Sho Bud Maverick - worth it?

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 8:11 am

Very true, Jason. I will keep other brands open. I definitely want to play more than tinker. I have enough things to tinker on (namely a 1969 Firebird, but also some of my vintage stereo gear, home brewing stuff...I have too many hobbies).

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 11 Sep 2014 8:35 am

yea I usually steer people away from Buds as their first guitar... they can obviously be awesome guitars but they can also be temperamental, need work, and play hard... without seeing one I usually suggest a newer modern steel as your first one... even if it doesnt have the "vibe" of a bud you have a better chance of it playing well .

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 11 Sep 2014 8:36 am

if you're in ohio there is that steel store there.. can't remember what its name is but its in Middle Ohio.... maybe get hold of him? If a steel has gone through a store it probably has been set up to play as good as it can.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 11 Sep 2014 9:15 am

Dan Dunne wrote:Also I've got an offer to sell me a Carter Starter for $500...but again I'm kind of focused on the Sho Bud brand...

I bought a Carter Starter when they first appeared. I'd been playing non-pedal for about 40 years at the time and it was the first pedal steel that I could afford. I was very unhappy with it. A few months later I bought a used Sho-Bud Crossover in very rundown condition and refinished it. It was the difference between night and day. The tone on the Sho-Bud was excellent and the peddles were sturdy, not like the flimsy Starter ones. I would advise anyone to look around for a used professional model in rundown condition rather than go with a student model, whether it be a Carter Starter of a Maverick, but if I could only pick one or the other I would go for the Maverick every time.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 11 Sep 2014 9:24 am

A lot of people here are very happy with the Stage One. It seems to be the most popular of the student models.

You might also consider the Simmons and the legend (formerly the Carpsteel.)

I would avoid a Carter Starter. They have 4 knee levers, but are not very sturdy, and at least some have probably fallen into disrepair.

If you decide to get the Maverick, you should also get Winnie Winston's book, which is written for guitars with just one knee lever.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 10:03 am

Thanks for all the input guys! Good to know about that book that would be good for the Maverick. I haven't COMPLETELY ruled it out yet...so cheap, no cash involved, wife can't get mad, etc...I'll definitely let everyone know if I buy it or something else. Then I'm sure I'll be back here with all kinds of annoying questions

Anyone ever played pedal steel through a vintage brownface Fender amp (Fender Pro, specifically)? Wondering how it will sound, if I'll like it better totally clean, or if I should try the Tremolo channel or even put some reverb on it?! Just thinking about that sound makes me want to go for the Maverick just to have something right now. I know there are amps that are made just for the steel, but I'll have to play through the Fender Pro. Will the 15" speaker play to the strengths of the steel? I thought I had noticed that many steel guitar amps do often use a single, larger speaker (15 or 18").

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 11 Sep 2014 10:07 am

If I'm reading everything correctly here:

- You have stereo gear that you've spent $375 for.
- The seller would trade you the Maverick + seat + volume pedal + instructional material for the stereo gear. Straight up. Even trade.
- You're correct in that the seat and the volume pedal (depending on the brand and model) are worth, at best, maybe about $100 each. Instructional material? Maybe $25 or so.
- Do the math. You're getting the Maverick for about $150, give or take.

I don't care how poor Mavericks are (and I agree with everyone else that they aren't good steels.) But at around $150, you can't lose. You just can't, unless the steel is a mess.

Which of us reading these posts couldn't sell a Maverick all day long for $150?

You could get started playing steel on the Maverick, all the while saving up for a better instrument.

Then again, (warning: blatant offer to follow) you could sell me the brownface Pro or work out some kind of a trade on a ShoBud Pro 1, 3x3, or Emmons student model 3+4 that I have.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Sep 2014 10:12 am

If you search on here, many folks like the small Fenders for steel as long as you don't crank them up (a big part of the reason is that even lap steels sound OK with some grit in them because the intervals are consonant, but as you move pedals and knees, you get microtonal dissonance that sounds like hell unless it's clean). Pro certainly has its fans in here.
And it does, IMO, sound better with a touch of reverb.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 11 Sep 2014 10:17 am

Eric Philippsen wrote:...Do the math. You're getting the Maverick for about $150, give or take.
...

Eric is right. Grab it before he changes his mind.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 10:42 am

Eric, you have read everything correctly. Just to be perfectly clear, here's what I'm offering to trade him, and it would be "straight up":

Apogee Centaur speakers- $2-3k new in the 1990s, now usually sell for $500 or so, I paid $175
Thorens TD166 MKII - I've seen them sell for $150-500, I paid $150
Pioneer SX-525 - sell for $50-150, I paid $50

Trading for:
Maverick guitar
hardshell case
Fender volume pedal (not Sho Bud, but oh well)
tone bar
6 instructional books
pack-away bench
he will tune it for me

So market value, I could have as much as $1150 worth of gear on my hands, but that's at the high end. That's why option 2 is trying to sell all of this stuff for as much as possible, and then buy a higher end model. BUT, I think it is far more likely that I would get mid-low end prices on this stuff, only getting out of it slightly more than I bought it all for. With that being the case, I think maybe I SHOULD make the trade, learn on the Maverick, and hopefully sell it for $500 or so when it's time to move on...and then I'll still have the seat, volume pedal, etc to keep.

