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Topic: ShoBud 6139 rebuild progress with pics |
Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 10 Jun 2015 4:40 pm |
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Hello Everyone,
Im the proud new owner of a ShoBud 6139 from I believe 1974,3x3 with raised dust catcher frett board. just got it shipped from a music store in Indiana. The guitar aparently sat in a storage facility for a long time, no case... yikes!
The grime on this guitar is beyond belief, I believe it was lubed with axel grease and WD-40, for the entire life span of the guitar. All the parts were orange colored, almost like brass color.. until I realized someone must have literally got under the guitar when it was time for a lube, and just sprayed WD-40 over everything...
I have begun the referbishment, and this thread will be dedicated to that, along with pics of progress, that will hopefully be useful sometime for someone else doing this type of ShoBud referbish.
First off, wait until you see how UPS left this at my door step, and how it was packed by the shipper, it is nothing short of a Miracle that it arrived in one piece, remember it was not shipped in a case... yikes!
Here are some pics.
First thing I did was strip all the hardware from the underside of the guitar, then I soaked them in Ronsonol lighter fluid as the solvent, which worked extremely well.
Then I used 0000 steel wool on all the stainless rods, all the grime came off those really well too, they look as new now, I was very happy with how the steel wool worked.
I then washed the underneath of the cabinet with a damp sponge to get the grime off, and spiders.. complete with egg sacks... Then I used Lemon Oil wood cleaner to clean up the wood nicely...
thats it for today.. tomorrow is the changer, and nut roller... I will post pics as I go
Smitty
Last edited by Paul Smith on 30 Oct 2015 1:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bruce Derr
From:
Lee, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2015 7:19 pm
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Nice rig! I have pretty much the same steel, same color. It started as a 3+1 rack and barrel, and later had 3 more knees with 2-hole pullers added (by the factory, I believe). Mine is double-raise single-lower and was likely made in the first week of October 1974, based on some reliable info I saw posted here a few years back (i.e info from factory records for a serial number very close to mine).
Good luck with the restoration. I'll be following your progress. |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 8:38 am progress
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Hello,
Ok here is the next phase of my project:
Changer cleaned, lubed, reinstall.
Installed a Bill Lawrence 705, (not soldered in yet)
Some before and after pics:
This required a tremendous effort, hours and hours of work, well worth the effort of course, Patience is a must.
I learned over this phase of the project, that I will never use axle grease, or grease of any kind on my guitar, nor will I use WD-40, only a light machine oil for me, done regularly.
Next phase will be Pickup electronics, (soldering, etc.)
then reassemble all hardware...
stay tuned |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 10:00 am Re: progress
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| Paul Smith wrote: |
| stay tuned |
After all that work, it should.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 11:06 am
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| it's curious that the fingers on strings 4 & 5 have been replaced with double raise jobs. How were they rodded? The picture above of the tuner end only shows one rod in each. I assume they were in the same positions pre-cleaning? Perhaps they were simply replaced because of excessive wear at some point? |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 11:17 am
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| Ian Worley wrote: |
| it's curious that the fingers on strings 4 & 5 have been replaced with double raise jobs. How were they rodded? The picture above of the tuner end only shows one rod in each. I assume they were in the same positions pre-cleaning? Perhaps they were simply replaced because of excessive wear at some point? |
I was wondering what thats all about myself?t
They are in the exact position that i removedtthem from.
Do you think its ok, that way? Seemed to play fine
When i gave a test drive |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 11:18 am
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| Ian Worley wrote: |
| it's curious that the fingers on strings 4 & 5 have been replaced with double raise jobs. How were they rodded? The picture above of the tuner end only shows one rod in each. I assume they were in the same positions pre-cleaning? Perhaps they were simply replaced because of excessive wear at some point? |
I was wondering what thats all about myself?t
They are in the exact position that i removedtthem from.
Do you think its ok, that way? Seemed to play fine
When i gave a test drive |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 11:24 am
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| No reason it shouldn't work fine. Did either have a second raise rod? That system was designed to allow multiple pulls with a single rod via the brass tuning barrels, but the leverage ratio was obviously not adjustable between the different pulls |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 1:39 pm
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Paul... thats one dirty axe, great job cleaning it up !
The 2 up 1 down bridge/finger is irrelevant here, this is a rack and barrel system...the barrels behind the racks determine how many raises/lowers , not the holes in the fingers. The racks have ONE hole for one rod...a pretty interesting design. Add a knee lever or pedal ( which includes a rack) and add a barrel on the same rod behind that rack.
Racks obviously were replaced by cross shafts and bell cranks . Pullers were added. Those two odd finger/bridge assy's are from the next generation Sho Bud which was a 2up, one down system with cross shafts and two hole pullers. Pro II's and Pro III's, maybe some Pro I's. Those same finger/bridges were also used on the NEXT generation which used cast 5 hole HEX shafts and pullers. My Pro III has the 2 up, 1 down system with two hole pullers uses the same fingers as my late 70's Pro I which uses the 5 hole cast HEX pullers and hex shafts.
Nice axe in the photo's I'm sure it will have killer tone !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 2:13 pm A pair of double raise/single lower fingers
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Paul, mine has that also, they're on the B fingers though.
_________________
“TONESNOB” |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2015 2:43 pm
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| Tony Prior wrote: |
| The 2 up 1 down bridge/finger is irrelevant here |
I wouldn't say it's irrelevant. I was actually curious if the second raise hole had been put to use, or if it was just a matter of a previous owner replacing a couple of bad fingers with whatever was available at the time. There isn't really a clear chronology between the different iterations of the early seventies changers, it was kind of mix and match between ~'73-'75 all the 1/1, 2/1 and 2/2 changers around that time had those long offsets on the scissors (the later Super Pro style 3/2 fingers were a completely different design). The older style fingers are simpler, I think they work better on the lowers, return more firmly.
