When did Sho-Bud go out of business?

Eddie Malray · Post by **Eddie Malray** » 27 Sep 2002 9:37 am

When I became ready to buy a professional grade guitar I had decided on a Sho-Bud. This was in 1980. I had a local dealer ordered it for me. He was not a steel dealer but had the Baldwin connection. At the time I did'nt know Sho-Bud had sold out and that Baldwin had moved the factory to Arkansas. I must have got one of the first ones they built there. It was the biggest piece of junk I had or have seen. I ordered a Pro II with eight and five. When i went to pick it up I opened the case and I could'nt believe what I saw. There were only three levers-two verticals an a horizantal. Figure that out. The pull rods were bad out of alignment and screws were missing. I set it up in the store and there was a long, deed scar on the end plate. I tried to play it and the pickup was so bad it must have been wound with soneone's fishing line. It would'nt sustain five frets. I would'nt accept it and the dealer agreed it was inferior. He said he coule get me an Emmons and he did. I've been happy to this day. Now to my question. When did they build the last Sho-Buds? THANKS IN ADVANCE------Eddie Malray

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 27 Sep 2002 9:44 am

I think they built YOUR last one in 1980!
My last one hasn't been built yet.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 27 Sep 2002 9:57 am

Sho-Bud is owned by Fred Gretch Ent, and the Sho-Bud factory is still set up in this institution. So, I wouldn't say they even are out of business. Everytime I think they are out of business, another new guitar shows up at one of the 6 dealers they have.
The quality is superb on all of them also, (now). However, I have seen some problems during the time period you have discussed. Sho-Bud has never been as famous for quality as they are for tone , beauty, and playability.I know of many others brands that are of great quality that sound horrible. I'll take the Sno-Bud option anyday, how 'bout you Lloyd?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 27 Sep 2002 1:45 pm

Didn't I see somewhere that Fender bought Gretsch? Could be wrong. But, if so, what would happen to Sho~Bud. Seeing as how Fender has abandoned the steel guitar community, it would seem logical that they would make Sho~Bud extinct.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 27 Sep 2002 3:03 pm

.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 28 September 2002 at 05:58 PM.]

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 27 Sep 2002 4:24 pm

See this at the link below...

As part of the deal, which is effective as of January 1, 2003, FMIC will be responsible for all aspects of the Gretsch stringed instrument product lines and brand names, including Gretsch guitars and basses, Synchromatic guitars, Electromatic guitars and Gretsch's line of parts and accessories. Development of future new products, including Gretsch branded amplifiers, is also a part of the deal.
http://www.harmony-central.com/News/2002/Fender-Gretsch-Guitars.html

I guess Gretch is just going to keep their drum line and ??? No mention of Sho-Bud anywhere.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 27 Sep 2002 6:13 pm

That means that Fender will be putting out the "Bigsby re-issue" 6 string solid body. P. A. must be spinning in his grave. Yee Ha!

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 27 Sep 2002 7:04 pm

Hi Jody, maybe Fender will put you back in business again. Glad to see you posting..al

Eddie Malray · Post by **Eddie Malray** » 27 Sep 2002 7:11 pm

When I posted this article this afternoon I should hav given it a little more thought. I tried to post clarification but this computer went crazy and I went out to eat. In noway am I critizing a Sho-Bud guitar. I just got a bad one. I think Sho-Buds are the most beautiful steels ever made and nothing sounds any sweeter. In fact, I've been keeping my eyes and ears open, searching for the one I want. I'd like to have one like I ordered twenty years ago. That being a Pro II , walnut finish with five levers on the E9. I hope I did'nt offend anyone. I sure did'nt mean to. In fact, I don't play well enough to criticize anyones guitar. I haven't heard of anyone getting a new Bud lately or any talk of a new one. I just figured they were'nt being built anymore.

Eddie Malray · Post by **Eddie Malray** » 27 Sep 2002 7:31 pm

I'm back again.

I'm back. This is mostly for Bobbe Seymour. No Bob, my last Sho-Bud was'nt in 1980. Although I've kept the Emmons, I've owned three Buds along the way. Two Pro IIs an a LDG. all three looked great and sounded like a steel should. Two of them were a little noisy underneath but it seems like you can't have everything. The reason I sold them was because someone wanted them more than I did.$$$$$$$$$s

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 27 Sep 2002 9:39 pm

Bobbe would probably be the one to know this, but doesn't Fred Gretsch still own the Sho~Bud name and allows Rayline to build them under license?[This message was edited by Kenny Davis on 27 September 2002 at 10:40 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 28 Sep 2002 2:25 am

Bobbe..are you saying that there have been some new Sho-Buds built during recent years ?

