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Post new topic Skipper Montee's Bigsby
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Author Topic:  Skipper Montee's Bigsby
Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 22 Mar 2018 6:14 pm    
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I am helping Sally Montee out with advising the sales of some of Ray's instruments and amplifiers.

As many of you know Ray's health is failing . I have no financial ties to the guitar or any of his instruments just trying to help out. Russ Blake and I visited Sally a few weeks back and took photos of some of the instruments and amps.

To the Bigsby:
I would say with out a doubt and to the best of my knowledge, this is the cleanest Bigsby in existence today. Especially as a one owner guitar. This quad was built new by Paul Bigsby for Ray in 1956. It has all of the classic Bigsby tunings and tone changing pedals that Bigsby's came with at the time.

It has a neck with the Isaacs tuning with 2 pedal change.
C6 with two pedals that raises the C's to C# separately , and a 3rd pedal that lowers the G to F#.

The classic non pedal tuning F#9 that Herb Remington gave Speedy West

The Speedy's E6 that has one pedal lower the high B to Bb.


The guitar is very clean , and 100% original.

It comes with correspondence letters from Paul Bigsby to Ray during the order and build phase of the guitar, as well as a few follow up letters about the guitar. It has the original case, and the tone /volume pedal that was purchased new with the guitar. I can answer a lot of the questions about the guitar and can help with the sale.
I have advised the sale price of $26,500 for the guitar. Shipping the guitar might be out of the question, and would advise a possible buyer to pick the guitar up in person.

I will find some links to Ray's Youtube videos, of him playing the Bigbsy in the 60's






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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 23 Mar 2018 7:06 pm    
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Just look at that thing of beauty.
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 23 Mar 2018 7:28 pm     One beautiful Bigsby
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That is one beautiful Bigsby for someone with a tad more cash to spare and a stronger back than me. Think I'm getting a little bit green and drooling too! Mr. Green
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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.


Last edited by Andy DePaule on 26 Apr 2018 1:35 am; edited 1 time in total
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Will Houston

 

From:
Tempe, Az
Post  Posted 23 Mar 2018 8:48 pm    
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Wow, Ray played that beauty for 62 years. Amazing!
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Julian Goldwhite

 

From:
Alhambra, CA, USA
Post  Posted 23 Mar 2018 10:27 pm    
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Very sad about Ray’s declining health and miss his inimitable presence on this forum. I hope the Bigsby goes to someone who truly appreciates it’s remarkable history and that the funds will do Ray some good!

Here’s a great clip of ‘Skipper’ and his 8 years old, at the time quad in action:

https://youtu.be/W_DK79Kakeg

All the best,

J.
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Jim Rossen

 

From:
Iowa, USA
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2018 9:02 am    
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Todd-
Will other of Ray's steels be posted here?
Jim
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John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2018 1:42 pm    
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Wow.
Great video clip, too. Why do the steels always sounds so fat on those old TV shows?
John
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Mark Helm


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2018 1:46 pm     Here's another youtube clip...
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With some comments from Ray. Gee, sure hope he's not in any pain. I'm sure there's a lot of guys out there, myself included, who count Ray as a real hero of steel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGI-yjyEdcU

And another Ray posted of him playing the Bigsby + a cool pic of him in HS playing his Fender Deluxe T8 (he was one handsome fella) and smooooth, man):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-5ffJt64eE
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Last edited by Mark Helm on 24 Mar 2018 6:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2018 5:49 pm    
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Jim Rossen wrote:
Todd-
Will other of Ray's steels be posted here?
Jim


I know Sally has 2 or 3, 7 string Rickenbachers. Early ones a few with just one knob from around 1935 or 36.
I know when I visited Sally one had been sold.

There are several 6 string Bakelite guitars. Some early with chrome plates and a few "pandas" with white plates.

I gave ball park values on the bakelites to Sally . I would think offers could be made on these items. I would ask anyone who is serious on buying one, to make offers according to there current market value. I have photos that were obtained from Ray's daughter. She posted a for sale add on the forum a few months back.

Also an Emmons D-10 from the mid 70's. I do not know Emmons steels enough to help out with that sale. I imagine it is worth $3500 - $4000 judging by what I see on the for sale page.

I have some amplifier pictures I will try and list this evening.

If any one is interested in a bakelite Ricky, or the Emmons Pedal Steel, I am sure I can help with a sale, and put you in touch with Sally.
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2018 6:20 pm     Ray's great playing here
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There is a lot of Ray's great playing here on this you tube page.
Much done on the instruments they are now selling.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ray+Montee

Indeed it is sad that he is no longer able to post on the forum as he used to do often.
One thing seems certain is that he kept his instruments in excellent condition.
I know I'm sure tempted!
May God bless and care for Ray.
_________________
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.
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 31 Mar 2018 8:57 am    
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Still available.

Here is a photo of the beautiful jeweled necks.


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Mark Helm


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 31 Mar 2018 10:10 am     This should be in a museum
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Todd: I'm guessing you've already contacted the usual suspects, museum-wise? I know they will sometimes acquire rare pieces like this. And if it doesn't sell, there is perhaps the possibility of a much larger tax deduction than the $26k.
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Art Beard

 

From:
Once upon a time out west (deceased)
Post  Posted 31 Mar 2018 10:24 am     Ray Montee's 4 neck steel
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Very Happy How I wish I had funds to make this steel the corner stone of a playable muesum. Willcox, Az., has the REX ALLEN AND THE MARTY ROBBBINS MUESUMS. This is the place for the "Steel guitar muesum near the others. A building is available ! Any one with the bucks, call me.
HAPPY TRAILS CAA
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Mark Helm


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2018 11:15 am     Fantastic Piece of History
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Hope you can find a home for it, Todd.
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2018 6:49 am    
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Thanks Mark.

Back to the top.
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Art Beard

 

From:
Once upon a time out west (deceased)
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2018 1:43 pm     Ray Montee Bigsby
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Very Happy i wish I could have to started museum with this steel, or at least, been able to put on loan to Rex Allen or Marty Robbins muedum.
    My cash gone liKE WILLCOX wind.

    Wild n gone, lol CAA.

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"like an old stallion, lonely for freedom, still trying to out run the wind" Seals,Setser,& Davey.
GAS -1969 ZB D11/10,1974 Sho-Bud D10 Professional,1975 Speedy West S10, 150 yr okd Barn Board tele, Beard signature Gold Tone Dean Acoustic/Electric Bass, Tennessee 12 string Bass, 3 String Shovel.2 Fiddles., Sho-Bud amp, Epiphone valve special amp, Fishman loudbox artist amp.
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Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 25 Aug 2018 7:16 pm    
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I know Sally has one of Ray's bakelite guitars for sale. His favorite sounding one.

The Bigsby is still available.
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Joel Johnston

 

From:
Mead, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2020 10:12 pm     Ray Montee's Bigsby
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I have been in e-mail contact with Sally Montee, Ray's widow and she still has his 4-neck Bigsby and is ready to sell it at a considerably reduced price (like <$10K). If anyone here on the forum is interested in acquiring this beautiful instrument and the history that comes with it, shoot me a call or a message and I will put you in touch with Sally.


Joel Johnston
Spokane, WA
(509)869-0183
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