Sho-Bud volume pedal: are they worth the $$?

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 16 Mar 2005 6:11 pm

Hi folks,
I've been checking out used Sho-Bud volume pedals and they are selling for a lot of money, sometimes more than the price of a new Goodrich 120 pedal. What's up with that? Is this because of the vintage collector market, or are these really superior pedals? I use a Goodrich 120 pedal that I'm pretty happy with. I was thinking of getting a second pedal, and the Sho-Bud pedal would go nicely with my LDG, but I'm not sure I want to spend more on a used pedal than I can buy a new Goodrich for.
What's the deal with these?

Thanks!
Cliff

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 16 Mar 2005 6:45 pm

I Have A Sho-Bud Pedal I've Had From 1975 or 76 I Think The Pot May have Been Changed One Or two Times. Still Works Great. They Holdup Great For Me.I Also Have A Goodrich But The Sho-Bud Sounds The Best. SONNY. My 2 cents.

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Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 16 Mar 2005 10:41 pm

Well for one; the Sho-bud pedals most likely have the original Allen Bradley 500K type J pot in it and those pots sound as good as any active or modern plug in volume pedal of today. The big cast construction of them make for some cool movements and longgevity of use. If you put a Sho-bud Pedal with a AB 500K Type J pot, next two any new modern volume pedal; it will suprise you just how awesome it sounds. And yes the cool vintage thing take in consideration too I believe.
Ricky

Al Carmichael · Post by **Al Carmichael** » 16 Mar 2005 11:57 pm

Hmmm...I've been using my Sho-Bud pedal since I got my steel and I always thought it sounded pretty good, but then I started reading about the Hilton pedals and thought maybe I was missing something.

I did get a new pot from Bobbe Seymour a few years back, but the pedal has been just fine for me.

The only thing I notice is that there is a subtle tone change from soft to louder volumes, but maybe that is a good thing. These posts are making me think I should hold on to what is obviously a good thing,

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 17 Mar 2005 1:18 am

The signal comes in through a jack, runs through some wire, then a potentiometer, then some more wire, then a jack, right? I can see how the distance from the hinge to the pot and the consequent difference in the length of the string could change the "feel" of a pedal, but it's really hard for me to see how a pedal could actually sound better just because it's old and cool. Of course I feel the same way about "magic" $50,000 '59 Les Pauls, so I still have a lot to learn I guess. If the pot on your Goodrich is worn out, buy a new pot.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 17 Mar 2005 5:22 am

They do look cool, but I'd spend the money on a pot less pedal... A pot pedal is a pot pedal.. Any good one will do the same acceptable job.

I have two old pot pedals,but to spend big bucks because it says Sho Bud is a waste from a technical standpoint.
However, If you like the look and want it to go along with a Bud guitar, it will enhance the value of your steel if you ever decide to sell it. Other pot brands can be had pretty cheap... I picked up a Beck Musical Instruments pedal for 30 bucks on Ebay... bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 17 March 2005 at 05:24 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 Mar 2005 5:38 am

There is no difference between "pot type" volume pedals with the exact same potentiometer in it. Electronically they are identical.

There can be mechanical differences in feel, size, angle of the pedal, etc, but electronically they are the same.

Given the age of a Sho-Bud volume pedal, I doubt that there are many around with an electronically good AB pot.

I use a Hilton, primarily because the correct value and good grade pots are no longer available.

Once Allen Bradley moved production out of the US, the quality seemed to go downhill and after Clarostat bought AB it got even worse. Now we can't even get the "AA" taper pots and must settle for standard Analog taper("A") pots. I suspect special ordering the "AA" taper pots would require a larger production run than Goodrich or George L's is willing to purchase at one time.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 17 Mar 2005 7:31 am

I agree with Jack Stoner completely. A pedal may feel better or worse mechanically, and may have a vintage vibe, but as far as sound goes, a pot of one value from the same manufacturer will sound the same as another. And the "good" old pots are simply unavailable or extremely difficult to find in today's world.

