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Author Topic:  should I upgrade my sho-bud?
John Bohannon

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 5:38 pm    
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Hey Guys

Rather beginner here, been taking lessons and taking it more seriously, and I'm starting to feel the need for the 4 knee lever emmons set up. I love my sho bud S10 (its got 3 pedals and 2 knee levers currently), but I'm wondering if it would be a better investment to upgrade entirely to a new steel or upgrade just the mechanical workings of the sho bud. The knee lever set up isn't exactly cheap with labor and all that, so I'm thinking about moving up to something in the 2k-2200 range. Just trying to get some opinions.

Thanks!

JB
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 5:46 pm    
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It depends.
Do you have a Maverick with am extra lever, or a 6139 with 2 knees. If you have an all-pull Bud, it's worth it to add the other knees. And there's something about the tone. If it's a Maverick, replace instead of upgrading.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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John Bohannon

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 5:51 pm    
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its a 6139.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 6:13 pm    
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No contest.
Yes, modern guitars are lighter and smoother playing, but a 6139 with a full set of knees is a damn good guitar.
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More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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Kevin Mincke


From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 8:09 pm    
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Worth the upgrade for sure, they're fine single neck guitars with great S~B tone.
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Brint Hannay

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 8:16 pm    
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I agree with Lane and Kevin.
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Daniel McKee

 

From:
Corinth Mississippi
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 8:21 pm    
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the model you have is a good guitar. I'd look into just adding some knees to your current guitar. Those old Shobuds have great tone.
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John Bohannon

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 10:03 pm    
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thanks guys, seems like the general consensus is keep it and upgrade! Very Happy
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Storm Rosson

 

From:
Silver City, NM. USA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 10:37 pm    
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Mike Yahl at psgparts.com has the knee levers and accompanying hardware, he'll probably tell you how to do it yourself and save $. It's not that much of a job with correct parts...Stormy
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 1 Feb 2017 11:02 pm    
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Yes, definitely upgrade. And while you're at it, I suggest you think about adding a vertical 5th lever.
You're gonna want it later on...
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Michael Dulin

 

From:
Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 7:05 am     sho-bud
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I have a question. I've never played one of these r/b guitars but they appeal to me...If they are single raise/single lower how do you get E to F and E to F# on 4? Could this be why Lloyd didn't raise 4 with 8 on the F lever?MD
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John Swain


From:
Winchester, Va
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 7:31 am    
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It used one rod per string for raises, you could put as many barrels on the rod for each raise. Same system for lowers. It worked okay most of the time, but sometimes needed tweaking.I believe LG didn't lower fourth string because it came back sharp.
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Jeff Mead


From:
London, England
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 11:25 am     Re: sho-bud
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Michael Dulin wrote:
I have a question. I've never played one of these r/b guitars but they appeal to me...If they are single raise/single lower how do you get E to F and E to F# on 4? Could this be why Lloyd didn't raise 4 with 8 on the F lever?MD


Lloyd did/does raise both Es to F. He doesn't lower 4 because he was never happy with tuning stability.

The 6139 model steels are double raise single lower So no problem with the C pedal plus raising Es.

I have a 6139 that was already upgraded to 3+5 and I couldn't be happier with it. I haven't lusted after any other pedal steels since I got her.


Last edited by Jeff Mead on 2 Feb 2017 12:48 pm; edited 2 times in total
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John Bohannon

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 12:40 pm    
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this is great to know jeff. Sounds like I'm just going to do the upgrade and stick with to ol bud Smile i'll go ahead and get that 5th knee while im at it - might as well knock it all out at once and not have to get it done again.

if you guys can think of any other upgrades I should get done, i'm all ears. Everything seems to be original - but i'm all about ease of play. My fine tuners don't always stay in the way I would like them to. Is there an easy fix there or should I upgrade those as well?

thanks again!
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 1:43 pm    
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Some 6139 have single/single, but can still do multiple raises. That's the beauty of the barrel-tuned Buds.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 7:37 pm    
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Great guitar! Upgrade!
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps
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Brint Hannay

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 9:08 pm    
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John Bohannon wrote:
this is great to know jeff. Sounds like I'm just going to do the upgrade and stick with to ol bud :) i'll go ahead and get that 5th knee while im at it - might as well knock it all out at once and not have to get it done again.

if you guys can think of any other upgrades I should get done, i'm all ears. Everything seems to be original - but i'm all about ease of play. My fine tuners don't always stay in the way I would like them to. Is there an easy fix there or should I upgrade those as well?

thanks again!

What do you mean by "fine tuners"?
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 9:11 pm    
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R&B Buds are pretty much unlimited as to raises and lowers, as well as compensators and micro-pulls.
The downside is the inability to accurately time the pulls.

John, if by "fine tuners", you mean the barrels...I hope you haven't lubed or oiled the threads. They need to be somewhat stiff to hold tune.
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 9:21 pm    
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"The downside is the inability to accurately time the pulls."
But that's virtually un-noticicable. Never been a problem for me.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2017 9:31 pm    
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I totally agree, John. When the shooting starts, you never notice it. At least, I never did.
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