Knee Levers

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 5 Nov 2002 1:47 pm

What is the history of the knee lever? Who were among the first to use them? When?

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 6 Nov 2002 2:14 am

I seem to remember from the Winnie Winston book that Zane Beck added some knee levers to Jimmy Day's guitar back in the 50's. Do I remember this right?

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 6 Nov 2002 3:11 am

The guy, who played in the Louisiana Hayride in the 50's, Sonny Trimble ( or Trammel ) also had a T8 Fender Custom with an added knee lever.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 6 Nov 2002 11:40 am

I heard that Zane Beck played for someone that would not let him use pedals, so he invented the knee lever to take the place of pedals. I guess the singer never looked under the guitar.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 6 Nov 2002 3:34 pm

I wanted to get a few reactions before I shared what I was told, by Zane Beck. He told me that the guy he was playing for didn't want him to sit down and play. It didn't look good. So Zane developed knee levers that he could use, standing up. That is what he told me. Of course, it is possible that someone else was doing it, too.