Holy moly, Tommy Duncan had swagger.
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The First Boo-Wah Pedal
I just started reading Deke Dickerson’s blog recently. It’s a great read for vintage-minded steel players (among other people). Particularly, I was interested to find an entry about the first boo-wah pedal (moreover the first guitar effects pedal in general.) So, check out this entry and his whole blog.
Noted: Carvin Company Advertisement for Steel Guitars
Country Song Roundup / Published by American Folk Publications, Inc. Vol. 1, No. 39, July, 1955. (Courtesy Ron Bailey.)
1955 Bud Isaacs Article
Man of Steel / Bud Isaacs
From the July 1955 Country Song Roundup, here’s a short profile of pedal steel guitar forefather Bud Isaacs.
Thanks to Roger Hurst for the source material.
Boo-waa and Sustain Test on Three 1950s-era Fender Triple-neck Lap Steels
Before buying my Stringmaster I was able barrow a couple other Fender Triple-8s. So before I have to return the loaners I decided to line them up and compare tone and sustain. Each was unique depending on condition and restoration factors. I used an Alamo amp with a 15-inch speaker.
Portraits
Trials of a Bigsby Pedal Restoration
This blog isn’t about me, but this post sort of is since it deals with restoring a Bigsby volume/tone pedal.
Within hours someone responded to my Craigslist ad for a wanted Bigsby volume/tone pedal. We agreed on an “as-is” condition price and I bought it. So, now I have it.
My goal is to achieve the same boo-wah sound the original lap-steel players did with an original and authentic Bigsby pedal. I do have a Fender reissue volume/wah but it’s a little too stiff and I have to keep adding oil or loosening the pivot nut to make it more usable. Bigsby pedals were never reissued (although their steel guitars are apparently) so finding one may require a search.
Currently I’m having a heck of a time finding the 100k audio taper with 1-inch shaft potentiometer needed for the tone control. Here’s the one I bought from Mouser Electronics and it’s too small for the pot shaft coupling on the current pot (that needs replacing.) And I haven’t yet found anything at Antique Electronic Supply.
Indiana Drifters
Indiana Drifters on WDAF in Kansas City, Missouri
This photo in particular has attracted interest in the Kansas City steel community. Luckily it comes “pre-tagged” which makes it easier to show around and ask questions.
I showed Roger Hurst of Kansas City and he told me in an email:
I remember the Indiana Drifters when I was a kid playing clubs around Kansas City, working my way through high school and college. Jack Marvin, who is the guy holding the tele and standing behind his blonde Fender Custom Triple-neck, was a really good steel player. They had a killer band and played 6 nights a week in a busy club on 9th street or 12th street in Kansas City. They had a drummer named Bill something or the other who could play Gene Krupa licks to a tee. Jack Marvin later became a chiropractor and had an office down near 31st and Holmes before he passed away. All those guys were very technically advanced compared to most county musicians today.
The Indian Drifters with Grand Ole Opry Stars Webb Pierce (second from left) and Rob Brasfield (far left). Others?
Si Siman photos found online
I’d like to recognize mrwaterslide from flickr.com for posting his found black and white photos of old country musicians. This collection of photos from the estate of country music executive Si Siman and the local response I received from showing them to a few key people from the steel community here in Kansas City, Missouri are the core inspiration for kicking off this blog.
It’s the goal of this blog to identify people in the photos and the stories that go with them. So, if you have information to give please leave comments or contact .
Boo-Wah Recipe
Lee Jeffries's recipe for Speedy West's boo-wah sound.
From a post on the Steel Guitar Forum.
Boo-Wah 