John Beland Community.
Talk about and with John.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 10) |
| Author | Comment |
Lotta
 May 24, 08 - 4:08 PM |
bbender
Hey John. Could you please tell us why the bbender has become your more or less trademark? Maybe many people know but I don't and I'm curious:) Thanks, Lotta |
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Berit
May 24th, 2008 - 8:15 PM |
Re: bbender
I am too!!!! |
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John Beland
May 25th, 2008 - 9:14 AM |
Re: bbender
Hi Lotta The BBender, as it's called, is actually a device called THE PARSONS-WHITE PULL STRING BENDER. It was invented by two members of the Byrds, Gene Parsons & the late Clarence White. Many years ago guitarist Clarence White wanted to make his Fender Telecaster sound more like a steel guitar. So his friend, and bandmate, Gene Parson who was also an accomplished machinist, came up with a device that enabled the player to pull on his guitar strap and bend the B string, in the same way a pedal pends strings on a steel guitar. The device is a metal pulling arm unit which is installed through the back of the guitar. By attaching your strap to a lever and pulling downward you elevate the pitch a full step. The BBender has since been modified and a number of people now make variations like Joe Glasser in Nashville, Dave Evans, in California and Bill Bores in Texas. When they were first made, only of few guys in LA played it like Clarence White, Bob Warford, myself and Bernie Leadon. You can hear the BBender on the Eagles record Peaceful Easy Feeling. The original prototype bbender guitar, once owned and played by Clarence White,who died in 1973, is now owned and played by country music star Marty Stuart. A few years ago Fender Guitars issued a Clarence White Tele featuring a Parsons-White BBender.You can still find them online. They are very good guitars, by the way. If you go to the Fender Telecaster fan site www.tdpri.com you can find an entire BBender forum where bender players and fans discuss everything and everyone relating to the BBender. Hope this helps, Lotta JB |
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Lotta
May 25th, 2008 - 12:59 PM |
Re: bbender
Thanks John. Yes, it hepled a lot. Interesting to know where it all coame from and why. I like the sound of a pedal steel :) Now, on which songs do YOU use yours the most? /L |
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John Beland
May 25th, 2008 - 4:11 PM |
Re: bbender
Lotta &Berit I have used the bbender on too many recordings to name. But if you have a copy of my newest CD JOHN BELAND - THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS YEARS, you'll hear the bbender on 2 instrumentals "Buckaroo" and "Pull This". It's also heard throughout the CD on various tracks. Thanks Lotta & Berit! JB! |
Tony Trout
May 25th, 2008 - 6:21 PM |
Re: bbender
John, This is Tony Trout (tonytrout) from the TDPRI. What is your thoughts on the P/W B/G bender? I have one (installed by Bill Bores) and I love it cuz it's made my playing so much more fun!! Have you ever used a B/G bender? |
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Denise
May 25th, 2008 - 8:12 PM |
Re: bbender
That's really cool to learn about the bbender.I am a humoungous fan of FBB and Byrds etc. and heard of the bbender but I did not know that was what is was called.I have heard Clarence White's playing and have discovered so much,LIKE YOU,JOHN!!  And I did not know that it was used on Peaceful Easy Feeling! I shall have to listen again!!Thanks a lot for the info!!
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Don Miller
May 25th, 2008 - 8:54 PM |
Re: bbender
Hello John...this is a nice forum. I hope it does well. I think the thing to remeber about stringbender style guitar is that its not really intended to copy a pedal steel...some steel licks play nicely on a stringbender but theres much more to it....it adds such a fluidity to ones playing...you can do little slithers and bends that are not possible on a regular guitar..."Peaceful Easy Feeling" is a good example of that...so is "Pull This" I would imagine that Summer in Norway is alot like summer in Alaska with 19-20 hours of daylight and such....I think we have more bear and wolves..and our tourists drive bigger motorhomes but I bet theres alot of places that look very much alike...Hope you have a great summer, John... |
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John Beland
May 25th, 2008 - 9:05 PM |
Re: bbender
I couldnt agree with you more Don. In fact, the real key to using a BBender is "not" to use it. The less you use it the more effective it will be when you do introduce it into what you're playing. Clarence White could actually play many of those licks associated with the BBender long before he actually had a BBender installed. Heres wishing you a great summer too, Don. Stay in touch OK? Cheers, bud JB |
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Denise
May 26th, 2008 - 10:09 PM |
Re: bbender
I am trying to learn to play the guitar.For me that is like saying I am flapping my arms to fly like a bird.  I am making as much progress either way.But I love it anyway.Things like the bbender just dazzle me.Like having a Pinto that needs an engine and a 57 Chevy rolls by.Some day,when I grow up...(I'm only 37.) Peace.
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