Sho-Bud Crossover

Wade Branch · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Could someone enlighten me on a Sho Bud Crossover.I have a very limited knowledge on Sho-Buds.I would to hear the pros and cons on these guitars and maybe if someone has a picture of one that they could post,that would be great. Smile

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi Wade, the Sho-Bud "crossover" was a D-10 guitar that from recollection had 6 pedals and 1 knee lever. Most were a natural birds eye maple, and they were extreemly heavy. There was a lever on the rear apron that when "activated" would put all the pedals and knee lever to either neck E9th or C6th. Many players of those guitars said the mechanics were a little unstable and tuning was a problem, but like all Sho-Buds they had a beautiful tone. Bill Rudolph of William's steels in Minneapolis now makes his own "crossover" and on all accounts they are very reliable.

Micky Byrne United kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Wade Branch · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Thanks,Mickey.1 knee lever ? Can anyone else chime in here with additional info about the Sho-Bud Crossover ?

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi Wade, I just found something on the net about a 1968 Baldwin Sho-Bud "cross over" which I've PM'd to you. Sorry 2 knee levers Smile

but I'm sure my Pal had one with just 1 lever.

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi all, This is what I found on the internet to Wade's question on the "cross over"

1968 Baldwin Sho-Bud "crossover model" D10

E9 Neck LKL P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 RKL
F# .013 +G#
Eb .015 -D
G# .011 +A
E .014 +F +F# -Eb
B .018 +C# +C# +C#
G# .022p +A +A -F#
F# .026
E .030 +F -Eb
D .034 -C#
B .038 +C#

C6 Neck P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 RKL
D .017
E .014 +F
C .018 +D -B
A .020p +B +B
G .024 -F#
E .030 -Eb
C .036 +C#
A .042 +B
F .054 +F# -E
C .070 +D -A

I got this very pretty "Pete Drake model" crossover Sho-Bud a couple of years ago to ogle and experiment with. I've been intrigued by this model guitar ever since I saw Ernie Hagar play one with Commander Cody many years ago. It's the classic clear lacquer on birdseye maple with black wrinkle fininshed end caps. It also sports white fretboards and original pearl-button Grover tuners. The tone is really warm and round, not as much top-end as other Sho-Bud models (it does use different pickups). It records beautifully as an alternative to the current "Nashville sound". The C6 sound is amazing.

Tuning Notes: As this guitar only has two knee levers, I've had to use the additional available pedals for the E9 changes I've grown accustomed to. This requires a lot of both-feet pedal dancing ala Ralph Mooney and takes some getting used to. In a pinch, the "student "setup is there with the first three pedals and both knees. The C6 neck has the classic 5+1 setup with a D on top. Anyone out there have interesting alternative tunings? I'd love to hear from you.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Wade, I emailed you some info. Not sure of your email address, though.

Basically, to add to what's already been said, crossovers were the model just before "The Professional" model came out, then the early Pro II came out(same as the Professional, except the rack system was dumped for the barrels behind two hole pullers upgrade). (Also the Pro II is not to be confused with the later Pro II "custom" model.) Also, the bodies of these models are roundfront's---the most eye appealing shobud ever created. IMHO

The crossover was from the Baldwin era of Shobud. The Professional model is a rack & barrel system, (without the crossover mechanism and heavey cast frame), and so is the crossover. Both models are identical, body wise. You may upgrade the crossover to more knees, and the rack and barrel system is virtually unlimited to the changes you can set up, but the racks are pretty sloppy/noisey.

First thing you will think about if you want to make a crossover a player, is dumping the heavey cast frame. The next thing is upgrading from the racks, to the barrels behind two hole pullers or even the all pull system. Could get pricey, unless you can get your crossover cheap enough. But you will end up with a fantastic shobud and tone galore.

John Coop-- Cshobud1@wmconnect.com can give you all the insight you would need on Crossovers and doing conversions. Here's what my Professional looks like with the Coop conversion---which makes my guitar a real fine player. It started out as a "the Professional" with the rack & barrel system. This guitar is a real DREAM guitar now. You are welcome to play it sometime, though distance is probably an issue. Sad

Paul Frank Bloomfield · From: Greece

Hallo Mick
Just saw your bit about the cross-over Sho-Buds and
you mentioned six pedals and a birds-eye maple finish, is this the type of steel you mean here played by and studied by a rather young Eric Snowball
back in the early '70's at ZB Guitars UK Maidstone,
you probably remember that !!
Frank Bloomfield. Corfu

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Goodness me Frank, where did you dig that picture from ??? Lol Smile

That certainly is a young picture of Eric. Most British steel players got their first steels off Eric. He was/is quirky but a nice guy to deal with, and he really pushed those ZB's. Last I heard about Eric, he looked like the late great actor John Thaw!! of the "Inspector Morse" series. Yes that's a "crossover" he had. I remember Ronnie Bennett played one before he started building his great Bennett steels.
Hope you're well in sunny Corfu mate...alright for some Smile

Cheers,

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

PFB,
How tall is that guy! He makes the guitar look like it's made for a child!

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Actually John, Eric is about 6 ft 1inch, not much more, I think it's the angle the photographs have been taken. I spent many an afternoon at his "Steel Mill" Music shop in Maidstone Kent U.K. with him. Nice guy, very obliging person and one of the first over here to promote and sell pedal steel guitars and accessories.

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

He didn't need a case. He just took the legs off and slipped it into his back pocket. He put the legs and pedal bar in his front pockets.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

I recommend that you use the "Search" function on the Forum. This subject has been discussed over and over again, and everything you could ever want to know about the Shobud Crossover is already available in the Forum archives.

I have two that I've restored. Here they are before I restored them.
They both have six pedals and one knee lever, and I believe this was the standard configuration.

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Phew Alan, thanks....so I was right in the first place about the 1 knee lever...thought my brain was going too Lol Smile

Nice guitars there mate.

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

No one has mentioned about the tuning versitility. You were not limited to only two or three raises and lowers per string, and it was very easy to chnage which strings to pull, all ten on one pedal if you wanted. One fellow in Houston came to me with his crossover and a sack full of rods and barrels and wanted me to set up the E neck with long rods and barrels on each srting on every pedal, so he could experiment with developing all kinds of combinations. Of course 20 long rods and 140 barrels added a some more weight, but it was possible and we did it.

Before the crossover, most guitars in the late 60's were either welded in place or were very difficult to change to different chopedants.

Thanx,
Jim

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I have my crossover all apart for restoration. One interesting thing is the wood frame is not glued together like other Sho-Buds. The wood top and front panals are screwed to cast frame individually.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: