1983 Pro II Custom Sho-Bud $2000!

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

I am posting using my fathers account.. I am his son, and I am sorry to say that he passed away last Tuesday. He has been a lifelong steel player, and truly loved the instrument.

His wife has asked me to help her price and sell his equipment, and I would like some feedback. He has a 1983 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom in what I would describe as a "burlwood" finish with the inlays. While all the pedals and knee levers work, he has been unable to play it for a couple of years, so I am sure they need adjustment.

Could you help me provide a "range" for her to sell the guitar for? I will get pictures up tomorrow..

Regards,

Hal Braun

Mike Kirkley · From: Helendale, California

Sir, please accept my condolences and sympathy for the loss of your Father. Can you tell me a bit more about this guitar? What I mean is, colour, number of knee levers, condition of the finish, etc, please? I am going to assume that it's like my own Pro II Custom, with 8 pedals and 4 levers. A very similar type of guitar was offered on this Forum a few days ago and it was priced at $2,400.00USD. In my opinion, that is a fair price, maybe a tad on the low side, but still more than fair. Thank you very much, Mike Kirkley Sydney, Australia

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Thanks for your thoughts, I know Al really enjoyed this forum.. One of the guitars he owned was a Ric prewar Bakelite 7 string that I am taking home with me to learn slide (I play regular guitar..)

The Sho Bud is indeed a 8 pedal, 4 knee lever, console. I am not sure how they described the color, but to my eye, it is similar to a light "burlwood" color you find on nice furniture. A nice natural brown wood color with inlays on the panels and the edges of the fretboards. The fretboards themselves have card symbols (hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs) position markers. I will be posting pictures later today.

The guitars wood looks to be in great shape, and the aluminum pieces that mount the guitar could use some metal polish.. It makes noise through the amp Smile

so the pickups work, but I don't think I could tune one of these in a day!

Thanks!

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Here is a picture of the guitar.. more available. My Dad bought it new from Steel Guitar World in TN on 1/9/1984 and it comes with a hard case..

To give you an idea, in 1984, when they shipped the package at 68lbs from TN to FL.. they charged $11.83!

Dave Simonis · From: Stevens Point, WI USA

Nice looking guitar in great shape...someone's wife is going to love it as much as they will!
_________________
Dave Simonis

Fiddle: Zeta, Arthur Conner, many others.../Steel: GFI SD-10 Ultra.../Mandolin: Breedlove.../Guitar: Gibson, Fender, Taylor.../Amps: Peavey NV112, Evans FET 500.../Others: Hilton, Goodrich, Stereo Steel, Pendulum Pre-amp...

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Sorry to hear about your father, Hal. I sent you an email on this account. It probably went to your father's inbox.

Looks like a GL pickup on the E9 neck. Interesting feet on the legs. Hal, potential buyers will almost certainly want an undercarriage pic.

Looks like a nice guitar for sure! I wish it was still under $20 to ship a steel. Smile

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

I know the one pickup on the E9 neck has a sho-bud logo (hard to make out.. but there) the other pickup is not the same, and i do not know if it was shipped that way or what.. just that it works Smile

Here are some pictures of the undercarriage, the pickups, and the "adjustment" end. It has the case as well. Thanks to all who have replied, Vicki (his wife) has also read the private notes sent to my Dad's email.

She is asking $2,100 plus shipping, or local pickup in North Florida (near Gainesville)for those that may be interested. Thanks again for all your help.

By the way, there is a bag of assorted bits.. extra arm, connectors, the adjustment driver, two chrome covers that go somewhere.. and other odd pieces that go with..

Regards,

Hal Braun

Fred Burkett · From: Kingman, Arizona, USA

First of all; Sorry to hear about your Dad, Hal. Another loss to the steel world, my blessings to you and your mom, and the rest of your family.

Chris is right, that is a "George L" pick-up. A beautiful guitar like this at that price, won't last long. Don't you play Hal? Seems a shame to let this get away from the family..

God Bless,
Fred (Rick) & Polly
_________________
My formal name is "Fred" but, I've always been called "Rick". Peavey Sessions 400. Peavey Duel Delta Fex. Korg DT-1 Pro Digital Tuner. D2F covers. And proud to say that Chuck Back is my friend.

Finis Spier · From: Texas, USA

looks like a pro ll in good shape not much different from the super pro hate to see you have to sell it,but it is well worth what your asking
for it.

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Fred,

I play a regular guitar, and my Dad left me his 37 Ric 7 string bakelite lap steel. I am going to start my steel journey with that (I think 20 strings with a bunch of pedals and knee levers might be outside my range!)

While I would love to keep the Sho Bud, to be honest, his wife needs the money and asked that I help sell it for her, and I cannot afford it Smile

I will also be posting up a guyatone (as identified by forum members for me)

Regards, Hal

Fred Burkett · From: Kingman, Arizona, USA

Hal,

I understand the "needing money" thing. If I hadn't bought the "Desert Rose" last year, I surely would buy this beauty, especially at this price. Don't let all the strings, pedals, and knee levers scare you; on the E ninth neck you only use three of those pedals and probably all the knee levers.

Have fun with the "Ric 7", and again, God Bless you and your Mom.

