are shobud mavericks any good?

Aaron Shively · Post by **Aaron Shively** » 22 Dec 2010 11:18 am

i found one with three pedals and one knee lever for 600 dollars. is the maverick a lower end model, or is this just a good deal?

Dana Blodgett · Post by **Dana Blodgett** » 22 Dec 2010 11:53 am

Aaron I bought one new in '74 I believe, a blonde with the gumby headstock. just three pedals and no roller bridge or knee levers. I kept it for 16 years. Mine sounded really good and the birdseye maple was beautiful. I could only do so much with it with that set up and was begining to break my third and fouth string alot! I lived in Fresno at the time and there were no "techs" that I could find to work on them. I sold it, which I regret to this day- but fortunately I have a '74 6140 (early Pro-1 Sho-Bud)single neck E9 setup 3+4, which I will never part with! I think they are good student guitars at the very least. I think I paid $300-$350 for it new!

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 22 Dec 2010 11:53 am

It's a lower end student model. I've seen them go for more than 600, but I would not consider it a good deal at that price. Lots of people have learned and indeed gigged on those guitars, but most people who have them want to move on and up pretty quick. The natural finish maple ones like Dana had (as opposed to the ones covered in brown plastic) were pretty cool - if I saw one of those in good shape with 3 and 1 for six hundred bucks I would probably buy it myself just for the heck of it.

Dave Little · Post by **Dave Little** » 22 Dec 2010 12:35 pm

My brother got one back in the early 70s. We kept having to retune the pulls. One day we turned it over and found that they were using the wood cabinet end for the finger stops. The fingers would dig into the wood a little further every time he mashed down on the pedals. We thought about trying to screw a metal plate on there, but he lost interest in it and sold it. I'm guessing that they probably fixed that on later models but its something to look for.
Dave Little

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 22 Dec 2010 12:42 pm

Aaron Shively wrote:i found one with three pedals and one knee lever for 600 dollars. is the maverick a lower end model, or is this just a good deal?

Yes, It is the lowest of the low end, and NOT a good deal. If you want to learn pedal steel, there are other student models which are far better. The Zum Stage One, for instance. And $600 is way to much for what you get for a maverick. Save your money and buy a little more quality.

There are some who went down the maverick road and survived. But there are many who were so discouraged that they quit, too. Don't short change yourself.MHO

Dana Blodgett · Post by **Dana Blodgett** » 22 Dec 2010 12:57 pm

I agree with James M. , mine was easy to look at and sounded good but the undercarriage left a lot of room to be improved upon. It was frustrating-Nowadays I would Not pay $600 for one..especially when there is so much more to choose from. Think about spending a lil more and getting something that your not gonna take an ax to when it breaks strings right and left!Visit Jim P. in Oceanside or talk with Bobbe Seymore in Nashville about the student model GFIs- they are around $1000 or so new!
Also I saw an early 70's model EMMONS E9 3+1 for $950 I believe it was on Craigs list somwhere in California..might be inland empire(soCal) area this morning! That might be the one to start off with!Good luck..

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 22 Dec 2010 1:30 pm

I might add, It's really not so much the lack of quality in a Maverick, but more the fact that it only has 1 knee lever, and new students are needing 4 knees. The best student models are already set up with 3 floor pedals and 4 knee levers. Steels with only one or two knees are out dated to todays music and require upgrading to "catch up". For around a $1000, you can get into a brand new GFI, Zum, or Carter Starter--they all have minimum setup of 3 pedals 4 knees. A used one will be $500 to $700, ready to go. $600 for a Maverick with one knee is just too high. The Emmons student with only one knee is to high for $950(sorry Dana, nothing personal--it still needs 3 more knees)--In my way of thinking, half that price is because it's an Emmons. The one Emmons student model I HAVE seen had about the same quality as a vinyl covered maverick. Of course, these are just my viewpoints. YMMV

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 22 Dec 2010 1:47 pm

I've regretted selling every single piece of gear that I've ever sold...with the sole exception of the Maverick that I started out on.

Aaron Shively · Post by **Aaron Shively** » 22 Dec 2010 2:16 pm

thanks guys! you just prevented me from possibly alot of frustration! between gfi, zum, and carter, which student model would be the best buy?

