Roy Orbison's Vintage Bigsby Tremolo Unit

Vintage Bigsby

Owned and played by Roy Orbison - with Letter of Authenicity.

This a circa 1960s Bigsby Tremolo Unit. I bought on eBay 23 years ago from Don Robin Hawkins, son of Hawkshaw Hawkins and Country Hall of Fame inductee Jean Shepard. Hawkshank died in the plane with Patsy Cline, and Jean got remarried to Bennie Birchfield, who was Roy Orbison's tour manager.

According to my conversations with Don at the time, Roy was good friends with Bennie and Jean and would stay at the Birchfield's property, park his tour bus there and call it home when he was in Memphis. Roy and Bennie would fiddle around with guitars in Bennie's shop, and at one point in time, Roy wanted a trem unit on the new guitar Gibson had sent him and Bigsby accommodated him with this particular unit.

Don acquired a lot of stuff from Bennie and decided to sell it via eBay in 2000. I bought a few things - a speaker cabinet, an old Gibson guitar case - and this Bigsby Tremolo unit.

Definitely well-used and well-work, this thing has the mojo and total vibe. Works great, I can't remember if the spring is original or not.

PS: I just did a little research into Bennie Birchfield and it seems that a few years ago, he came home to find his granddaughter being attacked by her boyfriend, and he was stabbed trying to stop him. He pulled out a gun and shot and killed the young man on the spot. The young girl died, and Bennie, while wounded badly, survived. Not sure if he's still around...but WHAT A STORY!

Shipping is a flat $20 insured. Sold as-is and as described. I paid $500 for it 23 years ago. You tell me what it's worth to you!

Thanks for looking.