Podcast 362: Retrofret's Steve Uhrik and Peter Kohman on Paul Bigsby

Paul Bigsby is one of the most important figures in the world of
electric guitar development. Of course, everyone knows about his
namesake (and still enduring) vibrato design. But the ultra-rare
creations he made before the vibrato took off - innovative lap
steels, pedal steels, electrics, and neck conversions - are the
stuff of legend. These instruments, primarily built for country
stars in the '40s and '50s, helped usher in  and influence
the modern electric guitar.

New York City's Retrofret Vintage Guitars recently posted what
might be the last Spanish-necked guitar that Bigsby ever built.
Previously undocumented, this guitar was finished on September
15, 1958 for a Midwest studio owner named Larry (whose name is
still engraved in the pickguard). At the time, Larry's guitar
order cost around $400.

Today's asking price? $750,000.

On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to the
always-lively Steve Uhrik and Peter Kohman from Retrofret about
it. We hear about how this guitar ended up at their store,
Bigsby's incredible legacy as a guitar designer (and why it's so
hard to copy one even today), the evolution of early electric
guitar design, Bigsby's strained relationship with Leo Fender
(and Semie Moseley), the skinny "hot rod" neck that Bigsby
specialized in, and the time Merle Haggard bought Lefty
Frizzell's Gibson J-200 from Retrofret (and the gamble with
Haggard they politely declined).

We also hear about Retrofret's recent video shoot with Bill
Frisell on this Bigsby guitar and what Bill thought of it. Watch
the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOZ9eBrFZz0


This is an entertaining chat about both an extremely collectible
instrument and the rich history of the electric guitar. We hope
you enjoy it.


This episode is sponsored by Peghead Nation (use the promo code
FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual
subscription); Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the
discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and
Calton Cases.

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