Sho~bud FingerTip

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 10 Dec 2005 4:39 pm

Ok a Little Eye-candy for you Sho~bud lovers.
I did this up for my Friend Dave Biller(who's turning Steel player NOW!!!ha...)and it features the new Perfectly fretted White Background Sho-bud Replica fretboards that John Coop Makes.
Anyone that ever worked on the fingertip knows that it's quite a balancing act to get it to play perfectly and be as stable as a pedal steel should. Well It took me a bit to get it..ha...but it's perfect now...I just got up from playing it for 2 hours straight; and did not slip or loose it's tuning once....yeee haaaa.
(sorry about the camera doing a little wierd thing with the pedal rods..ha..but they are straight>believe me..ha.)

Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 22 December 2005 at 12:19 PM.]

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 10 Dec 2005 6:07 pm

Say Ricky, What a beauty!!! What would the vintage year of this jewel be? I can hear the tone through the pictures! Dave, you must be verrry proud!!![This message was edited by James Morehead on 10 December 2005 at 06:10 PM.]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 10 Dec 2005 6:21 pm

I'd say 1966 or 1967; very hard to pin-point the exact year; but they were only made a few years anyway....ha....so that's a safe bet.
Ricky

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 10 Dec 2005 7:07 pm

Beautiful, Ricky!

Al

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 10 Dec 2005 9:48 pm

What a beautiful fireplace. Oh yeah, fantastic work on the steel. You are the best, Ricky.
Duncan

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 11 Dec 2005 6:58 am

You know, I never could figure out.....
I noticed on the one I used to have (as well as
with all of them), the first three pedals are
spaced closer than the rest & the third pedal
always has the corner sawed off for some reason.
What the heck was the logic in these two characteristics? Once the Professionals came out, everything was normal.

Jim Dunaway · Post by **Jim Dunaway** » 11 Dec 2005 7:40 am

Beautiful guitar. This thread raises an old question; what is a fingertip?

JimmyD

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 11 Dec 2005 8:23 am

Thanks Ya'll.
Jay; that's a good question about why the first three pedals are closer. I can only speculate on room underneath and that they usually had 9 pedals; but then again, I question many many things of why shobud did this or that...ha....> and the shaved pedals especially the 3rd pedal; as the angle coming in with the left foot to hit the 2nd pedal; I guess shaving that keeps from hitting that edge(I know I would).
Jim; "Fingertip" refers to the way you tune this particular Sho-bud. You can see from the endplate there is a long shaft that goes through the middle of the finger; and two turn nuts that you tune with your fingers; to adjust how far it either raises or lowers.
Ricky

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 11 Dec 2005 9:18 am

Ricky,
Beautiful job on a very beautiful guitar! But that's what I expect from you! Keep it up, buddy!
JB

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 9:21 am

The "fat webbed keyhead and Grover Rotomatics along with the wide brass rollers PLUS the full web crossing the pedal tuning section at the tail piece designates this as a '67 -68 as the year of manufacture. As does the later style diamond inlay. This is a late production fingertip guitar and was built at the same time the Baldwin Cross overs were in production. (hence only 8 pedals). Built at the Dickerson Road location in Madison TN. (Right beside "Starday Records Studios")
Most likley this guitar did not come with white fret boards from the factory. There was a reason for this, they were being saved for the Sho-Bud Baldwin Crossover guitar deliveries.
The tone of these guitars was incredible. Pedal feel was not a strong point but these guitars were among the most beautiful ever produced, by anyone (opinion here).
Actually, some of these early guitars used the big Shaller tuning keys.
Looks like you did a wonderful job here Ricky, beautiful guitar.
Bobbe [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 11 December 2005 at 09:22 AM.][This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 11 December 2005 at 09:25 AM.][This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 11 December 2005 at 09:41 AM.]

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 11 Dec 2005 9:40 am

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 9:43 am

Yes Jay, this picture is of an earlier one.

Bobbe

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Dec 2005 10:13 am

I did this just so I could study the two side by side without all the scrolling.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 11 Dec 2005 11:21 am

Hey Thanks Bobbe for the very enlightening info; so yes that certainly puts Dave Biller's Fingertip at '68.>Way cool.
Ricky

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 12:28 pm

As a matter of fact Ricky, I have one I'd like to have you do for a customer that I just can't get to, a 65 Fingertip, D-10 9-4, if you can, e-mail me and I'll send it to you. You'll be dealing direct with the nice Alabama customer.
You da' man ,

Bobbster,

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 11 Dec 2005 12:47 pm

Bobbe; I'd love to do it; but at this point, I can't look at another steel till end of March-ish.
I am becoming a big fan of the Fingertip though and if his hasn't been done up by that time...have him yell at me.
Ricky

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 8:20 pm

Great, now we are talkin'! March will be here before we know it!

Bobster

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 11 Dec 2005 8:54 pm

I had an early finger tip with just 6 pedals. The first 3 pedals were spaced really close like all the finger tips I've seen.I was told they spaced the first 3 closer together because they thought you could get to them faster.Kinda makes sense. Well,if you use as much C pedal and the way Lloyd uses a C pedal.

What's your take on this? Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 10:43 pm

Bobby, this reason you mention is the very reason the Sho-Bud crew always told me they did it that way.
All Sho-Buds and most all other guitars of the era (weren't many) including my '51 D-8 Bigsby had the "E" neck pedals closer together than the "C" neck. The '64 Emmons was the first steel guitar built in quanity with even spacing for both necks.
You may even see some early ZBs with the close spacing on the "E" 9th neck. Also the dreaded Miller guitar of which there were many built, did the close spacing. Most all with the "Day" setup.
I sure do prefer the wider spaceing. [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 11 December 2005 at 10:47 PM.]

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 11 Dec 2005 11:08 pm

Thanks Bobbe. The pedal spacing on the early Emmons was,and still is a little too wide for my liking.I prefer the spacing of the later models.

To drift back towards the topic. I wish I could find my ole Sho~Bud finger tip.It's some where out behind the barn.Maybe now that the frost has killed the weeds. If I look hard enough. I might find it.

Dang, I look good in a hat.

....bb[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 11 December 2005 at 11:11 PM.]

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2005 11:21 pm

Ha! Out behind the barn huh? I remember that.
Wish you'd come to Nashville and see me.
I know we'd have some laffs! Bring your picks and I'll make you work!

Bobbe

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 11 Dec 2005 11:33 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Wish you'd come to Nashville and see me.
I know we'd have some laffs! Bring your picks <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So, you have heard about my playing?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 12 Dec 2005 10:56 am

No No No, see you have me laughing now!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 12 Dec 2005 11:01 am

Back (slightly) to the subject, I am still looking for a nice early sixties permenant Sho-Bud, D-10 (or 9 or

Anyone email me about anything available, anywhere at a fair price.
I may possibly be interested in a finger tip,

Bobbe Seymour

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 22 Dec 2005 12:06 pm

Ricky I am getting "Bandwith Exceeded" signs instead of the pictures, on my computer at home as well as on that in my office. I really would like to know what that Fingertip looks like, is there any other way to post the pictures?

Regards, Joe