Old Sho-Buds

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 3 May 2005 11:59 pm

I've looked through the Unofficial Sho-Bud website, but haven't found specifics about my particular question.

A friend of mine told me I could borrow an old pedal steel that's at the family music store a few miles (and a few bucks in gas at current rates in my clanky Astro van) away. I called the store's repairman, also a friend, who confirmed(?) the instrument I thought it was--a blond number I'd once seen at my friend's house.

"Oh, yeah, the old Sho-Bud."

Then he knocked me for a loop, when he described its "funky cables." I asked did it have any knee levers. (I'm looking for something to learn on, not a historical curiosity.) He didn't think so. I'm guessing that pedal steels are kind of an arcane subject to him, a forgivable blind spot, given his deft touch with deformed wood and electronics design.

So--were Sho-Buds always rodded? (What used cables besides Fenders and Bigsbys?) When did knee levers come in? I'm trying to gauge what to expect if I make the drive. It's not a matter of will I go check it out--I will--it's what are the odds I'll find something too outdated for effective learning? (I forgot to verify that it was indeed a 10-string; after seeing 8- and 9-string necks on the Unofficial site, I'm wondering a bit.)

I'd be curious to read about (websites, SGF threads) or see some early Sho-Buds. (A store I frequent when visiting family in Oklahoma used to have a couple. They went away before I knew what I was looking at.)

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 4 May 2005 7:59 am

Ben, though I'm no expert I don't think Sho-Bud ever used cables so if it has them they probably would be pretty funky. Other than that I wish I still had my blonde single neck. It would be an excellent starter and much more. If there are no knee levers (and there's probably at least one) they are easily added. You might want to consult with people here about a fair price. If it has 10 strings I'm almost positive there are rods & no cables. It should play well when properly adjusted. Good Luck!

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 4 May 2005 8:17 am

Hi Ben, it sounds like an old Maverick. They had rods and not cables but what's in a word? Some of the early '70's models were blonde birdseye maple with stainless ends and for quite a while did not have any knee levers (later they added one). Also no roller bridge and a pretty much "permanent" setup.

Not your pro player but a fine beginning place if it's under $500.

The other possibility is a Sho-Bud-built Fender, but I can't say whether any cables would be found under there.[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 04 May 2005 at 09:18 AM.]

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 7 May 2005 2:18 am

Update: I have the Sho-Bud in hand...er, case...and as near as I can tell (wish they wuz more photos of old Sho-Buds around) this must be a 60s S-10 Professional. (Looks like a natural version of the sunburst Professional on Duane Marrs' website.)

Details: 3+1, square pedals, Grover Rotomatics (original?) s/n 3196 (stamped in wood AND metal), replacement George L's pu of some sort. Got some kind of pots with 5 digits and last character B (thing is in case; gotta clear space for it before looking again or taking pics). Black plastic volume and tone knobs centered on player side of the neck (not an SD-10 however); on-off switch between pots. Metal hex-screw changer-adjusters. Three lines of marquetry trim (squares tipped diagonally) on front. Conventional pedal rods and the undercarriage must be the Crate 'n' Barrel type or whatever all y'all good experienced experts call it. A little cleaning and tweaking and I'll be ready to start all over on psg for the umpty-umpth time.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 7 May 2005 3:56 am

Ben,

Is it one like these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33041&item=7320457374&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

Ron[This message was edited by Ronald ! on 07 May 2005 at 04:56 AM.]

Jim Dunaway · Post by **Jim Dunaway** » 7 May 2005 6:18 am

Looks exactly like my 73 Pro I. I wonder why it has no identifying label?

JimmyD

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 7 May 2005 9:00 am

Ben; sounds like your speaking of the Sho-bud Single-10 Professional; which was made during the D-10 professional years>late '69-'72-ish.
That is the Rack and Barrel pulling system. They came standard with 3 pedals 1 knee lever. Also a Volume and Tone control and the switch in the middle is a coil tap; but if the pickup was replaced; then of course none of that will work. But those old pots are the very highly sought after Allen Bradley (AB 500K Type J)pots that would work REAL well in any pot volume pedal.
There are several pictures of this type Sho-bud in my "house of wood" at www.mightyfinemusic.com website; that you can look through and find them.
Jim; these Sho-bud's were very different from your '73 pro I mechanically; and the reason there is no identifying lable is they made these before they even called them "Pro-I". Sho-bud started putting "Pro-I" on the apron; when the Pro-II's came out> '72-ish.
This is; by no means, a rare sho-bud however; because a ton of them were made and easy to come by.
Here's one I restored/refirbished and put the original curved knees back on it; but took out the volume and tone pot per request.>

And this one is the wood wraparound neck version that came out during the baldwin crossover model years.

------------------
Ricky Davis

Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 7 May 2005 9:14 am

Either way Ben, it is a sweet steel when set up right.
Even if a bit underpowered.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 7 May 2005 4:38 pm

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 7 May 2005 8:38 pm

Yeah Ben; that is just a regular run-of-the-mill Sho-bud Single-10 Professional. And that is what they called the "Rope Inlay" that is the straight line design on the apron and neck.
Yours is like the first one I pictured; but certainly not like the second one..ha..as the second one is the wood wraparound neck made earlier than yours.
Have fun with it.
Ricky

Jim Dunaway · Post by **Jim Dunaway** » 8 May 2005 6:48 am

Thanks for the info Ricky, your knowledge of Shobud history is encylopedic. Now if I could figure why is sounds so bad. I played about 25 years ago, never was very good, but the steel had a fantastic sound. I pulled it out a few months ago, put a Trutone on it, Jagwire Lloyd Green strings and a used Nashville 400 bought on the Forum, and it sounds awful. And its not just my poor playing, buddy, this thing is really bad. Any ideas?

JimmyD

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 8 May 2005 8:15 am

Jim; I'm sure it's not the steel...Meaning it's something else inhibiting the great sound of that Sho-bud. Cheap chords will do it. Bad settings on the Nash 400 will do it. Bad Pot pedal will do it.
The way I set a Nash400 is:
Bass: 3 o'clock
Mid: 8 o'clock
Shift: 2 o'clock
Treble&Presence: 1 o'clock
Ricky

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 8 May 2005 11:03 am

Okay, Ricky--for those of us not steeped in the lore: what was that "...ha.." in reference to the wraparound all about? I see that the wood extends all the way to the changer end on the wraparound, but I assume there's an aggravating/hilarious downside to that design?

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 8 May 2005 5:05 pm

Ben; actually it is a cool Sho-bud; but they were pretty rare as only made during the baldwin distributing days; as the Baldwin days, turned out to be not the sho-bud we really wanted.
I didn't care for the way the make-shift changer mounted as appossed to the axle through the metal plate housing that really helped to aluminate the sound. So these wood-wraparound necks with the changer mounted directly to the body; gave a much warmer/darker sound.
Ricky