Anyone know the story behind USA's "Little Buddy Jr?"

[Landon George]

Hi,

I bought this guitar from a friend in North Carolina who bought it from a preacher in South Carolina. I paid $250 for it, and honestly I made my money back pretty quick, but not without some serious headaches. I'm wondering if anyone knows the story behind the company USA and their Little Buddy Jr.? I've been told it was a couple guys in Detroit building them in their auto shop at night, and I've been told they were 'prototype' guitars made with cheap parts before the company folded. I don't doubt the cheap parts bit, but I'd love to have a better picture of this little guitar's story.

Below are some photos, thanks in advance!

[Doug Beaumier]

They were made by Chuck Thompson and Freeman Cowgar in the Detroit area in the 1970's and early 1980's. There are a lot of old threads here on the steel forum about the Little Buddy. Do a Google search for Little Buddy pedal steel. You'll read a lot of negative comments, like "an absolute piece of junk" and "run the other way".

[Landon George]

Hey, thanks Doug! Any idea if Chuck Thompson and Freeman Cowgar are still around? I would love to send them a thank-you letter for getting me into the instrument

[Doug Beaumier]

Freeman passed away around 2006. I don't know about Chuck Thompson. After they made the Little Buddy, they split and Freeman made Cougar pedal steels.

[Gary Spaeth]

looks like they copied the maverick to the t.

[Doug Beaumier]

That makes sense. Freeman worked for Sho-Bud for a few years before making the Little Buddy.

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Donny Hinson]

Student (entry level) pedal steel from the 1970's, probably the second cheapest pedal steel ever made. (The cheapest one was the "Mark I" , made by Market-Rite, which was sold in kit form for around $150.) I seem to remember seeing ads from both appearing in "Guitar Player" magazines back in the mid '70s.

Freeman also made a non-pedal version of the "Little Buddy Jr." called the "Little Boss".