Dana Blodgett · Post by **Dana Blodgett** » 22 Dec 2010 3:11 pm

Hey James, no offense taken- it's good to see you posting here again after your accident hope your doin better! I agree that you need at least 3 floor pedals and at least four knee levers to start with. I am to the point that I am thinking about adding a vertical knee lever for the B to Bb change. Is that something that you make to order? Or are you capable of making parts yet? I guess I am deviating from the original topic here..oops.I think anything is better than nothing, but you are right you need a 3+4 set up minimum.If you don't have a 3+4 set up you might get frustrated like I did when first starting out. Most of the music nowadays is charted for those changes.
Adding 3 knee levers could cost you as much as or more than a $600 Maverick!

Dana Blodgett · Post by **Dana Blodgett** » 22 Dec 2010 3:31 pm

Aaron, of the three brand names you mention I would be inclined to say one of the first two that you mentioned would be the best-but it's a personal thing as to which is best.Go play some different brands and hear what they sound like to you. The feel or mechanics of the guitar are important too. I think you live in California, so I would say Make a visit to Steel Guitars of the North County in Oceanside and talk with Jim, he won't steer you wrong! If I had it to do over again I might pick the Zum stage-one(for a beginner)! Now that's just me and my opinions!

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 22 Dec 2010 5:57 pm

I rec'd my StageOne 6 months ago .

It was the best decision ever

.Mikey Douchette uses his for studio recording...it's that good .
I started with a maple Maverick in the late 70s,and would have another if someone would gut it and put all new mechanics in it & set it up for 3&4 . It's that Sho-Bud thing ! $:\$

Check out

Mikey Ds

sound clips on Dougs site....you'll love it !

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 22 Dec 2010 10:41 pm

I'm one of those who made it through a year of pro playing on a contact paper covered maverick. I was ecstatic to get into a guitar with better tone and more pulls. But I will always have a fond spot for that little guitar that got me started. Not enough to wish I still had it, but still fond.

Of all the student models I've seen and played, I'd have to rate the Zum stage one top of the heap.

Miles better than a Maverick or Carter Starter.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 23 Dec 2010 8:25 am

Carter Starter?? Someone has to be kidding me.

phred

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 23 Dec 2010 2:29 pm

Dana Blodgett wrote: I am to the point that I am thinking about adding a vertical knee lever for the B to Bb change. Is that something that you make to order? Or are you capable of making parts yet?

Yes Dana, I can help you, but it will be awhile--got alot to catch up on, and I ain't healed up yet. But email me when you want.

Phred, Of course I was kiddin' ya.

But I would take a Carter Starter over a Maverick any day. At least the carter has 4 knees standard.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 23 Dec 2010 3:28 pm

Yeh, James if you can keep the levers tied to it. LOL

Phred

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 23 Dec 2010 4:14 pm

Fred Shannon wrote:Yeh, James if you can keep the levers tied to it. LOL

Phred

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 24 Dec 2010 8:53 am

I started playing on a birdseye maple Maverick with 3+1 in about 1974. I thought it was the cat's mee-oww, man. Afterall, there were no experts to talk to, so, no real good knowledge was around. I played the balls off that steel with the bands I was in and never had a problem with it. It sounded and looked good, too. But, I soon learned of the limitations of that steel, by, meeting other steel players and of course, the venerable Jeff Newman. Two years later, I bought a pro model S-11 RusLer with 5+4 and never looked back. There are many student models on the market today, that, far surpass the limitations of the Maverick. My student plays a GFI student with 3+4 and is progressing nicely on it.
I feel the only reason to buy a Maverick is to have it as a personal collectors steel. Sought of a memoir to the past.
BTW- When I bought mine,used, in 1974, it cost me $135.00

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Dec 2010 9:26 am

I started off on a borrowed maple body maverick. It sounded pretty decent, but within 2 weeks I had read about the E to F change, and was frustrated till I got my green MSA.

I would like to see all these guitars upgraded with modern changers and more knee levers, and if that's not possible, used for firewood.

