Wes atop bed with guitar and phones

[AndyV]

In all my years as a fan of Wes and looking at photos of him on the web I've never seen this one before ...

[jameslovestal]

I assume those headphones have a pre-amp\amp. I didn't know such headphones existed back in the early 60s.

[starjasmine]

Or maybe it's just posed and doesn't indicate anything about how he played IRL...

[nyc chaz]

I assume those headphones have a pre-amp\amp. I didn't know such headphones existed back in the early 60s.

I have to agree with you.I owned a pair like that but it was in the mid 70's and don't remember seeing anything like that in the 60's.

[joe2758]

Cool! didn't they say he practiced at night when his family was asleep?

[Woody Sound]

Cool! didn't they say he practiced at night when his family was asleep?

Wes Montgomery said it best. - Global Guitar Network

[Mick-7]

Or maybe it's just posed and doesn't indicate anything about how he played IRL...

Yes, there were headphones like that in the '60's that plugged into a small preamp that you'd then plug your guitar into (i.e., into the preamp), but I don't believe the technology was advanced (miniaturized) enough at that time to have the preamp inside the headphones.

I think a company named Stax was the first one to make amplified headphones.
https://www.headphoneer.com/stax-history-part-1

[wintermoon]

That's a late picture of Wes, here's another I believe taken at home or at a party from that time that some may not have seen.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I think a company named Stax was the first one to make amplified headphones.
STAX HISTORY – PART 1 – The Headphoneer

Stax were not amplified. They’re excellent electrostatic ‘phones that required an adapter box to convert the output signal from an audio amplifier to one able to drive the elements in them. Stax require a 580V bias voltage to polarize the electrostatic elements plus a high voltage signal to drive them. So you can’t connect them directly to an amplifier’s output. But they require a power amplifier, and they’re very critical of quality. The older models do best with top shelf tube amps. I have no experience with their more recent models.

My wife gave me Stax SRx-3s for my 30th birthday. They’re still among the best headphones ever. I drove them with a Marantz 8b. After about 35 years, I foolishly accepted an outrageous offer for the Stax. Nevershouldhavesoldthem!

[voxo]

Wes told me he regularly used Band in a Box to practise with when he relaxed...

[Mick-7]

Wes told me he regularly used Band in a Box to practise with when he relaxed...

Must have been the precursor to it: Band in a Headphone

[AllanAllen]

Wes Montgomery said it best. - Global Guitar Network

I never practice my guitar… from time to time I just open the case and throw in a piece of raw meat

The amount of guys who don’t know this was a joke is staggering.

[wintermoon]

[PMB]

Pinball Wes-ard?

[pauln]

In all my years as a fan of Wes and looking at photos of him on the web I've never seen this one before ...

Typical headphone in the 1960s ranged 16 to 150 ohms
Pickups ranged 30 to 150 mV RMS, 150 to 800 mV peak
Without amplification Wes was hearing maybe 70-80 dB

[Mick-7]

He's a pinball wizard, never plays hohum
A pinball wizard with such a supple thumb!

[AndyV]

That trout was THIS big ...

[AllanAllen]

If that's a pinball machine, where are the bumper buttons?

[joe2758]

I think that explains his expression

[sgosnell]

Perhaps on the top edge. There is clearly a flipper near the right edge of the photo, inside the clear rail, if you zoom in.

[AllanAllen]

Sorry. No bumps or flips on this ride. It is a pinball bingo machine. They were early gambling machines. No fun unless you are a betting man.

Cool history of these in this podcast intro.

CR015/PH01 '-' Starday Records: The Anti'-'Nashville Sound | Cocaine & Rhinestones