Professionally, I play through a Hilton pedal (I have two) though I predominantly perform on vintage guitars. Sorry to contradict my friend Ricky, but to my ears there's no comparison whatsoever in the quality and clarity of the sound.

The sound I hear when I play is of paramount importance to me, and I have no brand loyalty or agenda about it, nor do I think a vintage guitar should have a vintage pedal. The modern pedal, either Hilton or Goodrich LDR, is a sonic improvement over the potentiometer pedals available today.

Whether or not the expenditure of bucks is worth it to the player is an individual decision, of course. But I made my choice and am happy with it.

I do carry a spare Goodrich 120 pedal for backup, but only once have I had the need to use it. The Goodrich 120 is the best pot pedal available today if that technology is the choice of the player.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 17 March 2005 at 07:38 AM.]

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 17 Mar 2005 7:40 am

I'm with Herb on this one. I spent a week going back and forth between a Hilton and a Goodrich and my Emmons pot pedal, and ened up with the Goodrich, and will never go back. The Hilton was really close, but the Goodrich just sounded more like "me" when I used it.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 17 Mar 2005 12:59 pm

Jack, what's an "AA" taper? What does it look like graphed out? I'm familiar with Linear and audio tapers, but "AA"?
JB

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 17 Mar 2005 1:46 pm

I received an email asking why I "had to use my Goodrich pot pedal if the Hilton is so good?"

I played an outdoor gig where the electricity supplied was not enough to power the full band, and the soundman asked us to go down to as little power usage as possible, since the circuit breakers were tripping. I unplugged the Hilton and went to the passive pedal. The difference in sound quality was very noticeable, but the passive pedal did the trick in that situation.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 Mar 2005 2:11 pm

John the "AA" is a modified audio taper.
According to Paul Franklin Sr, it has to do with how the pot works on the first 40% of the volume pedal travel.

I had the tech literature on those but it's been lost in one of my moves.

Ron Frederiksen · Post by **Ron Frederiksen** » 25 Mar 2005 1:59 pm

Hey Cliff, I have an early 70's sho-bud, and I was going to put it on e-bay till I saw one on there that the bid was $185.00 and still going.
Needless to say, I still have mine. Its in vary good cond. and I use it every day. Had to put new line on the pod one time about 10 or 12 years ago, so I used fishing "fly-line" and its still there and working good. Dont know why they are so high dollar but guess I'll keep mine. My 2 cents worth. God Bless Ron

"STEELIN IS MUSIC TO MY EAR"

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 25 Mar 2005 10:24 pm

At one time I was the owner of a Sho~Bud Volume-Pedal. I noticed that for me, the pivit-point was a little too far back for comfort of operation for me. Soundwise, I think David Mason has it about right! Generally, if you've seen one volume-pedal, you've seen them all! If you put the same Pot in just about any comfortable pedal, it shouldn't change the Tone one bit! I use a Goodrich L–120 and also have a New (never used) L–120, for my spare.

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 26 Mar 2005 6:53 am

I have two Sho-Bud volume pedals, and they both work and sound great. The reason I like them is that the travel and action on them is about as smooth as they come. Seems to me that the mechanical smoothness of a steel guitar pedal is pretty important. I've tried alot of other types of pot pedals (Goodrich, ZB, Marlen, DeArmond, etc.) and they just don't have the smoothness and comfort and feel that the Sho-Buds have. I really like the heavy top housing (where you rest your foot).

Generally speaking, the appeal of a passive pedal for me is not having to plug anything (else) in. But I know the Hilton is a great pedal, too.

ZBest,
LC

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Larry Chung
'67 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser. #1077)
'69 ZB S-10 3+4 (ser. #0124)
'70 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser.# 0215)
'71 ZB Custom S-11 4+4 (ser. #0252)