New member with questions about polishing and pickups

David Berman · From: Maryland, USA

Hello steel guitar community!

I’m new to psg and the first time I sat down at one was when I recently bought a ‘77 Sho-Bud lll Pro.

I first got interested in the sound through 1970s country rock bands like Poco and reading articles in Guitar Player magazine with interviews with players like Rusty Young.

The guitar I got I suspect had not been played or maintained in a while. It is playable but at some point, I’ll have to bring it to a shop for a tune up and to clean the undercarriage. In the meantime, I’ve taken off those really old strings and bought 3-1 and Mothers polish to do what I can on the topside.

There are some darkened, mottled areas on the keyheads. I don’t know if Mother’s can clean this type of condition. I don’t want to take a chance on making it look worse-I can live with how it looks now. I hope I can get some advice from the community before I proceed.

I also am looking for some guidance on the pickups, which I’m guessing are single coil and hum pretty loud. On my Jazz bass, I had Nordstrand noise canceling pickups installed and it has made a great difference-they are totally quiet. Are there any noise canceling pickups for the steel anyone can recommend?

Thank you for reading this long post and I appreciate any info provided!

David

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1977 Sho-Bud Pro lll Custom

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

First of all, I would recommend NOT using 3-in-1 oil to lube the guitar. When dry, it remains sticky and attracts dust and dirt. A light machine oil (such as sewing machine oil) works very well.
It appears from the photos that oxidation has occurred to the aluminum. With a little rubbing, 'Mothers Aluminum Polish' should clean the surfaces nicely.
I prefer using Wilde 'BL710' pickups in my Sho-Buds as a replacement for the stock units. Be certain to specify "narrow mount" when ordering.

Note: When replacing the existing strings, try to replace them with sets featuring the same gauges as you removed or retuning the pedals and/or knee levers may become necessary.

Joe Krumel · From: Hermitage, Tn.

Hi David. love to see those old Buds cleaned up and being used. I cleaned up a pro 2 years ago,and loved it. Post some pics of the process etc. You are gonna love that thing when its done.

Jerry Van Hoose · From: Wears Valley, Tennessee

I surely agree with David Nugent regarding the light machine oil and “Wilde Lawrence 710 pickups from Becky and Shannon. I’ve found the light oil from Mullen Guitars works very well. I like lemon oil for replenishing the moisture in the wood. As far as polishing the most corrosive aluminum, I like to use Maguires liquid polishing compound prior to finishing with Mothers Wheel & Mag Polish. Practically everything that I’ve learned about this came from Ricky Davis’s posts on the Forum. It seems that he may have recently found something other than Mothers that works equally well or maybe even better. It’s amazing how beautiful these old Sho~Buds can look with some cleaning, polishing and TLC.

Andrew Goulet · Posted 9 Apr 2022 9:22 am

Welcome!

Something I've noticed about lubrication discussions is that you'll get wildly different advice from people who all swear their way is the best way. Often times they all have logical reasons and years of experience to back up their claims, paradoxically.

Some people use pinpoint bottles of modern teflon-based lubes, while other people have been dumping motor oil over their changer for years and years. I've found Teflon for most things or light sewing machine oil for others has worked.

Happy steeling!
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Marlen S12 pedal steel
SX 6 string lap steel
ZT Club and Lunchbox

Jerry Van Hoose · From: Wears Valley, Tennessee

Looking forward to more pictures of your Sho~Bud

John Sims · From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Welcome and good luck! Ask Ricky Davis on the forum. He's a Sho~Bud genius!
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Best Regards,

John

1997 Carter U-12 Double Body-Natural Birdseye Maple-8p/5k, Peavey Nashville 1000 Amp, Goodrich L10K Vol. Pedal, Boss DD-3 Delay, Boss CE-5 Chorus, Behringer UMC-204HD Audio Interface, AKAI MPK Mini MK3 Professional Midi Keyboard/Controller, Gretsch Bobtail Resonator, Fender Banjo, Rondo SX Lap Steel (C6), DIY Lap Steel (Open D), and a few Mojo Hand Cigar Box Guitars (MojoHandGuitars.com).

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've used 3N1 oil since 1971 and never had a problem caused by that oil. There are newer and exotic lubricants but 3N1 still works.

Along with the Mothers polish you may want to try "Simichrome" which is a lightly abrasive polish. Harley motorcycle shops sell their branded polish which appears to be rebranded Simichrome. I know Emmons and Franklin guitar companies used Simichrome.
Go over the bad spots with Simichrome and then finish with Mothers which isn't abrasive.

I don't know where you are in Maryland (I used to live in Laurel), Billy Cooper's Steel Guitar Shop, in Orange VA, is probably the closest place to get any work done on a steel.

Bill Lawrence (Wilde) L710 humbucking pickups would be my choice, too.

Liam Sullins · From: Dayton, Ohio

I too use 3 in 1 oil. No issues with it at all..
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ZB D10, Music Man 212

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

That place on the key head looks like it has come into contact with lime water, Drain Cleaner, Wood Ashes, Or some other Caustic substance. It may take going down to a file, Fine wet sand paper, Or polishing compound on a piece of brown paper shopping bag with polish, then to cloth and polish, To get it back looking great.

If the guitar was stored in its case, It may have contaminated the case till it won't be safe to use, Or have to be tore down, Cleaned, Repadded and new lining to keep it from damaging the guitar again.

A Brown paper bag will make nearly any polishing compound aggressive. Brasso and Brown Paper Shoppin Bag, Old Army trick to take scratches out of brass belt buckles, Before Viet-Nam Era.

Bet that guitar could tell some stories if it could talk.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin, With this old War Horse Steel.

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