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Author
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Topic: The Blade" was it Buddy's favorite guitar
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Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 15 April 2005 10:24 PM
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Many have thought the BLADE was always Buddy's favorite Steel Guitar. Over the years I've heard several comments that his best session work was done on this instrument.
 
This Emmons P/P was a very special guitar for Buddy, and I've heard that to this day, he still has it in his Music Room at home. Does anyone know if the Big E ever plays the BLADE anymore? Nick[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 16 April 2005 at 02:33 PM.]
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Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 15 April 2005 10:44 PM
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I can't speak for Buddy. But I'm guessing the reason he chooses to play the LeGrande III and JCH over the PP is the same reason I choose to play LeGrande rather than the PP. Split Tuning Most all of us agree most PP's sound better than the all-pulls. Do the math.  [This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 15 April 2005 at 10:47 PM.] |
Dyke Corson
Member From: Urbana, IL USA
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posted 15 April 2005 11:14 PM
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Is the guitar in the picture "the Blade"? Some things look different... |
Mike Sweeney
Member From: Nashville,TN,USA
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posted 16 April 2005 01:38 AM
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That's not the blade. That's Buddy's second LeGrande. |
Steve Hinson
Member From: Hendersonville Tn USA
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posted 16 April 2005 04:31 AM
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That's right...it's not the Blade...great picture tho(that's Blondie on piano and Ernie Rowell on bass...must be the Cherokee Cowboys)... |
Larry Behm
Member From: Oregon City, Oregon
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posted 16 April 2005 09:26 AM
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Mike this is an old picture, you don't mean that this is Brown Bart?Larry Behm |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 16 April 2005 10:17 AM
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Since BE hasn't seen this, I believe I can shine some light on the issue.The guitar pictured above is a very early LeGrande -- not a LeGrandeIII (a la Brown Bart) This is The Blade
 I believe it now has 9 and 7. One thing I hadn't noticed is that the C pedal rod appears not to be there. ????? In this much older picture, it had 9 and 6
even with the crummy picture quality you can see the grain patterns in the mica match from one picture to the other.
I always remember it with 9 pedals
Last time I saw Mike Cass he mentioned that he had just helped Buddy do a 100,000 mile overhaul on her, so, last I heard, The Blade lives at Buddy's house. ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 16 April 2005 at 10:40 AM.] |
Mike Sweeney
Member From: Nashville,TN,USA
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posted 16 April 2005 06:10 PM
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Well Nick, You've changed pictures on me. The guitar in these photos are the blade. The first picture was Buddy's second SKH LeGrande NOT Brown Bart. I know of three SKH that Buddy had. 1] The black prototype that Scotty Sanders has,2] The rosewood in that 1st picture Nick posted and, 3] a laquer finished one. The guitar in question is the one over in the buy and sell section now.
The Blade has a very imposing look to it all it's own. And the sticker is from the Old Time Pickin' Parlor.
Back to my first statement. Why did you change the picture Nick? It was also a very nestolgic shot.Mike |
Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 16 April 2005 09:14 PM
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I didn't realize I had posted the wrong picture of the Blade. Of course, I don't know as much about Buddy's guitars as you pro-players do. My Bad, Sorry!
NR |
Jay Jessup
Member From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
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posted 17 April 2005 07:05 AM
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Well if Buddy does see this I would ask that he add in a story about the ownership of this guitar. I have heard rumors that he has sold it and bought it back several times and that the last time it came back to his family his wife bought it so he couldn't sell 'her' guitar witout her permission? |
Mike Cass
Member From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A.
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posted 17 April 2005 09:43 AM
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All these current pics are of the Blade.
I believe its his favorite psg still in his possession,and the one all others are compared to. However,the guitar he used on the Ray Price album"Touch My Heart"(later sold to Dicky Overby)is a guitar that Buddy speaks quite fondly of,perhaps even wistfully That guitar was a 64-65 Emmons wraparound whos ultimate fate was to again be sold only to be stripped,drilled thru and turned into a childs wagon;according to Dicky(sorry to remind you of that ol' pal)
So here's the math: the wraparound=a wagon, the Blade=currently owned by Peggy Emmons.
And yes,we cleaned the Blade up a bit but I was under orders to not interfere with its basic temperment or cosmetic demeanor too drastically. Basically, I filled a few holes,put it back to factory specs per the changes,and shined her up a tad,new Emmons chrome fretboards too. Then, I spent 8 hours playing everything Ive ever learned on her....whatta horn!
