Quad neck steel guitar

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

I just viewed one of those Ganaway films from the 1950s on youtube. Jim Reeves was singing "Yonder Comes a Sucker." He had Jimmy Day on steel guitar. Jimmy was playing a quad neck Bigsby steel guitar. I wonder where that guitar is now.???

Does anyone know which guitar company produced the first 4 neck steel guitar?

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Well, Leo Fender's first Quad came out in 53 . .

This OOAK National Quad was made in 54 . .

So I guess it must have been Bigsby.
Or is this a trick question?
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BIG STEEL

norm mcdaniel · From: waco tx

Dear Sir
I have posted a blurb on LT Zinn. and wonder if you might have a picture or two of his double neck Epiphone? and maybe what his basic tunings were. I know one is C6th. Making my own in Waco.
Thanks in advance
Norm in Waco

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."

Nathan Hernandez · From: Riverside, California, USA

The maple quad Jimmy is playing is a Wright custom. There is another clip of the guitar on one of the Ray Price vids as well. Maybe Chas Smith will chime in on this.

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

REMOVED
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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Michael, you really are a valuable resource for this stuff. Thank you.
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BIG STEEL

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

I care! If this quad neck that was played as a slide instrument, then it's very significant regarding slide guitar history that's for sure. It's a prototype of the later console models in a fashion.

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

This was Jimmy Day's and Curly Chalker's Wright Q-8, my understanding, because I'm not going to take off the necks, is that it was made in 1959. It's a really sweet sounding guitar and it weighs a very unfriendly 79# in the case:

Somebody felt that the underneath needed some color, notice the ashtray:

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

That has the same kind of cool gargantuan ridiculousness as the Lincoln Continental of the same year.

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

REMOVED
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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."

Mike Black · From: New Mexico, USA

Hi Chas, hope all is well. I suspected that these headstock covers were done by Chuck Wright also. The quad shot leave little to doubt.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Here's my Fender quad Stringmaster: s/n 0002

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

What a great topic this is turning out to be.
Here's a pic from Ray Montee of his 4 neck Bigsby.
A thing of beauty if ever there was one . .

Mike Black · From: New Mexico, USA

Ray, did you have the string covers finished in black? Can you post the dimensions of it?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Hi there MIKE!
The overall guitar from end of headstock to the end of the changer mechanism is 32 inches.
The front to nearest point to player (inside) is 21 inches.
From nut to pickup is 22.5 inches.

NO! I did not paint them. Paul did that on his own. I think it's rather nice to look at, right?
It always played good and sounded good, thro' that 4 x 10 1965 bassman tube amp. Anyone wanting to listen to it can hear it on several of the tunes posted on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn. site.
When I got it, the "push-up" changers at the headstock were nowhere to be found. I was sure I had been gyped! But Paul had simply incorporated his new changer on the pickup end. I never regreted it.
I think it was PeeWee Whitewing, when he was with Hank Thompson, had that model with the "push-ups" his triple neck. This was my first close up look-see.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Definitely drool-worthy! Quad players better stay in shape and not get bellies. Either that, or you must have long arms.

Ray, that is quite a guitar there.
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Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

THANK YOU most kindly for your kind words.

I've seen many a Bigsby in my day and so many have been so badly mutilated or altered....that it really should be criminal.

I'm happy to report mine is still pristine!

Mike Black · From: New Mexico, USA

I've never seen the string covers painted. Larry Petree said his 53 also had black covers. I was wondering if you asked for them that way. I notice it's not finished in black from the end of the fretboard to the tailpiece like he did on most of them. Just trying too figure out how much latitude Paul had when you ordered one. They do look sharp. I always wondered what kind of paint he used. Your has the "turning marks"(for lack of a better decription) on the necks too, is that right? I think Maurice Anderson's 56 also has those turnings. Does it have wheels on the back legs? It dosen't look like it but I can't tell. I'd sure like to see the case for it sometime.
I agree with you on the 4x10 Bassman. I added a Reverb unit where you had your Echolette.

I believe there was a Quad built for a guy, Steve Brown I think, in Seattle and I got wind of one supposedly in Texas, could just be passin wind though!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

MIKE: In answer to your question......
The black pick-up covers simply arrived that way. He never discussed them with me; nor, did I ask. Thus, I have no idea as to the type of paint that was used.
The only one's I ever saw with wheels were Speedy Wests' and that "other guy" whose g'tar was used in most of Paul's advertising literature. He used to play in Tex William's band and did a lot of thumb pick strumming.
I was given a choice of how many strings I wanted and to think of 10-12 strings, when I was still attempting to adjust to the tho't of 8-strings when all I'd ever seen before that was six....... was a monumental task.
He seemed quite big in offering me the cigarette ashtray accessory. And complained a lot about having to go down and have new end plates cast for the quad.
He kept telling me how heavy it was going to be=105#.
YES! Those are round "swirls" that Paul did with some kind of a machine tool, on the neck surfaces, etc. When the stage lights hit them, they're sorta like diamonds. While in El Paso, I flew a beautifully restored Lockeed (can't remember the model......maybe a Lodestar or whatever). It was natural aluminum and they had done that same affect all over the aircraft and under the airport lighting at night, the sight was just brilliant.
What part of the case are you interested in seeing?
Earlier research by one of the fellows that bought up all of Paul's original parts....revealed that only three quads were made. One was discovered in Florida and had been cut in two, to make two double necks. Another was somewhere in Seattle with NO PEDALS.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Question--just off topic re: Bigsby guitars: Can you describe the difference in tone between those with aluminum necks versus wooden?
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

WAYNE BURDICK!
THANK you, thank you.
I couldn't remember his name to save me as I sat here before this keyboard. That's the guy.
And WHO was that other guy who's name appeared on the work bench incomplete unit? "EDDIE" Savage?

Mike Black · From: New Mexico, USA

Ray, I'd like to see a shot of your case opened. Does it have the rods and rack in there too?
It could be a Fender quad in TX but the story I heard was the owner went out to Cal to pick it up and meet with Speedy. You'd think a Fender could be had at the local music store with no need to fetch it on the coast. I'm searching for it. If I'm lucky and PA is watching out for me, again, I'll find it.

I'm cool with it being a Fender too then I can have races with Jody! Fender wins by a Neck!

I bought several Western Swing 78's at a yard sale when I lived in Seattle. I was talking with the elderly lady and she said her husband played steel, in Church with a B3 player. When asked what kind of steel she said VERY matter-of-factly, like she'd said it many times before, "A 4 neck Bigsby". He'd sold it before he passed but she thought she may still have a footpedal in the basement. I left my card and a couple days later she called. Couldn't find the pedal but she did find a Bigsby catalog and tuning guide which I bought, and promptly copied then traded for an Echoplex! Wink

In the back of the guide, hand written, are pedal changes for 1 tuning. Wether or not PA added the pedals is another thing.

I don't doubt he made few quads but I wouldn't be surprised to find out there's another 1 or more out there. It seems just when you think you got them all accounted for here comes another to confound.

There's a guy writing a Bigsby book would it be ok to send you his email?

Mike, to answer your question. To me, the wood necks sounds a bit more muted, the metal ones a bit brighter. It's tough to describe but if you come to New Mexico you can try both! Cool

If I was ordering one I'd buy wood necks for a non pedal and wood necks with metal headstocks & Pu ends, ala Bob White's for a pedal one.

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