Here´s Merle Travis playing one of his Bigsby guitars. It´s from the video Merle Travis - rare Performances 1946-1981.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvkppduB5d0
Re: Merle Travis
Thanks. I very much enjoyed that number. A music video in 1951 imagine that.
- rhirvine
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Re: Merle Travis
Inspired by the discussion we´ve had on Bigsby guitars recently I have played several of my old video tapes, including the two Merle Travis Rare Performances tapes. He plays his Bigsby guitars and his Martin with the Bigsby neck and headstock on a number of tracks. On the three Shanachie tapes 601, 602 and 603 with Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Webb Pierce and Chet both Bigsby electric and pedal steel guitars are being played. It´s interesting to see and hear those rare instruments "in the flesh." They really have a sound of their own.
- Vidar Lund
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Re: Merle Travis
one of his Bigsby guitars..."
That was actually buit for someone else and Merle borrowed it for that clip.
Interesting looking guitar illustrating Bigsby's make-to-order versatility
That was actually buit for someone else and Merle borrowed it for that clip.
Interesting looking guitar illustrating Bigsby's make-to-order versatility
- thenorm
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Re: Merle Travis
This is one of the comments from YouTube: "Merle's Bigsby was a hollow body built for him in 1951. It was later acquired by Jack Parsons, a bandmate of P A Bigsby. (Yes, Bigsby had a band.) Bigsby then inlaid Parsons' name in it and added a vibrato. I've often wondered what Travis' 1948 solid body sounded like." The solidbody is included in the first Rare Performanses video.
- Vidar Lund
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Re: Merle Travis
I'm at work so I can't check my Bigsby book. Seems like I read a slightly different history on that guitar. Oh well, things like that are always based on someone's memory and I'm sure if the stories differ each teller will say their version is the more accurate one.
We're just speculators.
Too bad someone hadn't done an in-depth biography on Travis and tried to nail down all of those details. May not be possible now what with Merle being gone. His life had a lot of ups and downs and the downs were not very pleasant I'm sure but it still seems like someone should do an in-depth biography on such a pivotal musician.
We're just speculators.
Too bad someone hadn't done an in-depth biography on Travis and tried to nail down all of those details. May not be possible now what with Merle being gone. His life had a lot of ups and downs and the downs were not very pleasant I'm sure but it still seems like someone should do an in-depth biography on such a pivotal musician.
- thenorm
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Re: Merle Travis
Norm, I checked the Bigsby book, page 102-03. I quote: "This Bigsby guitar was completed on October 29, 1951 and is stamped "102951". It´s the only full hollow body instrument P. A. Bigsby ever built. The guitar has a flat top with no sound holes, an arched back and was originally fitted with a "fiddle" tailpiece." It was originally built for Merle who used it in 1951 to film a few "soundies". Paul Bigsby´s friend and band mate Jack Parsons eventually managed to buy it. "Managed" suggests that he had tried for a while to get it before he succeeded. Mr. Bigsby later inlaid Parson´s name on it and installed a Bigsby vibrato. And I agree, the ultimate Merle Travis book is long overdue, he sure lived an interesting life and left quite a legacy. That´s why we still discuss him and his music and guitars all the time.
- Vidar Lund
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Re: Merle Travis
Well, I stand corrected then. I would have fessed up to it when I delved into it later today...
I probably heard the 'borrowed' tale back some years ago. It wasnt' until that book came out that the mystery on that guitar was definitively nailed down.
I wonder if it's still being played anywhere by anyone.
I probably heard the 'borrowed' tale back some years ago. It wasnt' until that book came out that the mystery on that guitar was definitively nailed down.
I wonder if it's still being played anywhere by anyone.
- thenorm
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- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:29 pm
Re: Merle Travis
Jack Parson may have borrowed that guitar on one or more occasions from Merle and liked it so much that he wanted to buy it rather than ordering a new one from Mr. Bigsby. Thence the confusion regarding who borrowed it and when?
- Vidar Lund
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