I've seen both the stage one, and the carpsteel (which is now the Legend,) and would recommend either one for a beginner. I've not seen the Simmons, and cannot comment on it, but Calvin Walley said he likes his.
(where is Calvin BTW? He hasn't posted in quite a while)

The Carter Starter is a bedroom guitar for absolute newbies. It does serve that purpose well, but anybody who reached the half-way-to-intermediate stage is going to want something better. It was a good idea at the time, but now that we have the stage one and Legend/Carpsteel (and the Simmons?) I say go with one of those.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 24 Dec 2010 9:46 am

Maybe John De Maille might remember this guy. Years ago when I first joined the PSGA and started getting their newsletters they mentioned frequently a guy named Bruce something or other who played a wood body Maverick with the Gumby headstock who'd modified it with 3 or 4 knee levers. I remember seeing his copedant at one point which showed that his 3rd pedal raised the 5th string to C# and the 6th string to A giving him an Amaj7. I think he also raised both of his E's to F but didn't lower them. I never heard him but from what they always wrote about him, he must have been a pretty good player. How 'bout it John, do you or any of the New York area players remember the guy I'm talking about and is he still active?......JH in Va.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 24 Dec 2010 9:57 am

Hey Jerry,
I'll certainly look into it for you. I do remember something along the lines you're talking about, though. My memory isn't what it used to be. HA! HA!
Have a healthy and Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

Michael Robertson · Post by **Michael Robertson** » 24 Dec 2010 10:05 am

The first steel I bought in 1977 was a used Fender.
Or at least that was the logo on the front.
The logo was raised and made of some metal material and was peal and stick.
The tuners were in a tray set into the body of the guitar, not sitting on top.
I remember it was kind of a drag changing strings because of this “tray” the tuners were in.
The steel had three pedals and one knee lever that lowered the second string only as I remember.
The body was covered with a peal and stick black vinyl material.
As I was lubing and maintaining it one day I noticed the wood looked pretty nice and I decided to pull off the vinyl material and take a chance to see what kind of wood was underneath.
As it turned out the wood was gorgeous bird’s eye maple and after some considerable cleaning this guitar turned out to be beautiful.
It played well and was a great starter for me.
I played it for about two or three years then I got caught up in this obsessive chase for the perfect guitar.
I think the “first time” is most likely the best……. If I remember correctly?
Anyway does anyone know who could have been the builder or manufacturer?

Bobby Burns · Post by **Bobby Burns** » 25 Dec 2010 4:49 pm

I love my Maverick. I play it more on gigs than I play my other steels (ZBs, push-pull, and other Sho-Buds), but it has new changer fingers, new bellcranks, new wood inlays, new finish, well pretty much everything has been replaced except the wood, and the aluminum headpiece, and the pickup, and that is starting to get noisy. After the rebuild, it is very lightweight, sounds great, plays great, strings hardly ever break, and it stays in tune for ever. It is a much better looking guitar than a carter starter GFI or a Stage One, and it plays just as good, and probably sounds better, but I have more money and a lot of time in it. I rebuilt this one because I wanted a compact light weight steel, that still looked good, It has really nice wood, and It doesn't kill my back.
So when you ask how good is a Maverick, it depends on if you intend to just tune it up and play it as it is, or if you intend to spend the same amount on it, as you would to rebuild any other steel.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Dec 2010 7:10 pm

Bobby, did you add more knee levers to the guitar when you rebuilt it?

A lot of us older guys who have been playing a while could probably get around the lack of knee levers. It might even be fun to try.

But what does the newbie do when he or she sees an instruction to use a knee lever that the Maverick does not have? (My solution was to scream in frustration at my wife.)

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 25 Dec 2010 10:11 pm

The original question was, "Is a Maverick ANY good?" The answer is yes if you're not expecting to play everything you hear on a country record. There are plenty of guitar players who want to do a few steel things simply for effect. It is a reasonable quality steel for the price you can usually pick one up for, and they sound pretty good. I have added knee levers to some, but I admit that is really not cost effective. I had one in here some months back to adjust that played and sounded great and I offered to buy it just as a steel to fly with. The fellow didn't care to sell it and I didn't push the issue, but it would have been a nice tool to have to play a limited gig.

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The builder or manufacturer?