Ry Cooder & Weissenborns?

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Weissenborn Players

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This group is dedicated to the Weissenborn players around the world.

179 Members, Created 2/15/2011 -

Administrators: Grizz (owner)

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From Aron on 2/21/2013 5:14:25 AM

Just thought I'd ask if anyone out there knows of any recordings, photos, or videos of Ry Cooder playing a weissenborn? Reason I ask is some reference sites quote him as a player but I can't find any material to back that claim up. Would be very note rested if anyone knew of anything. Thanks in advance

14 Comments
	jacknj says: 2/21/2013 5:27:09 AM Ry was the cover story of "Acoustic Guitar" magazine, July 1996, and the cover and article show him with a Weissenborn Kona style guitar. Also, Ry was the cover story of "Guitar Player" magazine, March 1980, with a photo of him in the article with the same style Weissenborn.
	Aron says: 2/21/2013 7:10:21 AM Thanks jack have you got a photo of that cover per chance? Still no recordings though, hmm my quest continues lol
	jacknj says: 2/21/2013 7:36:13 AM I take some photos and post them on my homepage later.
RobA says: 2/21/2013 9:56:48 AM I've seen that same photo, but to the best of my knowledge Ry Cooder plays bottleneck style, not lap-style slide. If it turns out that he's recorded something on lap-slide style I'd love to hear it. Either way, he's one of my all-time favorite players! I'll bet I've listened to the Paris, Texas record at least 1000 times!
	jacknj says: 2/21/2013 10:37:39 AM Photos uploaded to my homepage. Yes, Ry played bottleneck style, he said he left the lap style to Lindley. Rob, only 1000 times?
RobA says: 2/21/2013 10:44:22 AM Minimum of 1000 times!
	Aron says: 2/21/2013 11:04:11 AM Thanks Jack I had a look at the photos and can someone explain to me how he can fret and get his hand wrapped round the neck? It cant be a hollow neck and therefor can't be a weissenborn? And Rob your love of Paris Texas is very evident from your excellent videos, a 1000 times wow I've got some catching up to do lol :-)
	jacknj says: 2/21/2013 12:53:55 PM The Kona style Weissenborn had a hollow neck up to about the seventh fret. Below that towards the nut, it had a spanish style neck allowing for "normal" fretting. Tom Noe, a member of the group, has examples in his book. References to his book are mentioned in earlier posts.
	Aron says: 2/21/2013 12:59:37 PM Thank you Jack I had never heard of such an instrument before now I will do some research it sounds a fascinating instrument, do you know of any video links to one being played?
	Tom_Noe says: 2/21/2013 5:46:50 PM To hear David Lindley playing a Kona guitar, check the following; youtube.com/watch?v=nbc-A-eN9EU Don't be distracted by Dolly's giggling. It was Lindley's Kona on this song that converted me from a Dobro player 20+ years ago.
	Aron says: 2/21/2013 11:52:51 PM Thank you Tom, I couldn't get the link to work right now on my iPad I will try on the laptop at weekend.
	Tom_Noe says: 2/22/2013 10:54:50 AM All of John Fahey's slide work was done on Kona he bought in a San Francisco pawn shop in the 1960s for $25. Here's his "Steamboat Gwine Round de Bend." youtube.com/watch?v=K5RxriY7AGE
	Aron says: 2/23/2013 1:27:08 PM Thanks Tom that John Fahey video was superb :-) I really connected with his playing style.
	Bob Blair says: 2/23/2013 8:06:21 PM Fahey's "Rivers and Religion" record has a studio version of that, and a bunch of other amazing stuff. It is stunning stuff. There is something eerie about his work - like he was in a different dimension somewhere. Check it out!
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