Author Topic: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.  (Read 18590 times)

lowend1

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #30 on: December 26, 2010, 05:00:00 PM »
...the bass guitars had to be modified with an extension off the body of the guitar so he could strap it on a specific way and turn the guitar into an almost upright position just to play it because he could not rotate that left arm any more.

He would probably be playing a Cort Curbow now...
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Chaser001

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #31 on: December 29, 2010, 07:14:47 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6wpoeL-Tbs&feature=related

Lynyrd Skynyrd doing "Crossroads" in Atlanta, 1976.  Audio only. 

heavychevy

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #32 on: January 02, 2011, 07:36:54 AM »
I went to see Skynyrd on New Years Eve at MGM and their new bassist Robert Kearns did a pretty damn good job I thought. When he first came out on stage I thought I was looking at Leonn, he was dressed in a 70's style suit, a hat and funky red glasses. He was playing what looked like a late 60's Jazz through 2 vintage blue line SVT heads and cabs. For the last couple songs he broke out what appeared to be 3-tone sunburst NR Bach bass w/ a white guard, a P/J set up and a lefty neck. I wish I brought in a camera instead of my crappy cell phone.

Basvarken

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #33 on: January 02, 2011, 08:25:10 AM »
That would be awesome: my favorite bass player Robert P Kearns on a BaCHbird!
But I don't think BaCH ever made such a bass...

Denis

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #34 on: January 02, 2011, 08:39:45 AM »
Local connection to Robert Kearns: he played two Raleigh bands, Cry of Love and Sidewinder. Pee Wee Watson was also in Cry of Love and works at Harry's Guitar Shop, which I often frequent.
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Basvarken

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #35 on: January 02, 2011, 08:45:07 AM »
Wow Denis. Did you ever see CoL live?
I'm glad I did. Their album Brother is my all time fav albums top three.

Denis

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #36 on: January 02, 2011, 09:05:32 AM »
Wow Denis. Did you ever see CoL live?
I'm glad I did. Their album Brother is my all time fav albums top three.

It's possible, Rob, but I honestly can't remember! There were many small music venues in Raleigh and area cities in those days and I saw many, many bands in those days. Wish I had a list of them all!

Here's an interesting link from our local paper announcing Kearns would play with Skynyrd.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/beat/triangle-alumni-report-robert-kearns-to-lynyrd-skynyrd
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Highlander

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #37 on: January 02, 2011, 09:06:11 AM »
Best I can find at the moment - give it a few weeks and they may start to show up...



There appears to be a 'bird logo on the scratch...
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Denis

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #38 on: January 02, 2011, 09:07:23 AM »
Best I can find at the moment - give it a few weeks and they may start to show up...



Wow, the similarity is uncanny!
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Basvarken

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #39 on: January 02, 2011, 09:29:02 AM »
Now that I re-read that post about the bass that Robert played I'm certain it must have been an Epiphone Non Reverse Thunderbird. They have three tone burst, Pj pickups, red bird logo and upside down head stock.

Nocturnal

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #40 on: January 02, 2011, 09:45:09 AM »
Yeah, sounds like the bass I bought from Denis. I haven't seen another NR made that way by anyone other than Epi.

You can see pictures here:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=3457.0
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heavychevy

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #41 on: January 02, 2011, 10:46:08 AM »
the only reason I said BaCH was that on the headstock there what looked like a BaCH logo...WTF do I know though, it was New Years and had quite a few drinks in me

heavychevy

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #42 on: January 02, 2011, 11:07:43 AM »
this is the best I could find for now

« Last Edit: January 02, 2011, 10:44:00 PM by Dave W »

Chaser001

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #43 on: January 02, 2011, 01:01:13 PM »
Local connection to Robert Kearns: he played two Raleigh bands, Cry of Love and Sidewinder. Pee Wee Watson was also in Cry of Love and works at Harry's Guitar Shop, which I often frequent.


That's really interesting. 

Highlander

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Re: Nifty pics of Leon Wilkeson with T-birds.
« Reply #44 on: January 02, 2011, 03:02:31 PM »
You did well to spot it and bring it to the table, 'Chevy, and welcome... ;)
The random mind of a Silver Surfer...
If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...