I first saw Bob Wills Texas Playboys smaller group and and heard Eldon Shamblin's amazing rhythm licks in 1951 when he was still using his Gibson Super 400, the most well used but still being used guitar I had ever seen. At another session later that year or possibly into 1952, Shamblin was playing a blond Fender Telecaster The nicest guy; during breaks he would come down and sit at a table with a coke and visit with us country guitar wannabees and called the Fender a mechanical tool.
The Strat was the first non sunburst one. #0569. Eldon sold it to LS, then it went to LB then it went to RP and is now at the Hall of Fame with Bob's hat and boots.
Ok here we go for the guitar history IMPAIRED-Gilmours Strat while having a neck plate of 0001 or 01 or 1 or something IS NOT THE FIRST STRAT. No reliable history of Fender guitars,Stratocasters,etc. credit it as such. Nor is Eldon's the first ,either.Eldon's Strat is LIKELY the First GOLD painted Strat. Eldon's Stratocaster is prominently displayed at the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and exists in it's exact condition as Eldon parted with it.
Well, there are a couple of issues. I think it is accepted as fact that David Gilmour of Pink Floyd owns the first production Stratocaster. Regarding Eldon's Strat, Eldon is gone, Leo Fender is gone and the guitar itself is gone. In 90, 91 or 92, Eldon sold the Strat to a "friend" on the contingency the guitar would be in a museum. It may now be in Asia. I personally think it was a prototype.
I know the narrator said it was the very first Strat that Eldon had, but I think I've read in one of the books I have on the history of Fender says it's not actually THE first Strat, though it is a very early one. I've heard it said it was the first custom finished Strat.
Eldon was A FANTASTIC person and guitarest. A great video to see. have heard him on many great recordings with bob wills. and others. iam a great fan of western Swing . THANKS MUCH
Eldon Shamblin was quite a guy to get to know. Me and Ol' Ma Cummins, Zeen and Shirl Cummins and Big Jon worked with him too. Only not on the road, nupe...it was at The Guitar House in Tulsa located on Admiral Place in Tulsa. In those days Tommy Crook and Autry Rutledge and Brace Phillips all worked with Eldon there too. That man knew more chords on a guitar than anyone I ever knew..!
What a tribute! I saw the Playboys in '85 at Scotty's International Steel Guitar Convention. These videos posted and preserved thru You Tube are priceless. Thank those who make these available. I forward them to my grandson, who's just learning to play. Thank you again so much!
Cool!! My guitar teacher took lessons from, Eldon. He mentions him at almost every lesson. Thanks for posting this!!
fngrstyl 8 months ago
I first saw Bob Wills Texas Playboys smaller group and and heard Eldon Shamblin's amazing rhythm licks in 1951 when he was still using his Gibson Super 400, the most well used but still being used guitar I had ever seen. At another session later that year or possibly into 1952, Shamblin was playing a blond Fender Telecaster The nicest guy; during breaks he would come down and sit at a table with a coke and visit with us country guitar wannabees and called the Fender a mechanical tool.
bothdents 9 months ago
When I held the strat in 90 or 91 it had some very unusual traits. Eldon told me how Leon gave it to him at the factory.
maxpromedia 9 months ago
The Strat was the first non sunburst one. #0569. Eldon sold it to LS, then it went to LB then it went to RP and is now at the Hall of Fame with Bob's hat and boots.
astar334 1 year ago
Ok here we go for the guitar history IMPAIRED-Gilmours Strat while having a neck plate of 0001 or 01 or 1 or something IS NOT THE FIRST STRAT. No reliable history of Fender guitars,Stratocasters,etc. credit it as such. Nor is Eldon's the first ,either.Eldon's Strat is LIKELY the First GOLD painted Strat. Eldon's Stratocaster is prominently displayed at the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and exists in it's exact condition as Eldon parted with it.
thevidiotkid 1 year ago
@thevidiotkid - This is great news, as our family had not known the whereabouts of the guitar.
jsham66 1 year ago
@thevidiotkid I thought the first Strat was given by Doc Fender to Jimmy Bryant.
woodbell67 8 months ago
I got to play it in 1984 0r 85!....nice
tribebrian 1 year ago
I got to play it!!...yay
tribebrian 1 year ago
I think vintage guitar dealer Larry Briggs from Oklahoma could answer questions about Eldon's strat. I believe he had it for awhile.
tubeamp 1 year ago
It has always been known that Eldon's Stratocaster was athe 1st Proto-Type by Leo Fender.
dsully60 1 year ago
Well, there are a couple of issues. I think it is accepted as fact that David Gilmour of Pink Floyd owns the first production Stratocaster. Regarding Eldon's Strat, Eldon is gone, Leo Fender is gone and the guitar itself is gone. In 90, 91 or 92, Eldon sold the Strat to a "friend" on the contingency the guitar would be in a museum. It may now be in Asia. I personally think it was a prototype.
jsham66 1 year ago
I know the narrator said it was the very first Strat that Eldon had, but I think I've read in one of the books I have on the history of Fender says it's not actually THE first Strat, though it is a very early one. I've heard it said it was the first custom finished Strat.
Kohntarkosz 1 year ago
The VERY first Strat... nice for a guitar guy to get all those honors. Usually it's just the singers who don't know a G from a C.
williamanesbitt 2 years ago
I'm not sure it was THE VERY first Strat. I know it's a very early one, and it's been said it was the first one with a custom finish.
Kohntarkosz 1 year ago
Many folks compare my playing to Eldon's,I'ts been said "he don't play nuthin like eldon shamblin"
schurkeja 2 years ago 2
lol!
trawickjtt 2 years ago
Double negatives. It's actually pretty funny.
YoHuckleberry 2 years ago
One of my biggest musical influences. Very nice tribute video to him. Thanks for sharing it.
xms32 3 years ago
god jul
VeldigdeiligfraNorge 3 years ago
god jul
VeldigdeiligfraNorge 3 years ago
His demonstration of his signature style - blending bass notes and rhythm chords - is priceless. What a treat. Thanks.
meltaylor3 3 years ago
Eldon was A FANTASTIC person and guitarest. A great video to see. have heard him on many great recordings with bob wills. and others. iam a great fan of western Swing . THANKS MUCH
greentom7777 3 years ago
Oh, That made me teary eyed! How beautiful.
KittraKittra 4 years ago
Eldon Shamblin was quite a guy to get to know. Me and Ol' Ma Cummins, Zeen and Shirl Cummins and Big Jon worked with him too. Only not on the road, nupe...it was at The Guitar House in Tulsa located on Admiral Place in Tulsa. In those days Tommy Crook and Autry Rutledge and Brace Phillips all worked with Eldon there too. That man knew more chords on a guitar than anyone I ever knew..!
JerrysTube 4 years ago
What a tribute! I saw the Playboys in '85 at Scotty's International Steel Guitar Convention. These videos posted and preserved thru You Tube are priceless. Thank those who make these available. I forward them to my grandson, who's just learning to play. Thank you again so much!
resopicker 4 years ago
Mr. Shamblin was one of the best guitarists that I have ever heard.
bruiser 4 years ago
So glad that one of the Shamblins did something with his talents..A Shamblin from West Virginia
scarlett56 4 years ago
merle haggard got all the best!!!
jprthr3 4 years ago
what a great video! eldon was the best
fiddlenut24 4 years ago
wow!!!what a great man. i'm happy that he was a friend to our family.YES HE WAS THE BEST!!!!! MALLIE GILLEAN
malliedean 4 years ago