Al Moss


From:
Kent,OH,USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2011 7:32 am    
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I think that I heard that his steel is now in the collection of the Rock Hall.
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David Ellison

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2011 7:46 am    
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>>>i always thought it was interesting that pete's steel was so ugly, considering what a talented animator/artist he was.

I don't think it was ugly, I think it looked cool... just like Clarence White's Telecaster.
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Russ Tkac


Post  Posted 19 May 2011 9:00 am    
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I had a story related to me that Chris Hillman said Pete was the only steel player he knew that wasn't concerned about his steel's appearance. He said every other steel player is anal about the looks. Smile
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Chuck McGill


From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 19 May 2011 12:28 pm    
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I wonder if Pete ever did a clay-mation of him playing
steel. Maybe with the pterodactyl outfit.
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Alan Brookes


From:
Brummy living in Southern California
Post  Posted 19 May 2011 5:01 pm    
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I always thought it would be fun to cover a steel in that laser-etched wrapping paper they sell nowadays. In the spotlights it would create some amazing effects. Cool
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