Shobud Fingertips and Permanents----got a picture??

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 10:42 am

Hey John, I do believe ours are out of the same litter!!

Does your tone knob work on yours? I just unhooked mine--it was wired as a volume control. I got a volume pedal for that. I may hook it up as a tone knob sometime.

I have found the period correct coiltap switches, as well as the replacement endplate handles for anyone needing these items. email me at shobud@windstream.net for more info.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 10:55 am

Same litter? Quite possibly, but mine was born first. All my bellcranks are "Flat-backs," whereas most of yours are "Bubble-butts." Butt, that could easily mean a matter of days apart!
It's a volume knob, but I may wire it as a tone control.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 12:53 pm

This pedal bar is my '63 'tip. These connectors are unique. The difference between this year and the '67 I had, is the '63's connector is loose in the pedal vs. the '67, the '67 has a set screw to hold the connector. What does your have, John?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 1:01 pm

James,
Mine has pivoting latches. Bad pic, but everything is under tarps during drywall work.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 1:02 pm

James,
Are your pedals painted black? Or is that some sort of non-slip stuff?

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 1:09 pm

I believe its just paint.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 1:11 pm

You got a lift kit on the guitar James?

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 1:21 pm

Yes, I raised it to fit me. Fits like a glove.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 1:26 pm

John Billings wrote:James,
Mine has pivoting latches. Bad pic, but everything is under tarps during drywall work.

Looks like yours is an earlier version than mine is.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 1:27 pm

James,
What's the serial number on your guitar? Mine is a very strange one,
7-207-207

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 2:53 pm

Hey John, serial# 7 206 206

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 2:54 pm

Now ain't that interesting James!!!!!

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 Dec 2010 3:38 pm

James look at the pedal connectors on this one,a differant type still. Has no serial number at all,and has the offset tuners. The original pullers had flat backs.

The last photo is of the original guitar before restoration.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 3:42 pm

Bizzarre!!

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 3:43 pm

Interesting Bob! Similar in concept to mine. But they didn't have to bend mine. And your pullrods are all in the hole furthest from the rack.

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 Dec 2010 3:55 pm

John,the latches on mine look like what I have seen on the perm's.I tried moving the rods to the rear of the pedals,way too much travel, but very soft pedal action. If you look at the first 3 pedals I shortened the latches so they could be reversed, but I put it back the way it was.You have a spacer between the latch and the pedal so no need for the bend.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 4:05 pm

Bob,
I could barely see the serial number on mine. Had to highlight it with a flashlight from an angle, and use a magnifying glass to read it.

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 Dec 2010 4:08 pm

Hey James, I am still trying to figure out how you date these things.As far as I can see there seems to be no real patern to the way they are built.

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 Dec 2010 4:12 pm

John, where did you find a number on the guitar,there are no numbers on the end plate or the cabinet. All the other Sho-Buds I have seen were stamped in the plates.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Dec 2010 4:14 pm

Well, no one seems to know, Bob, how the serial number system works.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 4:28 pm

Bob,
They used what they had, and used up whatever they had. There were subtle changes in the changer. And the later models had an improved bellcrank design. I think James' guitar was retrofitted with the better bell cranks, but it still has a few of the old "flat-back" cranks. My guitar has all "flat-backs."
My bell cranks;

James' "bubble-butt" cranks;

Your guitar appears to have had the "flat-back" cranks originally, which would probably make it a '63, if present dating methods are correct. Now you have a mix? '73, and '74? I can't see it too clearly. Do you still have the "C" rings at the changer?
JB

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Dec 2010 4:33 pm

Bob,
Mine is on the keyhead endplate flange, C6th neck side.

James,
We're learning more every day!
JB

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 5 Dec 2010 5:01 pm

John, these were the original pullers from my guitar, they were all the same type.The other photo shows the cross shafts which are original, but fitted with new pullers,knee levers,ect. The changer rocd were held with the c-clips but I have replaced the rods and connected them direct to the changer fingers.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 6 Dec 2010 8:01 am

All of these Finger-tip guitars were built by David Jackson, between late '63 and '69, along with the Baldwin AND the last few perms. As you must know, David is still building guitars and working hard producing several a month.

I'm so happy to see you guys appreciating these original Sho-buds, but there are many problems with memories here as to where the guitarts were built.

Most that were built between 63' and'68 were built on Dickerson road in west Madison TN. Not Broadway, and not 2nd Ave. This is now a used car lot.;

Ask me by email if you want to know anything about the Finger tip or the Permenent guitars, If I don't know, I'll confer with David or Harry Jackson, the builders at the time.

Bobbe Seymour

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 6 Dec 2010 1:14 pm

James,I talked to the original owner of my guitar,he seems to think he had it built around 66 or 67.Looking at the construction of these guitars I am not sure how to tell what year they might have been made.I still don't see any numbers on mine, so I am not sure if it's possible to tell when they were built.