Ya done good Proteus!
CAAS '08: The Week Fingerpickers Took Over the World
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- Rated: 51 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 4:41 p.m. The Norm:
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:10 p.m. Proteus:
Alright, we have winners of the Pickers Pokes in Norm (his second...), Bear, and Antik.
And what the heigh, Otterbean gets one too.
Ready for another?
How about a Pickers Poke for anyone who knows what model guitar Ray Butts used as the original testbed for Filtertrons.
First right answer takes it. If later answers provide more interesting detail, they may win too.
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- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:17 p.m. JC:
Gibson ES175
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- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:22 p.m. JC:
Or was it a Sparkle Duo Jet?
Can ya tell i've had just a tad to much to drink
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- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:23 p.m. JC:
Yeah, it was an unfinished Silver Jet that Gretsch supplied to himin the late 50's
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- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:25 p.m. JC:
That's my final answer sir
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:26 p.m. Proteus:
Broadway Sound was established in 1967 by Tennessee guitarist Lynn Clapp.
Lynn grew up in the tiny town of Corryton, TN, about five miles from Luttrell – which is where young Chester Atkins first picked up a guitar. Lynn is younger than Chet, and became aware of the then-unknown but up-and-coming young hotshot, who had a great influence on Lynn.
They played together informally on each others' porches, and – if I have the story right – even roomed together for a summer.
Lynn got his first Gretsch in 1956, a 6120 he'd played the frets off by the early 60s. He had it refretted and it was promptly stolen.
Somewhere along this time, he began playing on local TV broadcasts and went to work for a music store. He'd back up everyone who came on the show, then get a couple minutes to do a solo piece and talk about what was for sale in the store.
Eventually he parted ways with the full-line music store and started one of the first all-guitar stores anywhere, in a 100-year-old 16,000-square-foot building at 2830 Broadway in Knoxville.
He became a Gretsch dealer as soon as he could; Broadway Sound paid his way through life and raised his kids. Now daughter Ami Hodges and her husband Scott run the store. Lynn comes in on Tuesday night for 6-hour jam sessions with old friends. They play jazz, western swing, Chetstyle, and whatever occurs to them.
Broadway is still going strong, and they brought over 20 Gretschs to the show. They're taking trades and re-selling right on the spot. (So far two 6122-59s have changed hands.)
Here's part of their Gretsch inventory.
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And here's Ami, holding a Custom Shop 6120.
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That guitar, along with a trio of Anniversaries (6118T, 6118-120 in Bamboo Yellow & Copper, and a 6120GA Golden Anniversary) will be for sale in the auction thread later tonight and tomorrow. The prices she'll take look pretty good to me.
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- Rated: 34 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:35 p.m. Bryan K.:
Just a couple wild guesses here as to what Ray Butts used as the original testbed for Filtertrons.
I think I remember reading somewhere the Ray bought a Les Paul in 1953?
In another article Ray said he patented his pickup in 54.
The earliest I can remember seeing one of those prototype pups was on one of Chet's western dyna jets. You can see it on youtube.
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- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 5:42 p.m. Boyko:
Ray Butts used a Gretsch Silver Jet given to him by the Gretsch company years ago to test the Filtertrons in. He kept using it, and in an interview from '94 he still had it, with his Mellosonic pickups in it.
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- Rated: 34 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 6:55 p.m. Bryan K.:
Hi Boyko, Was that from the article posted on Scotty Moore's web page?
I just dug up another guitar player article from March 1990 were Ray says the prototype was put on a Gibson ES-125 when he first took it to Nashville to show Chet. Said he wound the coils by hand, 200 winds.
I'll try to scan it and post a link in a few...
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- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 7:02 p.m. Boyko:
Bryan K, I believe it is. I remember reading alot on him awhile ago around the time of the Winter NAMM. Unfortunately there isn't alot of info online, but he's a really interesting guy.
I think I remember that he did put the pickup on a Gibson ES when he brought it to Chet because that was the body type of guitar he was playing.
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:40 p.m. Proteus:
The answer I was looking for, based on information received today from Ray's son and daughter, was that it was the Silver Jet.
We didn't talk about whether it was the ONly testbed, but it was definitely the one used on behalf of Gretsch.
That sends Pickers Pokes to JC and Boyko. Good detective work.
This is a bit harder...see if you can find any VERY contemporary information about that particular guitar. Use Google. Remember it's an historical guitar.
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:44 p.m. Proteus:
Who helps ol' Proteus at these events?
Nobody, that's who.
