speedy west

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

speedy west is one of my favorite steel players of all time but ive never known what tunings he used i would also like to know where his bigsby is today reply if you know Smile

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · From: Sweden

As I remember,E 9th & F# 9th,that´s what was stated
in Winnies book,but I don´t remember any changes of
it,but that would have been valid as of the 70´s ;
someone else here,supposedly,has the full info ;
if not I could dig up the Winston-book,it´s kicking around the premises...McUtsi

John Drury · From: Gallatin, Tn USA

Daniel,

I met, and talked to Speedy at a show in East TN years ago, the tuning in Winnies book is pretty much it.

I would bet Bobbe Seymour knows where the Bigsby is.
Steel Guitar Nashville 615-822-5555
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John Drury
NTSGA #3

"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

From what I have heard/read, the triple neck bigsby had an e13 tuning on it that had the B tuned a half step low...essentially this made the tuning f#9. He had a pedal attached the raise the B up a half step.

Haven't heard much on the other 2 necks, but have seen specualtion on A6 and F#13.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

If you're referring to the BIGSBY............

The top neck was E6th, with a pedal that dropped the 4th string a 1/2 step. The top string was of course, A flat. The bottom 8th string was 1/2 tone above the regular pitch.

The next was C#Min with two chromatic strings on the BOTTOM.

Then A6th tuning..............

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

Thanks Ray!

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

The C#minor tuning with 3chromatic strings on the bottom were given to Speedy and myself by Herb Remington. He used the tuning in his early Bob Wills years.
The tuning was (top to bottom).

G# - E - C# - B - E - Bflat - EFlat - F#.
............................... (back up the scale).

If you alternate picking these strings starting the middle-E you get a somewhat chromatic scale.
Middle-E is the only wound string.

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

Thanks Billy, thats very interesting.

I just found this youtube video of Speedy playing with Merle Travis...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CUSwIogGQw

The solo is at about 1:07...is that the c#min7 he switches to on the middle neck?

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

Thanks Jon for posting Speedy West You Tube.
Willie Nelson was on there with Fraulein with
Jimmy Day.

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

does anyone know where the bigsby speedy owned is

Jon Nygren · From: Wisconsin, USA

I'd like to know as well!

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Look at Merle's guitar. It's got to be at least 5" thick! Did he have more than one?

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

The guitar Merle's playing is a one-off Bigsby, he sold it to Jack Parsons shortly after. At least some years ago it was in OR at MacKenzie River Music. It's a pretty weird guitar, no f-holes and the top is flat, the back is carved though.

Dave Biller · From: Texas, USA

So THAT'S the Jack Parsons guitar in that video?? I played that one at MacKenzie River Music in Oregon years ago. At the time I had no idea whatsoever that I was noodling on an instrument that was once held by merle Travis. I am humbled to say the least. It was a very strange feeling guitar, with that flat top but, ofcourse the tone of those pickups was out of this world.

Lee Jeffriess · From: Vallejo California

It started life as a non cutaway Kay archtop.
Lee

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