Sho~Bud LDG Routine Maintenance Tips?

Christo Huntington · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Hi all,

I just had my first 3rd string break on my Sho~Bud LDG since purchasing the steel which got me thinking… What routine maintenance should be done to a vintage instrument like this? Is there anything I should keep up with in addition to regular string replacement and general polishing/cleaning? I hope to preserve this LDG as long as possible, so I’d love your best maintenance suggestions and setup tips! Thanks in advance.

Best,
Christo

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Steels: Mullen G2 D10, 1975 Sho~Bud LDG, Custom "Lefty Steel" made in Missouri
Amps: Little Walter PF89, Fender Deluxe Reverb (Reissue)
Effects: Telonics FP-100D Multi-Taper Volume Pedal, Polytune 3 tuner, Dunlop CBM9 Wah-Wah, Exotic Effects SP Compressor, Exotic Effects EP Booster, Ibanez TS-9, Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron envelope filter, Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft), TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 reverb
Accessories/Extras/Software: Steelers Choice Sidekick (built August 2022), Shure SM57, Focusrite 2i2

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

When ever I change strings (not often enough!) I always inspect the roller nut. Make sure they all spin freely and add a drop of tri-flow. If any are stuck, take it all apart & clean.
Also a good time to flip it over and make sure everything else moves freely, no dragging or squeaks.
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)

Christo Huntington · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Eric,

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll make sure the roller nuts spin freely and listen for any squeaks in the changer system. What product do you use if you hear any squeaks under the guitar?
_________________
Steels: Mullen G2 D10, 1975 Sho~Bud LDG, Custom "Lefty Steel" made in Missouri
Amps: Little Walter PF89, Fender Deluxe Reverb (Reissue)
Effects: Telonics FP-100D Multi-Taper Volume Pedal, Polytune 3 tuner, Dunlop CBM9 Wah-Wah, Exotic Effects SP Compressor, Exotic Effects EP Booster, Ibanez TS-9, Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron envelope filter, Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft), TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 reverb
Accessories/Extras/Software: Steelers Choice Sidekick (built August 2022), Shure SM57, Focusrite 2i2

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

I use tri-flow. Everyone has their own preference.
Nice old Sho~Bud there - was it originally green and now faded?
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)

Christo Huntington · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Got it! I'll look into the different options starting with Tri-Flow.

And thanks! I had one of my YouTube subscribers comment that he believed my LDG was originally the dark brown color it currently is thanks to the view I shared in one of my videos displaying the underside of the guitar. I originally believed it was green like many of the others, but the bottom of the guitar (which likely hasn't seen nearly as much sun as the top) is a dark brown. I guess the only true way to know is to get some info from a forum member on this specific guitar or check underneath the arm rest?
_________________
Steels: Mullen G2 D10, 1975 Sho~Bud LDG, Custom "Lefty Steel" made in Missouri
Amps: Little Walter PF89, Fender Deluxe Reverb (Reissue)
Effects: Telonics FP-100D Multi-Taper Volume Pedal, Polytune 3 tuner, Dunlop CBM9 Wah-Wah, Exotic Effects SP Compressor, Exotic Effects EP Booster, Ibanez TS-9, Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron envelope filter, Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft), TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 reverb
Accessories/Extras/Software: Steelers Choice Sidekick (built August 2022), Shure SM57, Focusrite 2i2

Pat Moore · From: Virginia USA

Cristo,
Make sure the tri-flo goes BETWEEN the roller nuts & not on the roller where the string goes. I love my LDG.
Ricky Davis can tell you a lot about your guitar with the serial #.
He's the "Bud man"!
You can search him here on the forum & send him a pvt message.
Good luck!
Pat

Dave Campbell · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

that's a cool guitar.

i think an important part of maintenance is keeping a smooth surface on the changer finger where the string naturally creates a groove. i sand and polish mine when i change my strings. it keeps the strings from getting a whiney sound.

on your bud you have to be careful because the surface of the finger is a chrome plating. it's hard and resistant to grooves, but once it's gone you're into the potted metal of the finger body which doesn't sound great and wears poorly.

i'm curious about your steel...it has some mid seventies characteristics like the big headstock and curved levers, but is it 3 up and 2 down or 2 up and 2 down?

i'm curious about what's underneath.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Where did the 3rd string break?

If it broke at the Changer Finger, There could be a problem with the top of the changer finger being rough, Or an old string or a bad string.

If the string broke at the Key Head Capstan shaft, Check the edges of the the cross hole, Make sure no rough burrs. When replacing a string, Be sure to cut the string long enough to put enough wraps on the Capstan shaft to wind smooth over to the edge and off the hole, Have at least 1 or 2 wraps of string on the smooth round shaft.

Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

The 3rd requires a lot more wraps on the keyhead. There was some youtube videos showing string changes on pedal steel. Search the internet for that. I believe Mullen had a good one available. Also slowly tuning and letting it rest a bit helps.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Another tip. If you remove the Nut Rollers, To clean or check the slots for burrs, Make sure you return the rollers to the same slot. If the rollers get moved around you may get a buzz on the F 1st fret position.

String the nut rollers on a string removed from the guitar to keep them in order, If you remove them. Check the nut roller shaft carefully, Most are drill rod steel, Sweat and spilled Cola drinks will rust it. Polish with 0000 steel wool till shiney and smooth.

Jeff Evans · From: Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit

Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

Christi' if those first two numbers are 86, it,s a 1975 model.
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Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112.

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