In this case, Nobody is somebody. The GDP's very own Nobody made the run up from Chattanooga for today and tomorrow. I deputized him to capture audio and take pics of performances. He tells me he has some great stuff. I'll try to get him to post it later.
My day was largely occupied with the legacy of Ray Butts, and there will be MUCH more about that later, with the truly rich stories of his family.
Then a long leisurely dinner with Nobody, and later tonight it's downtown to catch Hillbilly Casino...
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- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:47 p.m. Boyko:
According to an article from the Daily Independent, the guitar had been stolen and was missing for a dozen years. It was recovered from a Sotuh Shore man who bought it from a friend two years ago and had no idea it was stolen. The guitar was returned to the family once identified and is now being restored. Or maybe it now is restored and its at the CAAS?
The guitar will be donated to the Georgia Museum of Music and housed in its section devoted to Gretsch products.
Cool story huh?
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:10 p.m. Proteus:
Very cool, and there's so much more to it. Start here, though.
Oh yeah, here's the guitar in question as it was recovered by Sheriff Cooper and Officer Pancake, garbage bag and all. That's Katha Butts House, Ray's daughter (and a commercial jet pilot), holding the bag.
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- Rated: 56 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:20 p.m. otterbean:
How cool is that? Glad the guitar found its way home by instinct. The black plastic bag is a nice touch.
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- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:21 p.m. Boyko:
FYI: My post was actually a compilation of the two articles. Alot was left out for quick posting reasons.
Looks like the guitar was in pretty good shape all things considered. No major finish issues I guess.
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- Rated: 74 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:27 p.m. bonedaddy:
Isn't it ironic or maybe just interesting that the new model is the CGP, Country Gent Prototype, and that also is the same acronym for Certified Guitar Picker.
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:36 p.m. Proteus:
Sitting pretty.
I spent quite awhile with Gretsch's neighbor in the vendor room, J.R. Baker of Sound Seat (www.soundseat.com).
I've sat in a lot of miserable chairs to play guitar, including supposedly nice miserable chairs which also squeaked in the studio. My son has a Roc-n-Soc drum throne which he and I have heretofore thought highly of.
Unless my back and butt deceive me, though, it doesn't hold a candle to J.R.'s Sound Seats. These chairs are designed by musicians, for musicians, and combine utility, comfort, stability, and support. The one I tried was more comfortable than most overstuffed La-Z-Boys.
Plus, they come in 26 colors, some of which look mighty close to Gretsch finishes. Don't like those? J.R. will have your leather custom-dyed.
And I think I overheard Joe and J.R. talking today about a possible run of Gretsch-logoed orange chairs. Do we like that idea?
Seating may sound frivolous, but those of us of a certain age know how big a difference it can make in comfort, and therefore playing time, and therefore musical progress.
And the restayou young whippersnappers will know soon enough...
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:47 p.m. Proteus:
SWAGAWAY #4 or so...
I'm sorry, I have two MORE Pickers Pokes to give away.
Remember, you get ALL this...
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How about some new guys this time?Easy one, too. Where was Raymond Butts from, and how did he meet Chester Atkins?
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- Rated: 12 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 11:05 p.m. KCMatt:
Ethel Miss, and he looked Chet up in the phone book to tell him about his amp.
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- Rated: 56 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 11:07 p.m. otterbean:
Answering for BWallace (Can I do that?): He was from Ethel, Mississippi.
Ray Butts met Chet Atkins after he drove to Nashville. He looked Chet up in the phonebook and met him at the Opry. He showed Chet one of his Echosonic Amps. Chet traded him a Fender amp as a down payment on his Echosonic. Ray credited Chet 100 bucks for the Fender amp. Chet had to pay the remaining 300 and some odd dollars for the Echosonic.
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- Rated: 2 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 11:43 p.m. ScottieDawg:
Hey Proteus,
Do you know if Gretsch will be offering them thar pokes for sale if we miss out on the swagaways? Not only do they come loaded with cool, useful stuff, but they're also a cool piece of 125 anni memorabilia!
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- Rated: 83 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 11:50 p.m. Mark Synchro:
OK, that was definitely not a 6122 1959 in yestaday's (southern word) trivia question. I has photographic proof now.
It looks like it's about 14" across.
I won! I won! I won!
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- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 12, 2008 2:11 a.m. Proteus:
KCMatt and BWallace (in care of o'bean) win this round...though Randy and Katha Butts did not mention Ethel, MS. I'd always heard Cairo (in the south that's pranounced Kay-ro, like the syrup) Illinois.
Where's the source for Ethel, MS?
(As always, if I don't already have your address from earlier giveaways, message me with the pertickulers.)
