ShoBud Frypan (or the original or others)

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

There's something about the resonance of the ShoBud/Jerry Byrd Frypan I've got. No other lap I have sounds like it, and I can only attribute it to the hollow, aluminum body. Without turning this into an Excel vs. ShoBud Frypan topic, can anyone lend their expertise as to if the hollow body of the aluminum frypans adds to the resonance that isn't obtained with a solid body? Or, is there something else going on here?

I want my Gibson Grande to be my favorite, but in truth, there's just something about this ShoBud frypan that I've had for just over a year, purchased from forumite Dan Peterson, that I've taken to.

Al

[This message was edited by Al Terhune on 18 November 2006 at 10:14 PM.]

Ric Nelson · From: Silver Spring, Maryland

I always thought it had to do with the ShoBud pickup.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I believe there is "something" about frypans in general. Iv'e benn told that the shift of the core/mold inside the the body during the casting process has something to do with why some sound great and some are just OK.
I don't believe in the so-called magic of the horshoe pickup. I would bet that a modern pickup installed in a frypan would sound just as good. In fact I have been thinking about trying one in my own frypan, just to see/hear the difference.

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

I have a 1983 Sho Bud J B FryPan and love the tone and sustain !! I'm no sound engineer but I think the hard all-metal body along with the type of bridge and possibly the horse shoe magnet pick up all add up to greater sustain and exceptional tone. Wood is softer and also the wood grain may affect the natural vibrations of the strings on the body. You have a great guitar !! Enjoy it !! P S , actually I stuffed the hollow part of my Fry Pan with sponge rubber and I thought it improved the sustain and sound !!!

------------------

[This message was edited by Eddie Cunningham on 19 November 2006 at 10:32 AM.]

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

That's interesting, Eddie, about stuffing the body -- which would knock my layman's theory of good resonance due to it being hollow! On another note, my understanding, though, was that the horseshoe portion of these ShoBud/JB frypans isn't magnatized, and that Jerry was teed off about this "tiny" flaw...actually, he was teed off that he "let it go" to press like that.

By the way, mine is a shortscale, with early serial of B-023. The certificate is dated August of 1979. According to a post by Jerry's brother, Jack, the official number of guitars actually made and sold, with Jerry's knowledge and consent, were only 183. The longscale series had a high number of A-099, and the shortscale series had a high serial number of B-084. Supposedly, those sold after this with higher numbers went out without Jerry's knowledge or consent. (This information from Jerry Byrd can be found in Jack's post of 12/1/02 on the forum).

Now, in my opinion, that certainly doesn't make them substandard to Shot's 183 that he made with Jerry's consent. It merely means they were...sold without Jerry's consent. Same guitars, just without JB's blessings (and percentage of the booty). It's all just part of the Great Rock and Roll Scandal.

Al

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

Al . I have a long scale, serial # is B071 shipped from Sho Bud March 18,1983.I got the long because I used to have a Fender Stringmaster D8 long scale and I thought it had better sustain but now I think the short scale is better! at least for Hawaiian style playing. At one time I owned an old 1936 metal hollow body Rick and when I looked inside it was stuffed with old newspapers to keep the rattles and vibrations down ! Also I read that either Sol Hoopii or Dick McIntire had a hollow body steel and filled it with sand to stop internal vibrations ! Les Paul and Fender both found that the solid body guitars had more sustain than the old hollow body guitars with a pickup that tended to sound hollow ! After I put the sponge rubber pad inside my Fry Pan I thought it sounded better! All the pick up and supporting springs inside were tightly secured with no extraneous vibrations. I don't know about the horse shoe not being magnetized . It's a loud pick up guitar ! After I bought mine I saw an ad somewhere in Nashville that was selling the same Fry Pan with a different pick up for $350.00 !! I had paid $500.00 so I wasn't too happy but I was satisified with the guitar and it had Jerrys name!! Hope my rambling on has given you something !! Good luck !!

------------------

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Eddie, you fun guy, you -- first of all, your "rambling" has learned me. As you'll soon see, I'm not much for gauging measurements. Without correcting me (thank you), you are correct in that the B series must be the LONG scale, and it was a typo in Jack's relay from Jerry saying it was the short scale. I did a search and saw where somebody had questioned Jack about this possible typo, and he simply asked the steeler to measure the guitar in question to make sure about the scale (never read a follow-up). I just now measured mine for the first time, and it is a long scale, 24.5 inch. Hey! I've had it for a year and thought it was shortscale. I've got several laps and I know they vary in scales, and I've really never been bothered about the differences. Guess I'm "easy" when it comes to scale length. Also shows I'm not good with details. But what's new?

That's interesting about the sand in the guitars. How Hawaiian is that? If I was still in Indiana, my choice of filler would be corn. And how redneck is that? Now that I'm in the state of Washington, perhaps it should be...dried pine needles? Ha! People I respect (Jeff Au Hoy--even though he is a full-blooded Hawaiian--but I don't hold it against him, and Ricky Davis) have good things to say about long scale, so you and I have the better of the Jerry Byrd signature ShoBud Fry Pans.

Is yours autographed? Mine...is not. But I've thought about photocopying a JB autograph and pasting it in there...for posterity. Or lack thereof...

See you, Eddie.

Al

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

Hi Al , Another one of my sad "life" stories; I got my J B F P in March of 83 and went to Hawaii with Scottys group in May 83 hoping to see the "Byrd" and also David Kelii. Never thought to bring the bottom plate for Jerry to autograph and also David had passed away in Feb. that year so I never got to meet David and never got my F P plate autographed!! At least I did get to meet Jerry and listen in person to the master !! But I do regret not meeting David K who I thought was the greatest in Hawaiian music and listened to on "Hawaii Calls" for years. Then I was going to mail the plate to Hawaii for Jerrys signing but procrastinated as usual , now it's too late !!But you had a good idea , I have the "authentic" certificate signed by Shot and Jerry and maybe I will tape that to the bottom plate and then again maybe not !! Maybe I'll have Scotty sign and say "I wuz there" !! Well any way , enjoy your Fry Pan !! Eddie "C"

------------------

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Al, Jeff's fine playing may have you thinking he's full-blood Hawaiian, just like many think Bobby Ingano is Hawaiian, not so.

China, and the Philipine islands, via Hawaii, have certainly produced some of the best 'Hawaiian' steelers tho.

You'd be hard pressed to find a full-blood Hawaiian anywhere these day's, as very few remain.

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Good story, Eddie -- sorry you didn't get to see David. At least you did get to see our star psuedo Hawaiian (and I mean that with all due respect). You keep on enjoying your ShoBud, too. Let me know if you decide to throw some sand bags in there and how it sounds!

Ron -- Oh, you've just ruined it for me -- thanks for raining on my parade! I'll never be able to listen to Jeff or Bobby with the same ears again. Imposters! This is worse than hearing Jersey-born Bruce Springsteen speaking with a hick drawl.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

WEll guys....... I hate to buckle but....I have a JERRY BYRD model, Sho-Bud Fry Pan, previously owned by Don Davis, a fine steel player in his own right; formerly with George Morgan and others.

This guitar has a fret board with SHOT JACKSON emblazened upon it and no mention of JERRY BYRD. Given to Don Davis by Shot Jackson as a gift, it is one of those JERRY BYRD models that weren't suppose to happen. How 'bout that?

I have no idea if the pickup is any different than the JB models but I do like the sound and sustain that I get from this guitar. My newly acquired early '30's Rick Fry Pan with large pickup is clearly a jewel.
THANK YOU Mike Neer.

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: