Emmons #3 at work

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 19 Feb 2011 11:16 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nw7jIaRDgA

Sonny Curtis behind the wheel, backing up a most-youthful Paycheck on a classic, with Professor Charles Justice on violin.

Who made that bass, anyway?

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 19 Feb 2011 11:48 am

Very nice - a real hidden treasure there Herb.
Thanks for posting this one! Ron

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 19 Feb 2011 11:52 am

There's also a vid of that same show with "Love Bug," and it shows Paycheck's rather unorthodox picking style on bass, more like a finger picker in right hand position than a bassist. Many bassists of that era used straight (flat) picks, in fact.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 19 Feb 2011 11:52 am

Hey Herb, thanks for the cool link.

The notes on the video suggest the bass is a Baldwin, but I suspect it's a Teisco NB-4.

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/fraudster/2024
- John

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 19 Feb 2011 11:59 am

John, how nice hearing from you! I didn't read the notes, obviously.

Very informative stuff.

Also interesting is the sparse guitar playing of Jack Watkins. It looked from his right hand like he was playing single notes doubling the bass line, a la tic-tac.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 19 Feb 2011 12:29 pm

Wow ! What a great band. I love that perfectly arranged elegant sound. Not a note played that didn't have something to say. Those triplet ghost beats coming off the snare is something you need to be a total bad ass to pull off right.

Thanks Herb !

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 19 Feb 2011 4:57 pm

Who is the steel player here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg938ysVtc8

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 19 Feb 2011 6:02 pm

Kevin, I believe thats Jay Andrews.

Herb, wheres ole #3 today ?
Hook

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 19 Feb 2011 7:23 pm

My Little Buddie Sonny has changed through the years . If i didn't know it was him on steel i wouldn't believe it !

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 19 Feb 2011 7:52 pm

I bought a Teisco bass like that one for one of my sons when he started his first band. It was playable, lightweight, sounded like a bass, and was cheap.

Steve Alcott · Post by **Steve Alcott** » 19 Feb 2011 7:53 pm

I was thinking Baldwin as well, but the rocker switches made me think Japanese; I'll buy the Teisco attribution, especially with that goofy headstock.
JP's picking technique is pretty common among people who played guitar first-thumb on the E string and index on the rest while palm muting. The really cool part was the guitarist, who played tictac with the flat pick AND the other half of the shuffle beat with his fingers.

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 19 Feb 2011 8:11 pm

I bought a Teisco bass like that one for one of my sons when he started his first band. It was playable, lightweight, sounded like a bass, and was cheap.

Steve Alcott · Post by **Steve Alcott** » 19 Feb 2011 8:16 pm

I'm a big fan of odd instruments that have a unique sound.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Feb 2011 8:57 pm

Too cool.

Who's the players in this one? Looks like Sonny, but I thought he left George by the time he got this old.

Click Here

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 19 Feb 2011 11:38 pm

Hook
Number 3 is owned by Ron Lashley Jr. and is currently under restoration.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 20 Feb 2011 12:45 am

Cool clip...
Is it just me or does anyone else think that Paycheck reminds you of a younger Dale Watson?
Not so much in appearance, but more in gestalt...

Scott Hay · Post by **Scott Hay** » 20 Feb 2011 1:47 am

beautiful. thanks!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 20 Feb 2011 4:39 am

Great ! Thanks Herb..
Hook

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 20 Feb 2011 7:44 am

This is a cool clip Herb! I was just listening yesterday to a bunch of Johnny Paycheck I have from the "Real Mr. Heartache" era with Lloyd Green all over it. I think Ricky Davis turned me onto it years ago, and said "Go learn this stuff and you'll be good to go on steel." It's a clinic.

There are some really 'odd' songs from that era, "(Pardon Me), I've Got Someone To Kill","The Cave" ???? along with all the classics "Apt. #9", "Jukebox Charlie", etc. The CD I bought was called the "The Real Mr. Heartache: The Little Darlin' Years". It's a must have for any steel player.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 20 Feb 2011 3:09 pm

Wonderful, and I still like the reference of A-11, because juke boxes stopped at A-10.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 21 Feb 2011 8:45 am

Sonny Curtis is one of my very favorite people in the world of pedal steel guitar. He is a great player, has a most unique style with pedals A and B engaged to play open E9th chord, pedals up for an A, exactly backwards to the rest of us. A wonderful friendly guy. If I were getting a steel show together he would be my first call as a performer. I would think that he would be in great demand for any and all steel shows. Talk about history, artistry, personality, Sonny is the guy and his wife sings great also. Herb, thanks for starting this thread.
Jerry

Ian Sutton · Post by **Ian Sutton** » 22 Feb 2011 7:46 am

chas smith wrote:Wonderful, and I still like the reference of A-11, because juke boxes stopped at A-10.

Having grown up in an era mostly void of jukeboxes, I just noticed that fact this weekend when my girlfriend and I were in a Johnny Rockets restaurant and I was looking to see which song A-11 was so that I could crack wise about it. Joke's on me.