Eddie McFadden

**Drumbler** · 02-17-2010, 03:10 PM

Anyone have any info on Eddie McFadden.

He played guitar with Jimmy Smith.

**Joe Walsh** · 03-11-2012, 12:10 AM

I know this is two years on, but I came across this thread after poking around Google asking the same the same question. Doesn't seem to be much out there about him. Here are the only links I could find:

Who was/is Eddie Mcfadden? BuelahMan's Revolt

Tony Flood's House of Hard Bop: Happy Birthday, Eddie McFadden, Wherever You May Be

**mike g** · 03-12-2012, 10:10 AM

Just came across this. Seems like He's no longer with us..

Eddie Lee Mcfadden; Noted Jazz Guitarist - Philly.com

**Joe Walsh** · 03-12-2012, 10:21 PM

Thanks Mike!

**wintermoon** · 03-15-2012, 12:17 PM

I've had Eddie's old Gibson L-5 for 20 yrs, been my main gigging guitar.
it's the one he's playing in the Tony Flood link Joe Walsh posted...

**M-ster** · 03-15-2012, 12:31 PM

Is this a story you can share, wintermoon?

**wintermoon** · 03-15-2012, 12:44 PM

yes, 20 yrs ago I went to a local music store looking for an L-5 and the store owner said he had one that had been consigned there too long and wanted it out of the store. I purchased it, had it refretted and found it had phenomenal tone and playability, so it became my #1 guitar.

after gigging around town w/it, many of the old musicians would see it and said that Eddie had one just like it that Gibson made special for him but he passed away and his mother had it and she'd never sell it.

I used it on thousands of gigs but always wondered where Eddie's L-5 might be.
2 years ago I finally met the guy that consigned it to the music store and he said it was Eddie's guitar, he bought it from his mother after he died.

so I had Eddie's guitar all along but didn't know it.

**Joe Walsh** · 03-15-2012, 10:14 PM

Great story!

**docbop** · 04-14-2012, 02:21 PM

Just got a Jimmy Smith DVD with Eddie McFadden and was trying to find out more about him. Really dig his lines.

FYI: in this video from 1969 he's playing a Guild 175-type guitar with a single P-90 sounds good.

**Drumbler** · 03-04-2013, 04:18 PM

Hey, I just caught up to this thread. Thanks for responding.

**neatomic** · 09-09-2016, 06:21 PM

connect a link- (scroll down a bit)

The Guild Feel

**snoskier63** · 09-09-2016, 06:35 PM

He was also known for playing a 1950's Guild CE-100, which is the guitar depicted in the painting in the first links above. I had a first year model for a while that was a phenomenal guitar. I sold it to help fund a Guild American Patriarch guitar, and while I will never sell this AP guitar not a day goes by that I don't wish I had that '56 CE-100 back.

**Little Jay** · 09-11-2016, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

I've had Eddie's old Gibson L-5 for 20 yrs, been my main gigging guitar.
it's the one he's playing in the Tony Flood link Joe Walsh posted...

You still have it, right?

**wintermoon** · 09-11-2016, 08:50 AM

sure, still my main gigging guitar

**Little Jay** · 09-11-2016, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

sure, still my main gigging guitar

Phew! Sorry, as a non-native English speaker I always get confused by the "I've had...." construction

**mr. beaumont** · 09-11-2016, 10:23 AM

I only know Eddie from his tasty playing on those Jimmy Smith records. This thread has inspired me to dig a little deeper (and to listen to those records, too). Thanks for posting, sorry we got to it 6 years later!

**wintermoon** · 09-11-2016, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I only know Eddie from his tasty playing on those Jimmy Smith records. This thread has inspired me to dig a little deeper (and to listen to those records, too). Thanks for posting, sorry we got to it 6 years later!

if you like Eddie check out this concert

**Little Jay** · 09-11-2016, 01:42 PM

Nice! Playing a Guild CE-100 with the f-holes taped over

**wintermoon** · 09-11-2016, 01:54 PM

yeah, when I got the L-5 it had the same tape

**nokton** · 08-13-2017, 06:37 PM

what do u mean taped over???

**Little Jay** · 08-14-2017, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by nokton

what do u mean taped over???

A piece of tape covering the f-holes to prevent feedback.

**djg** · 10-30-2022, 09:09 AM

let's push this for one of the most underrated guitarists ever. eddie and grant were the closest on guitar to bird's playing imo. and of course there is the real jimmy smith. larry young is often called the coltrane of the organ, but to me it's jimmy. he actually gave some tips to trane who was a huge fan. check out jimmys sheets of sound.

**sgcim** · 11-01-2022, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by djg

let's push this for one of the most underrated guitarists ever. eddie and grant were the closest on guitar to bird's playing imo. and of course there is the real jimmy smith. larry young is often called the coltrane of the organ, but to me it's jimmy. he actually gave some tips to trane who was a huge fan. check out jimmys sheets of sound.

Yeah, Eddie and Jimmy made a great team. Every note swing swang swung. Jimmy gave me some great ideas just listening to that.