....ps. the pic of Buddy & Bobby Caldwell was taken @ Clem Schmitz first show in Mpls, maybe '77?? Nick, where did that pic come from?? I have the identical one on my wall at home,or at least I think its still there
[This message was edited by Mike Cass on 17 April 2005 at 10:07 AM.] |
Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 17 April 2005 08:52 PM
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Mike,
The picture of Buddy & Bobby came from Ernie Renn's website. Nick |
Don McClellan
Member From: Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
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posted 18 April 2005 12:37 PM
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Buddy mentioned in a recent thread called "Missing an Emmons book" that he gave the Blade away to Terry Crisp. |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 18 April 2005 12:50 PM
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http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/009885.html
I think you read the message incorrectly, DonBuddy said he gave 'the bolt-on guitar' to Terry. The Blade is not a bolt-on. It's a late '68 guitar which would make it a cut-tail changer design. ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps |
Ernie Renn
Member From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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posted 18 April 2005 01:37 PM
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Golden Valley House - May 8, 1977I think that THIS might be the "Touch My Heart" guitar/wagon. Hope this can shine a little light on which is which.
 ------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com |
Mike Cass
Member From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A.
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posted 19 April 2005 07:02 AM
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Ernie, hard to tell if thats a bolt-on or a wraparound. The big body decal is more indicative of a bolt-on though.
One place to see "the wagon" is in a 60's movie "Nashville Rebel".
Theres a scene with Faron Young and the Deputies performing on the steps of the Parthenon here in N'ville. Dicky Overby is playing a wraparound,purported to be "the wagon". The scene also features a young Darrell McCall on bass guitar with a serious pompadour hairstyle:-) [This message was edited by Mike Cass on 19 April 2005 at 07:04 AM.] |
Don McClellan
Member From: Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
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posted 19 April 2005 09:04 PM
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I stand corrected. Sorry about that. Don |
Klaus Caprani
Member From: Copenhagen, Denmark
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posted 19 April 2005 11:00 PM
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Sorry if I ask stupid questions that are answered thousand times before, but I'm curious as to how "The Blade" got it's nickname.
Was it "cutting like a knife" through the mixes or something?------------------
Klaus Caprani MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Ernie Renn
Member From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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posted 20 April 2005 06:06 AM
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I showed Buddy the picture I thought to be the TMH/wagon guitar, (above.) He said he thinks he sold it before they started wearing suits on stage with Ray Price. So, it's probably not it. The search continues... ------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 20 April 2005 08:38 AM
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Klaus, I think "The Blade" refers to the blade type pickup. I'm sure someone will correct this if it is wrong. |
Archie Nicol
Member From: Ayrshire, Scotland
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posted 20 April 2005 08:45 AM
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Thanks, Klaus. Saved me the embarrassment. |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 20 April 2005 12:14 PM
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Klaus was correct in the first place. Tone cuts 'like a blade'. Last time I saw the guitar it looked like standard Emmons S/C pickups on it, but I could be wrong.------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps |
Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 20 April 2005 07:59 PM
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Does anyone know who the person was that brought the wraparound and made a wagon out of it? I'd like to know myself, so they never end up with my guitars.Nick[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 20 April 2005 at 08:08 PM.] |
Dale Dorsey
Member From: Granger, Indiana, USA
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posted 20 April 2005 08:40 PM
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I just have to add my two cents on this. The picture that Ernie placed a few bars back...of the LeGrande Rosewood....(the one with the Embroidered Rose only )I just played tonight in South Bend. So..I know where that one is, but not the others. This one is owned by Elmer Hobar. It is nothing short of awesome and I'm not exactly sure what Elmer is wanting to do with it now, so I'm laying low...for the moment. I wish it were mine. It's a killer guitar. |
Dyke Corson
Member From: Urbana, IL USA
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posted 20 April 2005 08:59 PM
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Nick - Dicky Overby is the one that got the wrap around, but I don't know how it ended up being a wagon. I'm pretty sure Buddy still has Black Bart, and The Blade is Peg's. |
Bobby Bowman
Member From: Cypress, Texas, USA
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posted 20 April 2005 11:04 PM
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Buddy has Brown Bart, not Black Bart anymore, I'm pretty sure.
BB------------------
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com |
Klaus Caprani
Member From: Copenhagen, Denmark
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posted 20 April 2005 11:21 PM
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Thanks guys!I figured it must have been either one (or a combination) of the suggestions you've made.
