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Topic: JB Frypans : ShoBud & Excel |
Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2024 9:01 am |
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I bought my Excel (Fuzzy) JB Frypan* new in 1987. The ShoBud was a gift from a good buddy. It's serial number is A087. Here's the signature on the engraved pan cover.
ShoBud on left , Excel on right
They are both "short scales" ... the ShoBud is 22.25" and the Excel is an even 22".
The bridge on the ShoBud is wider but the same height. The ShoBud has slots where you can adjust the pickup alittle . The Excel's headstock is wider . The mounting holes are exactly the same distance apart, but the pan is a tad larger on the ShoBud.
I dropped my new NIBtone pickups into both of them to hear if there is any difference.
I'm kinda leaning toward the ShoBud ...
Here is a tune I played of the ShoBud this morning ... I'll try a catch a good song on the Excel tomorrow morning
https://on.soundcloud.com/iwbXegmSB9b5x2zP9
* Excel has had newer, nicer models of the JB frypan available for some time now. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2024 3:54 pm
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PS: Sorry about the ending of "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" ... I messed up the harmonic passage, well, it was beyond repair  |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 3:33 am
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Lovely. Thanks for doing this. I've always wondered about head to head evaluations of these two guitars.
I have to work to justify saying 'I hear a difference'.
I'd easily believe them to be two passes of the same guitar with any variation being written off as human. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 6:00 am
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Jon, that's about how I hear it too. 
You mention the human factor. Well, The Excel was my main guitar from '87 to '99 ... so I'm very use to it.
The ShoBud kind of messes with my mind. It's that 0.25" extra in scale length. The fretboards look identical but they are actually not and it throws off my palm harmonics ... muscle memory puts my hand where it should be on the Excel while playing the ShoBud.
No big deal though, it's like going between a short scale and a long scale ... it messes with my Palm harmonics. I have to play the same steel for a few days till my brain acclimates to the scale length.  |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 6:03 am
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| What a wonderful sound. I don't know of anything that compares with the frying pans, either design. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 8:43 am
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| Thank you sir ... |
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Andrew Roblin
From:
Various places
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 9:34 am
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| Beautiful...both times. Byrd lives! |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 2:23 pm
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I get correspondence about playing with Parkinson's, vibrato and why I don't post many videos (who wants to see a shakey old man)
So here is a 3 song video that I made for HSGA's virtual series ... Just an iPhone recording :
Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani (I like SpongeBob)
Drowsy Waters
Blue Hawaiian Moonlight
https://youtu.be/WLt0Z0Idw_o?si=SkL57xh-L8qD6dW7
PS: A lot of reverse slants in Drowsy Waters ... |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 19 Mar 2024 5:34 pm
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I for one Rick love to see your videos and I'll bet I am not alone when I say that! I also bet you are not an old man. Pretty sure I have a few years on you and it's all about one's attitude. Age is just a number.
I know it's a lot more work making a video, but so much nicer than listening to a recording with a bar going across the screen showing the progress! Playing with your medical issues I'm sure has inspired more than just me!😁. So anytime you feel like posting a video, count me in on viewing it!
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 20 Mar 2024 1:54 am
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Thanks for the inspiring words 🤓
Too bad you retired (I did a year ago) ... I'd love to see this new pickup in one of your custom builds. 🧐
I'm trying hard not to "Spam" this pickup ... but this unit is pretty special ... turned a JB Frypan into a steel that challenges the "big dog " ... my Rickenbacher A25 in the above video. |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2024 10:21 am
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I thought the Jackson Excels had a different decal? S H O T JACKSON? Still rockin' that fauxShoe you made for me Rick!
_________________
New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2024 4:38 am
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| Mucho Mahalos |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 23 Mar 2024 7:31 am
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Great post, Rick. I hear a little more clarity in the Sho-Bud. Both guitars sound excellent, but to my ear the Excel sounds slightly muted (less highs) compared to the Sho-Bud. But as always, tone is in the ears of the beholder. 
And that can of worms... I don't think that was ever settled, and I was totally confused by it. Between Jerry Byrd, Bobbe Seymour, Jack Byrd, Scotty, the certificates of authenticity, and the two JB frypans with the same serial number that popped up on eBay, I don't know what to think. I don't think it matters anymore though... ancient history.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2024 9:25 am
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My ShoBud JB needs a new fretboard ... someone in the line of succession tried to use chemicals to clean it and wiped off a lot of the "Jerry Byrd" ...
I imagine finding another 22.25" JB frypan fretboard is going to be tough ... 
I guess there is always :
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 23 Mar 2024 10:46 pm Fretboard
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Rick, really enjoyed your demo of the 2 guitars. Thanks for doing that, now I'd like to hear what an original Fry Pan sounds like played on the same tune...
Why does the "Jerry Byrd" fretboard look like the lettering is upside down to me and the "Shot Jackson" is right. Is it just me? 
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2024 3:53 am
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"Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" is the first song on this HSGA video ... it's played on my best sounding Ricky , an A25 frypan ... same settings, etc
https://youtu.be/WLt0Z0Idw_o?si=SkL57xh-L8qD6dW7
And yes, I always thought it was upside down too 🧐 |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Posted 27 Mar 2024 6:52 am
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My new NIBtone pickup is here and I look forward to installing it in my Excel double neck, made by Mitsuo Fujii.
The pic is when It was a 12 string pedal neck and a six string lap (he didn't charge me for his work).
The pedal neck is now a 10 string and Duane Marrs made the lap an 8 string, which NIBtone will go into.
Thank you Rick!
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8: |
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