The second raise isn't necessary on a rack and barrel or early two-hole puller system, but it would provide a different leverage option on those strings, assuming the extra rod doesn't conflict with anything. I've never had a rack and barrel bud though, are you saying it's not even possible to use the second raise, Tony?.
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 14 Jun 2015 3:01 am
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Ian, ok, irrelevant meaning with a rack/barrel system, not with the two hole or 5 hole systems.
Seeing there is only ONE hole for the raise on the R+B system, where would you put the extra rod ? The added pulls on the R+B system are from the barrels placed behind the rack on the SAME rod, not an additional rod. Now I can't say with 100% certainty but every Professional I have ever seen ( rack and barrel) was a 1 up 1 down, none of them had fingers added which didn't fit that 1 up 1 down configuration. Adding those changer fingers is not a big deal, we use what we have but I would question that they came from Sho Bud with them. Is it possible ? sure anything is possible.
My take would be they were added later due to finger rivet fatigue or wear but you can only use ONE raise hole...thats why I said irrelevant, in this scenario ( R+B) as there is no place to add a second rod., meaning the 2nd UP hole is along for the ride ! Like Johnny Cash sang...I went to put in the screws and all the holes were gone !
Yes, I have owned R+B Professionals, wish I had them back ! Will grab another in a NY minute should the price be right.
I don't profess to be a forum expert but have rebuilt several ( not just Sho Buds) and spoken with James and Ricky many times with questions. Each of the different SB systems are nicely designed for the era they were built but improvements were greatly needed. When they finally got to the Super Pro era it was a fine design the only problem was they cheaped out with those cast hex shaft pullers that..well..crack under stress at the underside of the puller under the cross shaft . I know this first hand as well! 
All is good.. 
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2015 5:13 am
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Outstanding!
I have a few little odds and ends that were extra on my Professional rebuild. If you need a strange part, holler..
_________________
Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 14 Jun 2015 5:53 am
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Gentleman,
I have a feeling that those were replacement fingers to replace the originals that were worn out... just a guess though...
Justin, thanks for your offer, ya never know... so far so good though
ok, gotta go clean some barrels  |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2015 1:45 pm
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I don't know if your bud is the original color, and finish, but have some advice. Your last picture shows sunlight bouncing off the changer. If you leave original finish Buds in sunlight, you will have the colors fade out, in a very short time. They used food coloring, as I was told, and that is not sun proof. You will see many Buds, that are totally faded, and some with faded spots. Please be careful, and keep them out of the sun.
_________________
Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 14 Jun 2015 2:02 pm
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| Ronnie Boettcher wrote: |
| I don't know if your bud is the original color, and finish, but have some advice. Your last picture shows sunlight bouncing off the changer. If you leave original finish Buds in sunlight, you will have the colors fade out, in a very short time. They used food coloring, as I was told, and that is not sun proof. You will see many Buds, that are totally faded, and some with faded spots. Please be careful, and keep them out of the sun. |
thanks very much for your post! Will Do, I had know idea they could fade in the sun... Just had it outside for a few minutes for some pictures. |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 17 Jun 2015 3:04 pm Getting There
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Here ya go,
some more pics of my ShoBud refurbish project.
Almost done, pedals need help, I need to take them off and clean and lube etc... and setup RKR.. and Im done,
New Bill Lawrence pickup sounds great I really like it. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Jun 2015 12:37 am
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looks great Paul !
Congrats !
Oh yeah, I think you have to leave it outside for a pretty dang long time before the finish fades, I've played my Buds on countless outdoor gigs, I faded way before the Steel did ! 
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 18 Jun 2015 2:49 am
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| Tony Prior wrote: |
looks great Paul !
Congrats !
Oh yeah, I think you have to leave it outside for a pretty dang long time before the finish fades, I've played my Buds on countless outdoor gigs, I faded way before the Steel did ! |
Hello Tony, wheeew! thats great news, because I do play outdoors ocassionally, and we tend to play for a long time, 5 hours sometimes longer...
Just an FYI, Im from the North East but I lived in Raleigh, NC for 5 yrs.. and played in a band called "The Milagro Saints" all original, acoustic roots rock outfit, playing alot of lap steel. I still tour with them as their steel player. New record coming out this summer. Cant wait to add some pedal steel, after I learn how to play it! |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jun 2015 9:22 am
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| Ronnie Boettcher wrote: |
| Please be careful, and keep them out of the sun. |
that's going to limit your gigs, though. |
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Paul Smith
From:
Ma
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Posted 30 Oct 2015 1:52 pm Off with yer head
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Hello Everyone,
Here is some more progress pics of my ShoBud 6139 rebuild project...
Latest work was to replace old grover tuners with new 18:1 nickel plated grover tuners...
Here are some pics:
take off headstock,
Clean and Polish headstock, I also put in a new roller nut axle, as the original was badly worn and was causing tuning headaches... Nice and smooth now
Install new 18:1 grovers, this required some modification from a machine shop I had down the street, to widen the screw holes a bit so I could use the original mounting screws, the new screws are too small, they also had to grind down and polish tuners 5 and 6 so they wouldnt meet in the middle of the headstock.
aaaahhhh, these tuners are fantastic!
Next step(s)
I have a new Bill Lawrence L710 pickup on the way
Im having a machine shop build a new pedal rack, unless I can buy one some where cheaper.
Stay Tuned... (pun intended) |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 9:50 am
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What's wrong with the pedal rack? I don't see any good pics of it. On one of my guitars I block sanded it up to 1200 grit, and took it to a pro polisher/plating shop. I tink it was 25 or 30 bucks, and it looks new. Polisher said I only needed to sand to 600 grit. Can't see it too well in this pic, but;
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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