Do you have any info on them, what configurations, what dollar value they were selling for ? Who may own them ?

very interesting subject here..

tp
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 28 September 2002 at 06:45 AM.]

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 28 Sep 2002 7:27 am

Kenny, No, Rayline does not build Sho-Bud guitars. I 'spose they could if they wanted to though. I think Rayline only builds "Rayline" guitars.
Fred Grestch is the owner of Sho-Bud as of this writing.
Rumor has it that Fender has always wanted Sho-Bud steel guitar mfg, remember who made the last Fender steel guitars? This could be a good thing for Sho-Bud. Or a bad thing. Who will own EMCI now, Fender? I can't inagine Fender wanting to build two or three different lines of steel guitars. However I have been approached to work for this establishment, to be in charge of steel guitar production, which I have declined because of vast prior commentments.
Looks like a lot of interesting things are happening in the steel guitar community.
I can't even keep up with what's going on!
Everywhere, anywhere,----->

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 28 Sep 2002 7:29 am

Yes Tony, A few Sho-Buds have been built recently. Value? Depends on condition, as always.

Bobbe

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Sep 2002 10:47 am

If you want to know ALWAYS consult THE DOCTOR.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 28 Sep 2002 4:35 pm

And the Doctor is in!

Dr. Seymour

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 28 Sep 2002 6:13 pm

O.K., I know Fred isn't building them, so who is, and where are they located?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 29 Sep 2002 11:28 am

I wish that the Sho~Bud would re-appear. Although I owned a Super-Pro for several years and thought it was the worst guitar I have ever owned (terrible tone, pot metal parts keep breaking), I think the guitars of the Professional, Pro-I, Pro-II and Pro-III eras were great, sweet, beautiful guitars. I would love to own one. Hopefully if Sho~Bud were to come back as a major player, they will bag the pot metal crap and go back to some of their earlier designs.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 30 Sep 2002 6:08 pm

Richard, Ralph Mooney loved his Sho-Bud Super Pro tone. I saw him on CMT this weekend, he sounded great to me. Did you think his Super Pro sounded bad? You didn't like the Sho-Bud so you got a ----,My sides hurt!!!!!!!
You want the Sho-Bud's made out of some kind of real strong , heavy material underneath? I'll agree the zinc parts are not extremly strong but I never have plowed with mine, and if you put it in a case and don't just drag it behind your car, you shouldn't have any trouble with whats there.

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 30 September 2002 at 07:12 PM.][This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 30 September 2002 at 07:18 PM.][This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 30 September 2002 at 08:06 PM.]

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 30 Sep 2002 8:49 pm

Bobbe - Who's making Sho~Bud guitars, and where are they located?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 2 Oct 2002 9:31 am

I'd say the manufacturing is in "limbo" at the moment but I believe if I ordered one it would come (be built in)from Magazine Ar. (as all have in the past several years)
Bobbe Seymour [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 02 October 2002 at 10:32 AM.]

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 12 Oct 2002 5:16 am

Has anyone ordered a new Sho-bud in the last two years and had it delivered?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 12 Oct 2002 7:02 am

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 17 Oct 2002 6:50 am

I have a SHO-BUD Pro II SP,double 10 8-5 went to the factory in DeQueen, Ark. back in 1983 and spent the day with them, they had the most of it together but needed me there in order to get the knee levers in the right place and put my set up on it. Since then the only trouble I've had with it, is the fingers wear out from so much playing, I had trouble with the rods bumping into each other, so I put very thin pieces of foam between them, now they are as quite as can be. Up til then I owned about a half dozen SHO-BUDS. Would like to have an Emmons to compare and see which one is better for me, but it's hard to beat SHO-BUD>

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 17 Oct 2002 9:01 am

Bobbe-I'm with you on this one. I had a Super-Pro D10 8 and 6 and it was great. I am sorry I sold it.

It was smaller and lighter than my Sho-Bud Professional D10, and it had great sounding Lawrence 705 pickups! ....al