Pro II Custom refurbishment

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Since there has been much discussion regarding the pot metal Super Pro issues ...here are some pics of a Pro II I recently weaved my magic on ... this guitar had the pot metal parts of course !!

The cabinet on this guitar is an absolutely gorgeous piece of birdseye maple and turned out to be in amazing condition for a early 80's guitar. No checking or cracks and barely a bar ding anywhere...... However it was buried under 30 years of GUNK !! I originally owned this guitar -- I bought it new as a backup to my Super Pro -- and I sold it to the current owner in 1987 so I know it's history. The guy was not a C6th player and never ended up playing that neck - it still had the same strings on it from '87!! I stripped the fretboards, and keyheads off and cleaned everything - including dismantling the machine heads! I also dismantled the pedal board and polished it all up, replacing the Bud decal as well. Lubed everything as I went of course.

I got 2 new fretboards and replacement knee lever brackets, along with new pedal rod connectors (the bits that are fitted to the end of the crossrods) ...for the first 3 pedals. Jeff Surratt from Show Pro guitars was able to supply me with all the bits I needed and they have done the job perfectly.

here's a few pics of the progress !!

Replacement kneelever brackets !!

Completed undercarriage!

Dismantling of the top deck!

I even repainted the black inside the keyheads !

On with the new coloured fretboards from Jeff Surratt

Almost there !!!

And a fresh set of Jagwires to finish the job off nicely!

It took me quite a while to do this but I must say it was a very enjoyable journey -- it's the first time I have completely stripped back a guitar and rebuilt it. very satisfying to see the end result !!

Now back to my Zum's -- Very Happy

_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

Barry Gaskell · From: Cheshire, UK

Hi Paddy
Great job on the Sho-Bud. Looks cool.
It seems to have the end to end dimensions of a Super-Pro, in as much as the back of the bridge and the end of the peg head reach the end plates. Most that I've seen or had, always had a bit of a shelf with the wood showing. I suppose it's the infinite variety we've come to expect from Sho-Bud.
Great colour too.
Barry

Danny Hullihen · From: Harrison, Michigan

Hey Paddy! That looks great! I think the Pro II was one of the sweetest sounding guitars ever made!

I'm seeing a bit of archery supplies there in the back ground, are you into archery and shooting too? Smile

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Very nice, Paddy. It looks as new as the day it was made.

Barry, that is a short body ProII. Near the end of the production run, Sho-Bud started buliding their gtrs with the shorter bodies. They no longer had the distinctive gumby keyhead and the small shelf by the changer. Almost the same as the SuperPro, except they still had the 3/4" step between the necks and the bodies were made from thicker wood. (Pretty sure about that last thing)
You also see ProI's and LDG's like that, as well. Although, every short bodied ProIII that I've seen still has a small shelf by the changer.

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to Sho-Bud..

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thanks Barry, yes it seems like a transition between the old and the Super Pro -- and Skip yes your right, it was smaller than the older Pro II's but it was still bigger, and heavier than my Super Pro. I bought it in about 1983 as a back up guitar and it hardly ever left home til I sold it!

Good spotting Danny - yes I actually have a small Archery Pro shop at home - I've been into Bowhunting and Archery longer than I've played steel Laughing

!!

Once I had it all finished I played it through my Revelation Pre setup and it sounded really outstanding ...now it has some more durable essential bits it will probably last the new owner forever !!
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

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

Tom Quinn · Posted 24 Jan 2009 8:48 pm

Sorry, it's not a Pro II, it's a Pro II CUSTOM. Big difference... oops! Forgot to add a smiley face... :- )

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thats what the title of the thread says Tom !! Very Happy

_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

looks like a winner Paddy
good job Winking

Tom Quinn · Posted 25 Jan 2009 8:12 am

Yikes! Somehow I got into this thread instead of the Pro II vs. Super Pro thread. Thanks my Kiwi friend for pointng out my snoozathon... :- )

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thanks CB - yes I quite enjoyed the job so I might have to look around for another clunker to restore in my spare time (when I should be practising) !
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

Thats nice Paddy - same short body as my '84 Pro 1

Mine is pot metal, and - despite the bad rep - I've had no problems, and it sounds great!

May you have many more years pleasure with your old prodigal.

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thanks Jeremy -- about the only pot metal bits still remaining on this guitar are the pedal rod hookups for pedals 5 thru 9 ... everything else is new machined ali from Jeff Surratt -- it should last for years now.
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

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