Did Paul Bigsby play steel?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Having seen the pic in R.Smith's Fender book of P.A. behind Speedy's famous steel, with picks on, bar in position, and looking like he knew what he was doing(playing wise), I'm pressed to find out the facts. Let's not forget, HE COULD DO ANYTHING!

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

As far as I know, he was not a musician. The only reason he began making instruments was because he made motorcycle parts for Merle Travis.

Chris Scruggs

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

Having gone to his shop on Phlox street in Downey a long time ago, I was intrigued by this genius and a very colorful character to boot. He may not have been a musician but he knew from the players in the business how to make the best instruments for that era and his vibratos will live on longer than we all will as a testament to his skill.

[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 26 August 2003 at 01:05 PM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

While I never had the privilege of visiting Paul's shop, it's been my life long understanding that he "was not a musician". There was a great write-up on his life some time ago. I tend to recall that after the war, he took a "training program" on cabinet making after the ship yards closed down, or something along those lines. From there, he had a brain storm. Anybody else remember that fine article about a great man?

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

PA definately wasn't a musician, but I've also wondered about the same thing as Ron, ever since I saw that picture. Give a bar and picks to a Mr Average and he will definately not set his hands on a steel guitar like that. I think he might have been a "hobby picker" and at least knew a little bit of basics, that's not an uncommon thing. And you have to remember, that he compiled and published that book about steel guitar tunings in the early 50's, and wrote the foreword to it. A total non musician wouldn't probably have done that. There also exists a picture of Paul playing bass with Jack Parson's band. Could have been just for posing of course...
And actually Bigsby had already made a steel guitar for Joaquin Murphy, before he met Travis. Murphy was the one who introduced these two men to each other.

[This message was edited by Jussi Huhtakangas on 26 August 2003 at 12:04 AM.]

Paul Warnik · From: Illinois,USA

Jussi-I too have seen the picture of Bigsby pictured with the Doghouse Bass in Parson's band and wondered if he was really able to play

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

I had the honor of knowing that great men. I first met him in 1949 when I went out to his shop and bought a Vol/Tone pedal. Later, when I was in the USMC waiting to go to Korea, he gave me the run of his shop and helped me saw a little wood lap steel in half at the 12th fret and put a hinge in so it would fold up and fit into my sea bag.

Jussi is probably correct: he knew the basics of the steel. The first steel he ever made was Joaquin's. It would make sense that Joaquin would have shown him a little about steels, as according to Joaquin they worked together to come up with the design.

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

I had the opportunity to meet Paul and visit his shop when I was 17 years old. I was very impressed by him as a person, and always admired the way he conducted business.

Anyone remember his actual mailing address?...I do..............

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Reece
8114 E Phlox St. Downey Calif, the building is still there.

edited for Pauls old phone number.

714-Topaz 2-5036 (To-2-5036)
Aint I brilliant? ask Roy Ayres

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 26 August 2003 at 09:41 AM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Yeah, Reece, Jody is brilliant -- but have you seen that boy? Somebody whupped up on him with an ugly stick.

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

I remember posting something about a handwritten list of tunings I had that someone thought may have been written by Paul. chas sent me some copies of his handwriting but it was not a match.

Reece: me and Jody are trying to get some of your music to George Keoki Lake who has never had the opportunity to hear you play. Got any ideas how this could be rectified ?? He's in Canada but just where is not something I know of right now.

Regards, Paul

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

I give up, there's no way I can get up early enough to get ahead of Jody. Correctomundo, Jody, you got it, even down to "east" Phlox.

Roy....When it comes to ugly, I ain't got no room to talk about anybody.

Paul....We can handle that, just let me know how to go about it.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Thanx guys, altho I did live in the Downey and Bell Gardens neighborhoods, I was too young and dumb to know about Bigsby before he died. I've ever since been fascinated by the man, just one of the many icons produced from that area(Eddie Cochran, Big Daddy Roth, me!). Hard to believe the place on Phlox is still there. What a great movie, just waiting to be made.

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

I have a couple of brochures he gave me from the 50s that basically didn't change much over the years. I also wrote and ask him about a vibrato part. He not only wrote an invoice and sent the part to me but I hadn't paid him yet and the price was $10 which I promptly send him for his trust in his fellow man. That wouldn't work in today's world of prepay, COD and credit card.
Reece, I was 16 when I drove to LA for the first time ever on the freeways. (Many days ago).

[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 26 August 2003 at 01:12 PM.]

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Somebody whupped up on him with an ugly stick. Yes and the same guy used the stick on you.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

To see that BIGSBY Mandolin, go to:
http://www.harrismusic.net/images/ray/WestCoastRamblers.jpg

Enjoy! THIS SHOULD HAVE APPEARED UNDER BIGSBY PHOTO'S, but I messed up.

Ray

[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 26 August 2003 at 04:24 PM.]

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

With ties like those, I'll bet they could really play!

Mylos Sonka · From: Larkspur CA USA

That picture was taken at the KBFK radio studios in Sacramento sometime after May of 1954, which if memory serves is when Vance Terry had Paul Bigsby put the pedals on his steel. Terry left for college after the Bob Wills session of January 1955, so the photo is from mid-to-late 1954.

Paul Warnik · From: Illinois,USA

Vance's Bigsby Serial/Date 11/15/51 Underneath in Paul's writing "Pedals Installed 5/25/54"

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Jody:

I feel that I really owe you an apology regarding that remark I made about you being ugly. I was basing my judgement on the picture of yourself you sent me awhile back. It turns out you are not as ugly as I thought; I just had the picture upside down.

Besides, if you look about nine posts above this one, I think you will find that Reece has admitted to being uglier than you. I didn't think that was possible, but I know Reece wouldn't lie. Gene Fields and I went out to see him play at Shewood Forest in Dallas about 25 or 30 years ago, and I didn't think he was really that ugly -- but, of course, the bandstand wasn't lit too brightly. (His steel playing sure wasn't ugly.)

Dana Duplan · From: Ramona, CA

What is the URL for the homepage of this website? When I try "harrismusic.net, I get a page for another "Harris".
Thanks,
D

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Dana........just click the above LINK.

I works every time for me. LOL

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic