1974 Sho-Bud 6139 question

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 23 Jul 2011 1:26 pm

I just got this guitar, and it looks all original. But, I noticed that there are 2 different pedal/lever tuning pins. The pedals require an allen key, and the knee levers are those white nylon hex pins that require the wrench. is this common? My 73 Professional is all allen key tuners. Theres 3 pedals,and 3 knees.

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 23 Jul 2011 1:54 pm

Oh! I wanna see pictures of the underside of this one!

To answer your question, NO. This is not common. sounds like a partial conversion.

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 23 Jul 2011 2:33 pm

So should i be worried??

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 23 Jul 2011 3:20 pm

No, as long as everything functions as it should. It's just odd.

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 23 Jul 2011 3:47 pm

Everything seems to be working OK, heres pics

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 23 Jul 2011 5:04 pm

Both left knees are additions and don't appear to be original Sho-Bud hardware. They never used square cross shafts to my knowledge. The angle of the picture doesn't allow identification of the added pullers but they appear to be similar to a Sho-Bud 2 hole puller with the brass swivel but OEM 'Bud only used round or hex shafts.

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 23 Jul 2011 5:48 pm

That makes sense, upon closer look I noticed that the right knee lever has the "allen" wrench tuner, and the 2 left knee levers have the white nylon type. Emmons set-up. Thanks.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 23 Jul 2011 10:10 pm

The 4th string raise on the F lever and C pedal could be a bit tricky to tune, it looks like the semitone raise is tuned on the underside (arrowed)

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 24 Jul 2011 3:37 am

It actually tuned fine from above, responsive and holding. I also noticed that the pick-up ( a 3 screw) has a warped top plate. So, the distance from the string and sensor is different from middle to ends. ( Closer at the outer strings, and farther away in the middle). It sound good, but I know that these distances should be the same. Is it time for a new pick-up? Or, just bring up the mid-tone levels on the amp to compensate for the differences?
thanks

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Jul 2011 7:52 am

1974? With racks and barrels? I doubt it. Well,,,, at least that's what I've been led to believe! But with Shobud,,,, darn near anything is possible! After about February '74, the workin's looked like this, without the additional levers of course. This guitar came with only 1 lever. "73 was mostly barrels behind two-hole pullers.

Here's a pic without the rods. It shows the cross shafts and pullers.

It seems to me that your guitar could be no later than early '73. What's the serial number? I'm sure someone like Lollar could rebuild your pickup.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 24 Jul 2011 9:09 am

Yeah...'73 most likely. With racks & b's and without the tone/volume pots on the back shelf, it would be close to the end of the production run of r&b 6139's. Is there a tap switch on the endplate? Serial number?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Jul 2011 9:11 am

The 6139 had 3 pedals and 1 knee lever (RKL). I bought a new one in early 1974 and it was a rack and barrel system, exactly like yours. Your left knee levers are aftermarket parts, not made by Sho-Bud. That's why they're different.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Jul 2011 9:15 am

Skip,
My 74 came with only one lever, RKL, and no coil tap. However,,, Ricky told me to look at the pickup. Sure enough, there was a wire taped off. It now has a tap switch on the endplate. I see three wires on Bob's guitar. So, if there's no tap switch, one can be easily added.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Jul 2011 9:18 am

"I bought a new one in early 1974 and it was a rack and barrel system"

b0b, when was it made? Back then, I bought a new Shobud that had been sitting in the store for over a year.

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 24 Jul 2011 9:42 am

The guitar does have a switch on the end with the output jack. A small toggle which seems to increase output when switched. Sounds a bit fatter too.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Jul 2011 9:43 am

That's the coil tap switch, fur shure!

Bob Sehy · Post by **Bob Sehy** » 24 Jul 2011 9:53 am

Serial Number 5562. the pick-up sounds good and seems pretty even across all strings, so Im thinking Im going to leave it be.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 24 Jul 2011 10:06 am

Deleted

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Jul 2011 10:44 am

John Billings wrote:"I bought a new one in early 1974 and it was a rack and barrel system"

b0b, when was it made? Back then, I bought a new Shobud that had been sitting in the store for over a year.

I ordered it at a local music store in Pennsylvania, and it arrived in February 1974 I believe. The store put it in their front window for about a week while I gathered up the money to pay for it. I remember the time well because I had the guitar at home before my daughter was born in March. There was a race to see which would arrive first.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Jul 2011 10:48 am

Interesting b0b! I've never seen a rack and barrel guitar built that late before. But,,,, with Shobud??????? Who knows?

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 24 Jul 2011 3:26 pm

Bob,
Based on your S/N 5562 it was built approximately 5/24/1974 which was a Friday.

You're logged into the database.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 24 Jul 2011 7:39 pm

My Sho~Bud is a 1974 r&b as well.

Alan Berdoulay · Post by **Alan Berdoulay** » 27 Jul 2011 6:09 am

Michael... I have a sho bud 6139, round front, r and b, 2 hole pullers, coil tap with s/n 6405.... for your data

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 27 Jul 2011 7:50 am

Alan, it really can't be rack & barrel and 2 hole pullers...unless there's a little of both.
Got any pics?

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 27 Jul 2011 10:03 am

Skip, Check the top of this thread. That's how this one got started was with a question of a hybrid nature. Believe that it was modified by a previous owner.

Remember, "There ain't no rules in the Sho-Bud Game"

Alan, Thanks
Color, builders tag, Knees, pedals??