It's more than an instrument. It's a real estate investment.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Mar 2014 11:01 am

Courtesy of the lap steel lunatics Facebook group ...

James Hartman · Post by **James Hartman** » 10 Mar 2014 12:35 pm

Put some wheels on it. You could drive it to the gig.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 10 Mar 2014 12:45 pm

This actually reminds me of the mystery console in an old WS video that was discussed long ago with Rick Alexander.
In fact, could this be the piece that was lost in a flood at Rick's home?
What does the front panel say?

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 10 Mar 2014 1:47 pm

Selectra Chord or Electra Chord

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 10 Mar 2014 1:51 pm

Chief "what's his name".......triple neck BIGSBY was way too big to be comfortable to handle.

The above photo put a whole new meaning on "BIG" is!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Mar 2014 3:36 pm

Wow, a cowboy sitting behind Liberace's organ... uh, piano!

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 10 Mar 2014 3:41 pm

It would be even better if it was wooly sheep skin.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 11 Mar 2014 11:36 am

Niels Andrews wrote:Selectra Chord or Electra Chord

I'm running with Selectra, Niels. Thanx.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 11 Mar 2014 11:58 am

Ya gotta really wonder if that cowboy actually hauled (or drove) that monster to gigs! It seems to have NATIONAL fretboards and string covers ? I wonder where it is now ? Probably at an auto wrecker yard !

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 11 Mar 2014 12:06 pm

I would love to know more about this beast. I can't seem to find anything on the internet. Anybody know anything?

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 11 Mar 2014 12:51 pm

I believe this model came with the matching amp and forklift.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Mar 2014 12:59 pm

His favorite number was "In my Adobe Hacienda" because he was playing an Adobe Hacienda.

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 12 Mar 2014 1:19 am

. . . looks like it might be from
"The Incredible Shrinking Man"!

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 12 Mar 2014 2:58 am

I think his name was Frank Marvin, he played with Merle Travis in the late 40's. He and that Frankensteel can be seen in the telescriptions on Merle's Rare Performances DVD.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 12 Mar 2014 7:25 am

I think his behemoth console says "Electra Chord" on the front. National (Valco) made a contraption called the Electra Chord in the late 1940s.

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 12 Mar 2014 8:06 am

Frank, and his brother, Johnny, played in Gene Autry's band on the radio in the late 30's.

Rich Sullivan · Post by **Rich Sullivan** » 12 Mar 2014 8:34 am

His name is Eddie Martin. I have seen the videos that Jussi mentioned of him playing the huge console, but I can't find any of those on-line to link to. He plays a lap steel in this Merle Travis video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuaZ112iGLc
As an aside, the bearded character at the beginning of this video is Clifford Snyder, who performed under the stage name "Herman the Hermit". He was Cliffie Stone's father (real name also Clifford Snyder.)

Here are a few previous posts in which Billy Tonneson gives some information about Eddie Martin.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... die+martin

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... die+martin

I read somewhere that when he built the console, it would not fit through the doorway of the room in which he built it, and he had to knock a wall down to get it out, but I'm not sure if that is an apocryphal anecdote or not.

Matt Berg · Post by **Matt Berg** » 12 Mar 2014 8:44 am

I think his behemoth console says "Electra Chord" on the front. National (Valco) made a contraption called the Electra Chord in the late 1940s.

I never knew Valco made pedals. Thanks, Doug for cramming another piece of trivia into my brain!

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 12 Mar 2014 9:44 am

That's right, Eddie Martin it was!

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 12 Mar 2014 9:44 am

That's right, Eddie Martin it was!

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 12 Mar 2014 12:37 pm

Rich Sullivan wrote:His name is Eddie Martin.
I have seen the videos.
I read somewhere that when he built the console it would not fit through the doorway of the room in which he built it, and he had to knock a wall down to get it out.

Thanx for this info, Rich, those scarce videos have become enigmatic to me and would love to see any of it again.
That great story foreshadows the Black Sabbath/Stonehenge/Spinal Tap craziness by decades.

The Steel Guitar Forum

It's more than an instrument. It's a real estate investment.

It's more than an instrument. It's a real estate investment.

The original bull-ride at Gilley's?

And some tho't that.................