This forum is great ------------------
Klaus Caprani MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Ernie Renn
Member From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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posted 21 April 2005 01:35 PM
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I think Buddy sold Brown Bart. But still has Black Bart, The Blade and 22 Mag in the stable.------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com |
b0b
Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA
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posted 21 April 2005 02:07 PM
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Hey Buddy, you're welcome to join my band Open Hearts for the Black Bart Festival here in Cloverdale on May 14. You gotta bring that special Black Bart guitar, though.  ------------------
 Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com
System Administrator |
Bobby Bowman
Member From: Cypress, Texas, USA
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posted 21 April 2005 11:32 PM
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you may be right ernie,,,I'm color blind! 
------------------
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com |
Leon Roberts
Member From: Tallahassee,FL USA
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posted 22 April 2005 06:03 PM
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Albert Johnson has a neat photo of Dickey Overby playing the “WAGON” guitar with Connie Smith in Tallahassee Florida not long after Buddy sold it to Dickey. I’ll borrow the photo from Albert, scan it and post it here for all to see. Albert and his band opened for Connie Smith and he said Dickey’s guitar sounded awesome. I'll bet the guy that took the photo was honed in on Connie Smith more than the "WAGON". |
Ernie Renn
Member From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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posted 23 April 2005 07:10 AM
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I think Buddy gave the rosewood LeGrande to his bass player, David Smith. From what I hear, David is a pretty good player, too. I know he's no slouch on the bass...Embroidered roses were floating all around in the early eighties. So, roses were likely on a lot of guitars at that time. I had a rose on my shortie LeGrande, (that Bill Nauman now owns.) At the convention I gave Buddy the one he put on the Blade, (as in the picture Larry posted above with the third pedal rod missing.) I stood there while he measured the front apron with a table cloth, folded it in half to find the center and stuck it on. (Cool!) ------------------
My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com |
Dale Dorsey
Member From: Granger, Indiana, USA
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posted 23 April 2005 09:56 PM
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Ernie...you're right however, the one I'm referring to was actually traded by Buddy to his cousin Chuck, here in South Bend. Elmer wound up with it. Serial # 2. I'm pretty confident it's the real thing. |
Leon Roberts
Member From: Tallahassee,FL USA
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posted 25 April 2005 09:37 AM
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this is the photo of what we think was the "wagon guitar". Albert Johnson was the steel player for the opening band and acording to him,it fits the time frame. If this is not the guitar in question, enjoy the photo of a young Connie Smith and Dickey Overby.
My thanks to Albert Johnson for entrusting the photo to me for scanning.
Leon
[This message was edited by Leon Roberts on 25 April 2005 at 09:43 AM.] [This message was edited by b0b on 25 April 2005 at 12:08 PM.] |
Mike Cass
Member From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A.
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posted 25 April 2005 11:47 AM
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nice Leon,thanx!ok,not to be irreverant, but one of you "graphix guru's" out there oughtta do a little work on that pic and give us an idea of what 'The Wagon" might look like today, sporting wheels & axle's,of course.
A guy could have alot of fun in certain circles with a pic like that [This message was edited by Mike Cass on 25 April 2005 at 11:57 AM.] |
Terry Edwards
Member From: Layton, UT
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posted 25 April 2005 12:57 PM
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Wow! Check out the points on those boots!!How do you "mash" them pedals with an extra 4 inches of pointy-toed boots stickin' out there between the pedal rods?!?
Terry |
Charles Dempsey
Member From: The Cradle of the Stars.
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posted 25 April 2005 08:44 PM
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Those boots are part of the outfit. The whole gang is wearing them. I bet that's why the steel player looks so serious; he's cursing those boots.I think that's an Ampeg Portaflex B-15 behind the singer. I wish I still had mine. Charlie |
Dale Dorsey
Member From: Granger, Indiana, USA
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posted 25 April 2005 08:51 PM
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Yeah, the guitar is great looking, but what about Connie Smith? Anyone who looks at this young picture of her can easily tell why Marty fell head over heels at a very young age. I guess he wasn't the only one. And pipes....unbelievable! |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 26 April 2005 02:43 AM
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What is that amp that is next to Dickey?------------------
Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400
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Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 26 April 2005 07:32 AM
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The amp is a Sho~Bud Compactra, a mid-to-late 60's product.------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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The Steel Guitar Forum
