Parsons recently told me:
I was doing some sessions with Clarence White, and Clarence was one of the very first ones to chime a string-the B-string, or high E-string, and pull it over the nut of a Telecaster. We were doing a session, and we put down the rhythm track, and then he was putting down the lead part over it-a real simple lead part-and he wanted to chime the string and pull it over the nut, and then he wanted to do it at the second position and the third position. And he said, 'Gee, I wish I could that. But I'd need a third hand!'So we were fooling around, just kind of kidding around there, and I said, 'Well, I'll be your third hand. I'll pull the string up over the nut.'
So we fooled around, and we recorded it, and it was never used, but it was fun. But of course, the idea remained: how can we do this? And of course, the first thing I said, 'well, I can rig up a bridge on the back of your guitar here, and attach cables and foot pedals'.
And Clarence said, 'Well, yeah, if I wanted to play pedal steel, I'd play pedal steel.' I want something that's part of the guitar, so that the guitar can just be put away in the case when it's done. That's not really very visible, that doesn't take my hands out of their stance, and doesn't really alter the way that I play the guitar, except that I'm able to bend strings, or pull strings, somehow.'
So I cogitated on that for a while, and I came up with the idea of using the shoulder strap. And I presented that to Clarence, and he thought it was a real good idea, and I drew up some plans, and hunted down some steel guitars, which I procured mostly from Sneaky Pete, who had some extra steel guitar mechanisms laying around, and then the question came up of which string are we going to pull? Clarence pretty much thought that it would be the B-string, because the high-E string didn't lend itself to that many combinations, and we were afraid that it would break.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Ed, I love these guitar history pieces - thanks!
2 - Hazy Dave
A couple weeks ago, my local PBS station ran a show called "Guitar Notes". I couldn't find any info on the web, but check your local listings in case it turns up. Marty Stuart (who bought Clarence's Tele from his widow) demonstrated the B-bender and explained its function and genesis briefly. I felt like I was looking at a holy relic. Marty also played Mother Maybelle's guitar in the Carter Family style, and another segment focused on Chris Isaak and his brother. Recommended viewing.
3 - Pat
In early 1967, I was at a recording session in L.A. with James Burton, and he had a primitive b-bender on his Tele, and it blew me away when he made those pedal-steel sounds. BUT...it was not a Parsons-Greene. I don't know who made it, he just said, "A guy I know rigged this up." The b string was anchored below the bridge on a machined-alum. cam block, and James had to use his right hand to activate it, similar to using your hand to move a Strat whammy bar or Bigbsy tailpiece. I will have to ask J. about that early b-bender sometime.
4 - Tele_Thon
I have one...I love it. I swapped out the pickups for some hotter ones and it is now my main guitar.
5 - Jim Carruthers
One of my favourite guitar gizmos is the ebow.
"hmmm, how can I make a guitar sound like bagpips, bowed strings, etc.?"
6 - daryl skancke
great b-bender story but to not mention will ray of the hellecasters? the will ray b-bender is simple, affordable and requires very little modification when installed on telecaster type guiars, among others. also can be fitted with a g-bender and drop d for low e string. versatile, functional, affordable and dependable. installed mine in less than 30 minutes.
7 - Mike Breen
Ed, Great piece. I'm a b and g bender nut and have just released a CD of b and g bender instrumentals. It's called "Mescal Mary & Other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals." It's on ebay now and will be on CDBaby soon.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3722947785
Mike Breen
8 - matt tripp
i am a tele nut and builder. i install benders on guitars. I have a very unique design that allows you to change the pitch of your pulled note and the amount of pressure required to pull the note in seconds. It is designed and manufactured by a friend of mine in springfield, MO i am confident it is the best bender on the market and so are my customers. i would be happy to send anyone pictures or answer questions. Matt.
trippo@mo-net.com
9 - Mike Breen
"Mescal Mary and other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals" is out and available at CDBaby.com http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikebreen3
I hope that this contribution of 10 originals and 2 covers pays tribute to this wonderful invention. Thanks Gene and Clarence.
10 - Jeff Roberts
I have a b & g bender that my tele that I believe works as good as a Parsons White but when installed he did not have to tear up the back of my tele. I got it from B & W Benders. The attached website is his new website. Bill Warford the owner was telling me that Forrest Lee Jr. had him install one on his owm guitar and then used it in one of his videos. Mine works great and it took less than a month to get it installed.