Shobud Fingertips and Permanents----got a picture??

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 6 Dec 2010 1:19 pm

Hey Bobbe, Do you know much about the serial number system that was used back then?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Dec 2010 12:52 pm

Bob, would you listen to anyone if they told you?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Dec 2010 1:18 pm

Jim, to answer your question (and compliment you on your wonderful endevour to build parts for these guitars), the numbering system had more to do with bookwork than it did with model changes, it really had nothing to do with years or what changes were made to the guitars.

I'll re-check with David but last time we talked he was a little busy and we were interupted often. But it did line up with what info I had retained in my years hang around at the factory after my MSA time.

A lot of double numbering was the practice at the time.

I sold Lloyds D-10 finger tip guitar to a great guy in Bandera Texas in 1996, Gary Boyd is his name. He won't sell it for any amout.

These guitars really aren't from Sho-Buds greatest hour but I love them for their beauty and impossible to obtain woods.

The perminant models are by far my favorites, problem proof fingers with incredible wood in most. This is what I get to play on every job in Nashville I can get by with it on.

I treasure these great guitars that started the Sho-Bud legend. Far from perfect, however these are the basis of all the brands of steel guitar built today. I wish these guitars were being built today,,,True golden age steel guitars.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 Dec 2010 1:37 pm

Thanx Bobbe. The idea of this thread is to compile history about these fine instruments--each day a little of that history becomes a little more foggy-------------------------------------------

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Dec 2010 2:20 pm

My next news letter is totally devoted to these guitars Jim, You'll love it.

Just talked to David Jackson 'bout 5 min. ago.
Call me if you want and wish to know anything specific about these serial numbers. He built the fingertip guitars himself with a little help from Zane Beck in 1964, David built everything in '65 and he hired Duane Marrs soon after. NO other help, I guess this means no help from brother or father!

David said most of these were built at 416 Broadway, just a very few "finger tips" were built on Dickerson road, where the Baldwin Cross-overs were composed and constructed.

I asked David some pointed questions about these serial numbers, his reply was,,,,you should know you were hanging around all the time! When I need to know something, I call you! Not quite true but possibly close! Good guys, good guitars, incredible history made in the golden age of country music!

Bobbe Seymour

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 Dec 2010 2:47 pm

Awesome news, Mr. Bobbe.

Chris Harvey · Post by **Chris Harvey** » 8 Dec 2010 9:05 am

A little elbow grease went a long way. I'm a newbie to these things and I must say that I'm hooked. WAY more resonant than what I'm used to - crazy good overtones. Thanks James Morehead for all the advice and Rick Johnson for the cabs! Any idea what year(ish) this is?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 8 Dec 2010 9:14 am

Chris,
That's a beauty. A bit latter model as the keyhead shows. Go back earlier in this thread to see some pics I posted of keyhead variations. Pages 2 and 3.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 8 Dec 2010 9:37 am

More More More!

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 8 Dec 2010 3:33 pm

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 8 Dec 2010 3:35 pm

A stunner!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Dec 2010 3:56 pm

Chris Harvey wrote: Thanks James Morehead for all the advice and Rick Johnson for the cabs! Any idea what year(ish) this is?

Glad to help Chris, and what a tonemonster you've got!! I'm thinking '66/early '67-ish.
Notice yours has been modded for adjustable lower springs. I do think yours might be able to be adjusted to play pretty soft, though I've not had a chance to try out such a mod on a fingertip.

Danny, what a sweet 'tip you scored!! James

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 8 Dec 2010 5:32 pm

James Morehead is amazing. Here's some before and after pics...

Before James...

After James...

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 13 Dec 2010 10:22 am

Labor of love, Danny, a labor of love!! My fingers STILL are sore from that one!!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 13 Dec 2010 3:19 pm

Loaded my '63 fingertip into my friend's pickup(has a topper) and drove 1-1/2 hours to the gig. It was aweful cold and 40 mph wind. I pulled the guitar out of it's case and hooked up my stroboflip tuner , and the guitar was STILL IN TUNE!! 1st guitar I've owned that is that stable. Check it a couple times a night for a little string stretch--that's it. Tuning issues with a fingertip? might be so, but not with the 2 I've owned.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 13 Dec 2010 3:29 pm

Mine is very stable too James. And the sound is stoopidly great.

Chris Harvey · Post by **Chris Harvey** » 13 Dec 2010 5:13 pm

Got called to play the other night and was a bit apprehensive to bring my new Fingertip based on all the scuttlebutt I've heard about tuning, cabinet drop etc. I'm not sure what this mysterious cabinet drop phenomenon is. I'm mean,I'm sure you can see it with a stroboflip, but come on- seriously. This thing stayed in tune all night with the normal adjustments that any steel requires and SOUNDED AMAZING. There's only one way to get that vintage tone folks. I figure if these guitars were good enough for the amazing players of yesteryear, it's good enough for this guy.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 21 Dec 2010 11:59 am

Yeah Chris, These fingertips are a real sleeper. I am blown away how well mine stays in tune also.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Dec 2010 1:47 pm

this is a great thread and i love looking at the beautiful guitars. nice to see the pride and care put into these.

as to the 'good enough for the great players at the time'...these may have been the best available at the time but steel technology has improved alot since then.

i find it interesting, however, that there really isn't a new steel with a signature type of sound. the tone range has become generic...like country music. in the past certain steels did display certain unique characteristics..zb..emmons..fender..etc.
you would think that now that every new steel has wonderful mechanics that some builder would produce a beautiful unique tone quality to set his product apart from the many with similar qualities.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Dec 2010 2:57 pm

James! Just noticed something very interesting about your earlier F-tip. Can you spot it?

Sorry this is so out of focus. Ancient camera won't do closeups. But you should still be able to tell.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 25 Dec 2010 3:01 pm

Besides the wrap-around tail piece and finger tuners?

And my picture's in focus?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Dec 2010 3:02 pm

Yes! Something very different! But it involves the finger tuners.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 25 Dec 2010 3:42 pm

Yes, The changer in my picture(top) is about a '67, and has the finger tuners reversed, making the nuts on the inside and outside not neccessary. Your picture is of an early fingertip, likely a '63 like mine (I currently have).

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Dec 2010 3:45 pm

Yeah. Your old guitar should have the acorn nuts! Somebody left them out. That guitar is squishing the springs up to the stop bar. The finger tuners should be the positive stop at the stop bar, not the squished up springs! Just reassemble correctly, and add the acorn nutz, ands its correct!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 25 Dec 2010 3:53 pm

No, it's the second one I've seen like this. It's ment to eliminate the acorn nut and the inside nut. If you look close, the spring slips over the shaft of these newer finger tuners. The extended fingertuner shaft makes the contact, not the spring, The spring just repositions the finger after it is released(when the floor pedal/knee lever is relaxed)

It is correct.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Shobud Fingertips and Permanents----got a picture??

My New 'Tip

My '66

Re: My New 'Tip

First Gig With My 'Tip