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Scotty Moore's Echosonic Amp Cabinet For Aution

October 18, 2007 | Other
The original Echosonic amp cabinet used on all the live and studio guitar work during Elvis Presley's career (1955-1957) is up for aution on eBay (item: 260171136955).

From the aution:

You can hear it on all the hits from the early years including: Mystery Train, Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, and more.

The Echosonic was designed and hand-built by Ray Butts. While only 68 ever being built, the Echosonic found a unique place in history with a built-in tape echo (loop) unit. This patented tape loop echo system was one of the first guitar effects ever built, permanently installed in a high-quality custom-built guitar amp and speaker cabinet combo. First used publicly on a large-scale by Chet Atkins, Echosonic guitar combos have been used by many recording artists through the years including Luther Perkins (Johnny Cash), Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Scotty Moore.

After hearing recordings of Chet Atkins using his Echosonic, a gentleman playing guitar with Elvis Presley named Scotty Moore, wanted one of his own. Unable to afford it upfront and builder Ray Butts not working on credit, Moore arranged that the O.K. Houck Piano Company in Memphis, TN buy it for him to repay: ordered on January, 20th, 1955. Upon its delivery on May 23rd, 1955, this amp became the backbone for Scotty Moore's guitar sound that has made its place in history. It was used on just about every recording and every live performance. Then on April 1st, 1957 it fell from the stage when performing in Buffalo, NY. Requiring repairs Moore returned his Echosonic to Butts, who was living in Cairo, IL at the time. With a newer cabinet design then in use with a recessed grill in the front, and original cabinet worn from road use, Butts took the amplifier and echo unit pieces from the original speaker cabinet portion, placing these components in a new cabinet. That newer Echosonic combo is still owned by Scotty Moore to this day, while Butts kept the original cabinet..

Ray Butts had considered building a new amplifier and echo unit pieces for this original Echosonic cabinet in the late 90's to early 2000's, at the time considering a sale in order to raise money for other business interests. However, nothing would be completed before his passing in April 2003. With several people whom are immediate relatives of Butts in need of financial assistance, it was decided to try to sell this amp cabinet to raise money in order to help out.
Source:Ebay