What the Heck is the Thing Eddie Peabody is Playing in this Video?

December 22nd, 2006

My guess is that it’s a custom Vega Tenor Lute with a plectrum neck set up with six strings in which two of the pairs are tuned in courses and played as a four string. (Peabody had Rickenbacker make him an electric version in the 1960s which he dubbed the Banjoline.) Anyway, if anyone out there has better info, I’d love to know about it. Also, there are a couple of other interesting things to note in the video. One, there is a Gibson Style U Harp Guitar that doesn’t get played. Two, back in those days, ladies seemed to really, really like plectrum banjo players.-MJS UPDATE: Barney notes in the comments that the complete Eddie Peabody clip, with the missing harp guitar footage intact, was on YouTube all the time but the guy who posted it misspelled Eddie’s name, which is why I didn’t find it. Anyway, here’s the link to it. Thanks, Barney!

Entry Filed under: Guitar, Banjo