The only thing is I WILL miss my basement stereo. But I think I would be coming out ahead on the trade. Although these speakers are pretty tremendous...they sound so clear it's unbelievable, and they're hard to find.

DECISIONS!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 11 Sep 2014 10:48 am

Dan Dunne wrote:...The only thing is I WILL miss my basement stereo...

Go along to Goodwill. People are throwing out great 60s and 70s systems to replace them with digital, and Goodwill are selling them for next to nothing.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 11:09 am

I don't think I'll find any speakers of this caliber at Goodwill, but you never know! These are not your everyday Dynaco A25's or anything like that...they're the real deal. I might try to trade my Kef 103.2's instead. They are great speakers too, but a lot more common.

Of course, assuming I decide to go through with this.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 11 Sep 2014 11:31 am

The Maverick, with the Winnie Winston book, will get you started, but you ABSOLUTELY will need something better, and probably sooner than you think.

Literally, 2 weeks after I started playing with a Maverick that I borrowed, I read about the E to F knee lever, which the guitar didn't have.

The plus side of the deal is that you can start learning and playing immediately, and when you decide to get something more advanced, you'll know more and will be in a better position to make a choice as to what you want to buy.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 12:17 pm

I also forgot to mention before to Eric that the Fender Pro can never go anywhere, under any circumstances (well, almost). I was lucky enough to inherit it from an uncle who played in a bar band, so it's got a fair amount of sentimental value (and a few cigarette burns). I would say it's my most prized possession, behind my 1969 Firebird.

I just asked the guy if he'd take the Kef speakers (instead of the Apogee), receiver, and turntable. Or I said I could do receiver, turntable, + cash.

Again, I appreciate all the responses. The thread seems to have turned a bit...at first it was everyone saying DON'T DO IT, get a pro model, now I think people are realizing how this is going to cost me barely any money and many are saying GO FOR IT. As long as the Maverick should be able to sell for $500 or so, I think I'll do it. I just saw the same model sell for $600+ on ebay. I might have to pull the trigger, especially if he will take the Kef's. Hopefully I'm a slow learner and get some time with the Maverick before I have to move it on, haha!

I'll let you know how this unfolds, but I'm open to hearing any other opinions...although I think most points of view have been expressed. There are definitely pros and cons here (although some say don't even bother with a Maverick...NO PROS, all cons).

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 11 Sep 2014 12:35 pm

Dan - Take some pictures of the Mav, including the underside, and post 'em before you do anything. If it's in good shape, someone will tell you so. If it's in Bad shape, everyone will tell you so.
Cheers!

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 12:54 pm

Here are the pics!

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Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 12:55 pm

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 1:44 pm

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 Sep 2014 1:45 pm

Dan... Don't kid yourself. The wife can always get mad. Some videos of me and my ex-wife when I told her about the Carter I bought without telling her until it was delivered. Take my word for it.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 1:49 pm

Haha Richard! I know the feeling. I have gone through a lot of that, except with stereo equipment. At one point I was up to 5 complete stereos. I'm down to 3 or 4 now, depending on how you look at it. I do have approval from my wife to make a straight up trade.

Although I did just get a call from someone who wants to buy my turntable. If he gives me $250 I might consider that and start building up cash for more of a Pro model. The story unfolds...

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 1:56 pm

Can you tell anything from the pics? I mean it looks to me to be in good shape, but I don't know what I'm looking for. I see some spots on the wood on the underside...as long as that's not mold I'm okay. Also there is a little rust on the head but I guess that's to be expected with something this age.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Sep 2014 2:13 pm

Doesn't look too bad to me. Do the pedals and knee move equally smooth, hit pitch and return to pitch accurately? If so, I'd do it.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 11 Sep 2014 2:56 pm

If you get the Maverick, you should also start saving immediately for something better.

It took the pioneers years to discover the E-F or B-Bb changes, but it will only take you seconds to read about them, and once you do, you will want them.

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 11 Sep 2014 3:08 pm

What Lane & Mike said. For $150 bucks you really can't go wrong.

Dan Dunne · Post by **Dan Dunne** » 11 Sep 2014 3:50 pm

Thanks again all. Such a tough call. I've sent the Maverick owner a few emails but haven't heard back yet. I've not yet seen the guitar in person, those were pics he took.

I've got an offer for $225 on my turntable. Along with a little savings that I have, I've got at least $625 saved already that I could use towards a higher end model. I know that only gets me about halfway there...but it's a start. I could do the $30/week thing until I get there, plus probably find a few things to sell along the way to speed things up.

Maybe this is bad forum etiquette but what do y'all think about the other Sho Bud I posted a link to for $1200 that is being sold here on the forum? Would it be good for a beginner? What's the deal with the crossover? I'm not exactly sure what that means...I THINK I might follow, but not sure. If it would be suitable, I'm halfway there.