An interesting find with some history. I noted that it has a Shubb 5th string capo, which might lay to rest some anti-Shubb sentiments, and it's in a Vega case. It looks to be an awfully nice long neck. I can't afford it, but maybe some of you can ...
8 Comments |
 | darwinyarwin says:
9/1/2014 1:49:24 PM
Ooops!! I missed the "sold" notice at the end of the ad. Sorry. Never mind.
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 | calypsojimmy says:
9/1/2014 6:00:52 PM
Man what a great instrument... &I always loved listening to Ms. West. Such a pure beautiful voice, and a fine banjoist as well. Plus: I am a big fan of Mississippi John Hurt, and the best video I can find of him is from one particular show from Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest series done in NYC in the 60's, and Ms. West was a co-guest (along with a classical banjoist named Paul Cadwell) ... I watch this show often, and so I get to see Hedy West in action ... pretty often.
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| calypsojimmy says:
9/1/2014 6:09:43 PM
Man what a great instrument... &I always loved listening to Ms. West. Such a pure beautiful voice, and a fine banjoist as well. Plus: I am a big fan of Mississippi John Hurt, and the best video I can find of him is from one particular show from Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest series done in NYC in the 60's, and Ms. West was a co-guest (along with a classical banjoist named Paul Cadwell) ... I watch this show often, and so I get to see Hedy West in action ... pretty often.
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 | John Gribble says:
9/1/2014 6:25:42 PM
That would have been a nice banjo to have, or at least play once. I wonder what became of her Vega. I don't remember seeing any pictures of her with a Gibson and it looks like she kept the Vega case.
I recently bought a CD reissue of her two Vanguard albums which I enjoy. There is also a recording of her performing at the Ash Grove in LA on Wolfgang's Vault.
Another instrument which I lusted after a few years ago was a Martin 000-28 which had belonged to poet/Lincoln biographer/folklorist-singer Carl Sandburg. But the pricetag was 35 grand. Way out of my league.
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| calypsojimmy says:
9/2/2014 7:54:43 AM
I always gravitate to her 3 album recordings for Topic Records in UK. Fortunately, they are available in digital format... I downloaded "Ballads" from iTunes. There also seems to be a 2011-released collection of all tunes from those 3 Topic LPs on Fellside Recordings – FECD241 "Ballads & Songs of the Appalachians - Hedy West " ... but it doesn't appear to be easy to procure in the USA.
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 | boulderfolkie says:
9/2/2014 1:49:03 PM
On the subject of instruments owned by well-known folkies: Ian Tyson's 1970 D-45 is for sale at the Old Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada, CO. Has a diamond set into the 14th? Fret and Ian's brand just below it. Comes with rash from his Championship rodeo buckle. You can see that diamond sparkle in YouTube videos from the 70's of him and Sylvia and others.
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 | Lew H says:
9/9/2014 10:39:07 AM
Hedy West played Seeger style Vega when I met her in the mid-sixties. The sticker on the case has a date of 1977, so she might have switched banjos for some reason. Nonetheless, I would need more evidence than a name on a case to believe that this is her banjo.
Over in the forums, someone asked for help in learning "Fare Thee Well" (Green grows the Laurel) from Hedy's first album. If you haven't seen that, you should check it out.
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| darwinyarwin says:
9/9/2014 11:02:05 AM
I agree Lew, that the provenance must be stronger. I assume there was some documentation as well. In corresponding with another BHO member, we both produced photos of Ms. West playing LN Odes, RB 175's, Vegas and some that can't be identified in the pictures. Most pro folk artists during long careers played a variety of brands and models of their instruments. John Stewart's (KT) birthday this week resulted in several comments about him playing a Gibson LN for awhile. We've seen Pete Seeger photos of several different LNs over time. One size or brand certainly doesn't fit all.
I'm very attached to my Ode LN, but I just "rescued" a broken RB-175 on ebay. I look forward to playing it after I fix it. ;)
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