Sho Bud changer fingers

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Hello all. I am new to the forum. Thanks for having me.
I have a question about a 10 string Sho Bud I picked up about 8 months ago. It looks like a LDG without the LDG logo? I found that the changer fingers are worn out, but can not find replacements. I contacted Michael at PSG Parts, but he does not have any.
Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can look for these parts?

Thanks for any help,
Rob

Roy Peterman · From: Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania

Rob, you might want to try Jeff Surratt of Show Pro steel guitars. Years ago Duane Marrs replaced the fingers on my Super Pro with aluminum fingers and it sounded great (with BL705 original pickups). Jeff and Duane worked together for quite a few years and Jeffs work is outstanding.

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Roy,
That was quick! Thank you. I will look him up.

Have a good day,
Rob

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

How are they worn out?
If the pivot rivets are sloppy, you can repeen them (carefully; they need some play, but not too much) with a hammer.
If they're grooved, you can carefully smooth them, but take care not to screw up the radius.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

They are grooved. The levers now get stuck and will not return fully to the open position. I would much rather replace them instead of trying to repair. I've been trying to attach pictures of the changer. Is there a trick to make this attachment?

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Hope i got these pictures in there!!

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Scissors not returning to the stop bar has nothing to do with the grooving.
Since I don't think any of the usual suspects are making Bud fingers, Show Pro and Jackson are the only people who spring to mind,since both the Jacksons (Jackson) and Jeff Surratt (Show Pro) had connections with Sho-Bud.
Scissors not returning tells me there's something binding. I'm not sure where in California you are, but if you're down south, I'd have Jim Palenscar look at it. Near the Bay area? Tom Bradshaw.
In the picture of the underside, it looks like things are misaligned.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I tend to agree with Lane here, ShoBud changers generally show their wear when they get too loose and no longer lower properly. If yours are binding look for the solution elsewhere.

Jason Lynch · From: Essex, United Kingdom

is your spring tension ok? Perhaps they need tightening?

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

And if they get too loose, it's REALLY not very hard to repeen the rivets so they pitch, but not yaw.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

I've taken the changer apart before and found the pot metal fingers were worn so they would not return. I swapped them around to other fingers that didn't have the same change. That worked, but now I'm concerned on how long this will last.
I contacted Jeff Surratt (thanks Roy), and I am hoping he will be able to set me up with the aluminum replacement fingers. Seems that would be the best way to go! Just have to schlep my Sierra double neck around for a while again!

Thanks for all the advice from everyone, I'll let you know about the progress. Also found out the mechanics are from a Super Pro. Super!

Rob

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

Rob, I've got some of those +3-2 fingers from an Super Pro, they are used but as u said there are some with none to slight grooves. If u want I'll go dig 'em up and separate the good ones and I'll PM u shortly. If u decide u want them ,email me your snail address and I'll send them to you no charge just trying to help....Stormy

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Thanks Stormy. I didn't have enough of the fingers that weren't worn, so still have some sticky fingers!! Smile

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

Rob I found 6 that are are very slightly used looking on the inside where the raise finger rubs but the worst ones barely have the chrome worn off. You can bend that little tang on the raise finger slightly to get back over the chrome on some of them. Did u read the PM I sent you? which ever you decide on let me know and you got working fingers again...Stormy Winking

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

DOH! I was looking at them upside down or something cause every where I say "raise" finger it should say "LOWER" finger..oops Embarassed

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I've run into this problem in those older Sho-Buds. In most I was able to fix the problem by simply bending the metal contact finger that rugs against the chrome-plated fulcrum pieces. The bend would be to the right or left of the groove that has been made in them. This gives new life to the changer. In fact, if the worn area is in the center of the fulcrum piece, you could get 3 "life times" out of the chromed fulcrum piece.

See if you can do this. ...Tom

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

D'ohh! When I read "groove" I thought string groove.
That IS a fail point.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

Yeah I forgot that groove Lane ,I was way caught up in that groove the lower finger rubs on the inside of the bridge part of the finger, hehe ,well I sent Rob 7 used ones really only have slight wear on that finger rubbing place, the bridge tops are close to new..Stormy Laughing

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

I do exactly what Tom Bradshaw just posted on EVERY Sho~Bud with Hex Cross shaft series; as they are the later model that had those fingers where the pivot scissor pushed a groove into the foucrom piece that hangs down from the top piece of finger; that you CANNOT see unless you take the finger out.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

Storm is sending me some replacement fingers. What a great guy! When they show up, I'm going to take the ol Bud apart again to see what I can do. I appreciate all the technical help on this matter from everyone. I've also been in contact with Jeff Surratt, he is out of town at the moment. When he gets back, we're gonna discuss Aluminum fingers! Sounds expense, but to me it seems to be a good solution for this problem.

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

On your Sho-Bud, do not replace the fulcrum pieces with those made out of aluminum. They will fail faster than the chrome-plated pot metal ones (with a groove that will appear quickly). If you intend to replace them, use only stainless steel or cover the aluminum pieces with a stainless edge.

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

I second that Tommy, I have never liked Al fulcrum/bridges except maybe some I've seen that were hard anodized. I think SS and now that Bent Romnes is using brass with excellent results I would add it too..just my 2cents...Stormy Smile

Rob Clot · From: Petaluma, California USA

i can see your point. But the type of aluminum would have something to do with it too. I might be able to make my own out of SS. The 1st time I saw the pot metal fingers, I didn't like them. This forum is a good way to hash things out. Keep the ideas coming!

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

Rob, I think SS or brass would be your best bet, as most Al alloys that would be the best Al alloy(s) choice in hardness generally come with one or more caveats ,in this case it would most likely be workability/machining difficulty, just a thought...Stormy.

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