1959 Wright Custom Pictures and Questions

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 9 Apr 2012 9:53 am

Shoot this is a fun guitar... I post the pics first Questions next

And know for some Questions ...

I'm guessing its late 50's to early 60's, No serial number I can find.
It has the Name Don Love inside, I did find a steel from the WWVA Jamboree with that name, He played for Hank King in the late 50's. This guitar came out of that area.

The back neck is set up E9 w/AB and an E lower on the 3rd pedal. The front neck is still anybody's guess, I'll post the changes when I get them figured out.

If any one can get me a High Res picture of the wright name plate, I think I can have one made. also looking for pickup covers?

More questions to follow
Thanks Matt
In case anybody is wondering I added the shiny new return springs

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 9 Apr 2012 11:28 pm

Are those cables or rods? It should have cables. Cool guitar, sorry I don't have a high res photo of the name plate but here's a triple neck from the same era:

Also, check out David Wright's website for more:
http://davidwright.us/index.php?page=memories

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 10 Apr 2012 6:16 am

Thanks, Jussi

It's all cables and pulleys, I'll post a better pic when I get home.

Thanks

Matt

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 10 Apr 2012 6:30 pm

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 10 Apr 2012 7:23 pm

Nice score Matt. I love the Wrights. Looks like you have a good looking example. I'd assume it is mid to late 50's. I have one that is very similar.
Todd

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 10 Apr 2012 7:26 pm

Deleted

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 10 Apr 2012 8:33 pm

I have a map going .. But who knows what's been altered or broken throughout the years

1 high to 8 low

Pedal 4 should move 3 strings but the linkage to string 1 is gone, the cable is still intact and moving ...

Pedal 4 lowers 8 raises 6 and xxx string 1

Pedal 5 raises 6 and lowers 2

Pedal 6 raises 4 and lowers 3

Note - string 7 has no finger and any lower can be a raise or vise versa depending on how the string is installed.

Michael, why was it called a "crash" neck?

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 11 Apr 2012 2:50 am

it looks to be 1958 -59... built in Red Bluff , Ca..I'm doing some more checking on it..

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 11 Apr 2012 8:03 am

Deleted

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 11 Apr 2012 8:06 am

Deleted

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 12 Apr 2012 8:00 am

David, thanks I can't wait to hear what you find out.

Micheal, I love learning new stuff, thanks for the explanation and as always the great pics.

I posted in another thread, I'm trying to find Don Love, the guitars original owner. I hoping to contact Hank King or steel guitarist Dick Vernon, but have hit a wall. If anybody knows them tell them I would love talk with them.

Matt

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 17 Apr 2012 6:14 pm

Good news, thanks to Charlie McVay, he put me in touch with Dick Vernon, who in turn put me in touch with Hank King. Getting a little bit closer to finding Don Love and possibly a picture of his guitar when it was new.

Hank King info
http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/ ... p?id=12877

I'll post more when I know more.

Matt

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 17 Apr 2012 9:50 pm

Decided to do a little late night work, as fun as this is to play I know it will be even better after its been all torn down and setup and cleaned

I guess this pinpoints the Date

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 18 Apr 2012 3:11 am

Mat.
Talked to my Dad, and sent him all this stuff, he doesn't remember anything, He said just built to many .. I see you made a great find on the date

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 19 Apr 2012 3:08 am

Mat,
Called my Dad and told him of your find, he said it was built in Mission San Jose...Ca
we moved to Red Bluff in Dec of 59,

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 19 Apr 2012 3:38 am

No doubt about it - Mr Wright Senior was a pioneer and a genius.

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 22 Apr 2012 4:04 pm

Thanks for checking David, I appreciate all your help!

I Did get a chance to speak to Hank King. Hank is an extremely nice person, with a wealth of historical knowledge. Sadly Don Love past away many years ago. Hank did say he'd send me any pictures he can find of Don and the guitar, as well as ask other players he knew to do the same.

Meanwhile....

I got the guitar all stripped down and ready for cleaning...

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 22 Apr 2012 10:13 pm

Vance Terry with a similar guitar but T8:

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 23 Apr 2012 4:36 am

That last pic looks like Jim Reeves singing..it says JR on the bass drum as well...nice!

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 23 Apr 2012 4:43 am

Nope, JR stands for Jimmy Rivers ( on the double neck Gibson ). This is the same band as on the Brisbane Bop recordings from the 23 Club. Don't recall now what was the singer's name, but it's him.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 23 Apr 2012 8:11 am

Deleted

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 23 Apr 2012 8:18 am

Deleted

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 24 Apr 2012 7:10 pm

Wow I'd never seen any of those pictures of Vance Terry... Way cool.

Jussi, do you have any dates on those pics?

And... Huh? Did Vance play a Wright on Brisbane or a Bigsby?

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 24 Apr 2012 11:22 pm

Matthew, I don't have a confirmed date but I suspect they are 62/63. Vance played 2 or three different Wrights on the Brisbane recordings. I don't think he played the Bigsby on any of those.

Ian Sutton · Post by **Ian Sutton** » 25 Apr 2012 10:23 am

Slightly unrelated, but I had the opportunity to play at 23 Club in Brisbane a few weeks ago. Lots of great history, but man, Brisbane is a strange place...

The Steel Guitar Forum

1959 Wright Custom Pictures and Questions

1959 Wright Custom Pictures and Questions

I should be Asleep....