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Topic: The First Bigsby |
Gary Hustwit
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 6:08 pm |
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Greetings all! Since today would've been Paul Bigsby's 120th birthday, I thought it would be a good time to give some news about his recently-discovered first instrument.
Some of you might remember the speculation a few years ago when a frypan identified as a "Rickenbacker Prototype" popped up in a New York guitar auction (forum member Mike Neer also made a video of the guitar at the auction house). Well I won the guitar at that auction, and I've spent the past few years researching its history and connecting all the dots. This is indeed the cast aluminum lap steel he made for himself in 1942, the one he showed to Joaquin Murphy at a Spade Cooley show in '43, and subsequently launched Bigsby's musical instrument career.
I'm looking forward to sharing the full story and more photos of the guitar, including its whereabouts for the past 70+ years, in the upcoming Fretboard Journal Electric Annual which will be published next month. It's a fascinating tale featuring the Freemasons, a Cadillac, and a teenage Beatles fan, plus contributions from Deke Dickerson, Lynn Wheelwright, Todd Clinesmith, and Mary Bigsby.
In the meantime here's a video that Fretboard Journal released today of Raphael McGregor playing a Joaquin Murphy-influenced "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" on the guitar. Hope you enjoy.
Cheers,
-Gary
Last edited by Gary Hustwit on 12 Dec 2019 6:22 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 6:13 pm
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| Wow! How cool is that? Thanks for sharing. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 7:29 pm
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| Jack Hanson wrote: |
| Wow! How cool is that? |
Pretty darn cool!
I'm looking forward to learning more about this amazing guitar (and case!)
What's the cylinder head on the bench from? |
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Landon Jarrel
From:
Space
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 8:41 pm
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| Very cool indeed! |
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Gary Hustwit
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2019 5:42 am
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| Bill Sinclair wrote: |
What's the cylinder head on the bench from? |
It's just a random motorcycle part. Bigsby made this guitar as he was transitioning out of his job at Crocker Motorcycles in '42, and most likely used surplus motorcycle parts for the aluminum. He finished it in the same maroon paint Crocker used on their bikes. So we thought photographing the instrument in a motorcycle workshop would be cool/appropriate. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 13 Dec 2019 6:11 am
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| Wow! Terrific sound. Cool piece of history. |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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