George Jones "Tall Tall Trees"

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

Who played on George Jones' "Tall Tall Trees"? (B Side of "Hearts in My Dream)"

Dave Magram · From: San Jose, California, USA

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

Dave, thanks. That's some good (and early) Buddy Emmons. Does anyone think that is the Fender?

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

Dave, thanks. That's some good (and early) Buddy Emmons. Does anyone think that is the Fender?

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

That is so good !

Fish · Posted 24 Jan 2024 5:55 pm

Hi Dean,

It's great to see your posts here on the Forum.

I'm pretty certain the steel guitar Buddy used on "Tall, Tall Trees" was a Bigsby. I say this because it was recorded at the same session as "Hearts In My Dreams." Here is a section from the book Buddy and I worked on together that explains even further:

When it came to George Jones, Buddy had a blind spot: “I don’t remember much about the Jones sessions,” he wrote in a 2010 email. “Jimmy Day and I were taking turns recording with George, depending on who was working the road at the time. The reason ‘Hearts in My Dream’ [1957] sticks in my [mind] is because I borrowed Walter Haynes’s Bigsby to use on the session and was shocked at how much better it sounded than mine. I used to experiment with my guitar and I’m assuming the session was a last-minute call and my Bigsby wasn’t in condition to use.”

All the best to you, Dean!

Steve Fishell

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Thanks for that post, Steve. I didn't touch this question because while I remembered Forum discussion putting Buddy on the Bigsby for 'Hearts', I know nothing of the Starday session logs and timeline.
Also, if someone asked 'doesn't that sound like a Fender?' I'd have to say 'boy, sure does!'.

Chris Templeton · From: The Green Mountain State

And the Roger Miller version with Buddy, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrYRPXD7BaU
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robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

As Steve said, Emmons borrowed Walter Haynes's Bigsby for "Tall, Tall Trees" and "Hearts in My Dream." Here's Walter and his Bigsby from "Stars of The Grand Ole Opry," before Emmons relocated to Nashville.

Walter Haynes & Bigsby @ 1:22
"Little Jimmy Dickens - John Henry"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9EsissdorI

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

I believe Walter Haines’ Bigsby had plungers behind the nut (same as Speedy West and Bud Isaacs) to move the strings, while Buddy’s guitar was cable operated and had changer fingers at the bridge, the same as a modern steel. Perhaps the WH guitar having strings anchored directly into the one big piece of aluminum that made up the bridge, neck, and keyhead contributed to the superior sound Buddy noticed?

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Chris Scruggs quote: "I believe Walter Haines' Bigsby had plungers behind the nut (same as Speedy West and Bud Isaacs) to move the strings, while Buddy's guitar was cable operated and had changer fingers at the bridge, the same as a modern steel."

Thanks Chris Scruggs. That explains it. Haynes played his Bigby maybe a year or even more before Emmons got his Bigsby (Detroit, late 1954 - early 1955), and PA had changed from plungers to cables.

This reminds me of an Eddie Stubbs interview with Hal Rugg and Buddy Emmons over WSM, where they talked about the first Sho-Buds not having roller nuts - just slots where the strings went over the nut. In the Stubbs interview, Emmons said he thought the steel guitar had lost part of its tone when they went from slots to rollers.

I guess you could say progress doesn't always translate into good tone.

@ 13:05 - Here is Jimmy Day sitting behind Emmons's Bigsby (Buddy Harmon on drums)

"Grand Ole Opry Stars of the 50s 1"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJU8BS-jDU&t=785s

Here is Emmons @19:26 on his Bigsby with no plungers at the peg head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJU8BS-jDU&t=785s

re: The Country Boys: Howard Rhoten, Spider Wilson, Joel Price, Del Wood, Louie Dunn, Johnny Johnson and Emmons:

They earned while they burned.

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

So, to be clear.....no pedals on Emmons original recording with Jones?

It sure is a great part, either way.

Pete Finney · From: Nashville Tn.

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