Fred (Rick)
_________________
My formal name is "Fred" but, I've always been called "Rick". Peavey Sessions 400. Peavey Duel Delta Fex. Korg DT-1 Pro Digital Tuner. D2F covers. And proud to say that Chuck Back is my friend.

Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Al i have a 1977 Pro ll Custom that i bought new . I know i'm going to upset someone with my reply but here goes . I wouldn't sell mine for $3000.00 . I know that everything is down now but i'm hanging onto mine ! If i needed another steel i would jump on this one for $2100.00 ! I have three steel guitars now and don't need another one . I have two Sho~Buds and one Emmons LeGrande lll . Go easy on me guys ! Cool

Fred Burkett · From: Kingman, Arizona, USA

No way Gary, I'm kinda insinuating the same thing. But, like I said; I understand the needing money thing, and the $2100. would probably help them out allot right now, and it should go fast. At least I would think so....!

"HELLO OUT THERE, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SHO BUD AT A GIVE AWAY PRICE!!"

Take care Gary and Hal,
Fred (Rick)
_________________
My formal name is "Fred" but, I've always been called "Rick". Peavey Sessions 400. Peavey Duel Delta Fex. Korg DT-1 Pro Digital Tuner. D2F covers. And proud to say that Chuck Back is my friend.

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Sale fell through, and my Dad's wife would really like this gone.. nice guitar! $2000 OBO, local pickup or shipped.

Amp has sold in a separate private sale.. thanks!

Ron Spears · From: Tennessee, USA

A heads up on this guitar for anyone on this list looking to buy it. Go over the photos with a fine tooth comb. I was very put out and don't want another lister to go through the same ordeal.

I had talked to the seller's son on the phone about this guitar and asked several important questions. The main one being " Are the metal parts in good shape". I was told they were fine and the guitar was in great shape. With that info I made an offer to purchase and would drive from Nashville to Florida to pick it up in a week or so. I didn't have the time this week but received an E-mail from the seller saying she needed it gone NOW! because of the heartache it was causing her. With that info I felt I should get it ASAP so I took two days off work to drive down there yesterday. I drove 10 hours straight. At arriving at the seller's home I was shocked to see the condition of the guitar. IMHO it suffers from years of neglect and isn't worth close to what I offered. I lowered my offer a couple hundred dollars but the seller wouldn't take it, said she was offered $2000 from another buyer. I turned around and drove ten more hours back home.

If you want more details don't be afraid to PM or E-mail me.

Ron Spears

Hal Braun · From: Eustis, Florida, USA

Ron,

I described the guitar VERY accurately to you. I told you the steel could use polishing on the phone, plus in the post, and you said you had someone in Nashville that would do it for $40. Your original offer was $1500, which you upped to $1700. I have been playing guitars for 30 years (not steels but am VERY familiar with regular guitars and conditions) The wood is not nicked or marred and over all the guitar is in very good shape for being 26 years old.

The metal end pieces are exactly as pictured, and could use buffing (as stated in the earlier post "The guitars wood looks to be in great shape, and the aluminum pieces that mount the guitar could use some metal polish..")

I even said my Dad had not played it, and it could use adjustment of the pedals and knee levers. With most people believing the guitar is worth $2,100 to $2,300, I would say you were foolish to drive that far, waste that much time and gas, and try and beat my stepmother up for $200 instead of taking it and having your guy polish the ends for $40 and having a Sho Bud Pro II for $1,740.

The pictures I have posted can be downloaded and expanded and if anyone wants, I can send them a 6Meg high resolution shot of any photos posted here that they can blow up to any size they like to examine them more closely, and I welcome them to request them.

I am sorry to get into a squabble here, but obviously your expectations were out of sync with what I told you, what was pictured and what was described earlier, and I stand by every picture and word I used to describe the guitar and resent any other implications to the contrary.

By the way, here is a copy of the email sent by the person that bought and received the Guyatone:

"Hi Hal,

I received the Guyatone today in good condition. It was pleasure doing business with you and Vicki -- sorry it wasn't under better circumstances."

Regards,

Hal Braun

Ron Spears · From: Tennessee, USA

OK here's my side. I will agree that the wood looked great! Except for the three inches of wood between the necks by the key head where the two necks were possibly separating. Look for the discoloration. Could be an expensive fix.

You mentioned the need for buffing but you did fail to mention the rust on the finger changer, pick-up covers and key heads when we spoke. The photos don't show any of that. My concern was the rust could be inside the changer making for a very expensive fix.The oxidation on the ends were the worst I've ever seen. I took all of this into consideration and made your step mother an offer that was still very reasonable.

I was not trying to take your step mother for a ride. I had the $1700 in my pocket to purchase the guitar. I had more to buy the amps she told me about. I could have bought the guitar for $1700 and possibly spent another $1000 on repairs. You keep saying people on this forum say the guitar is worth $2100 to $2300. None of them have seen the guitar! How many of them have made an offer?

Ron

Hal Braun · From: Eustis, Florida, USA

Ron, While I confess I am not a "steel guitar expert", I did not see any of the rust you were talking about, and while I am not sure you took the time to plug it into the amp, or turn it over to look underneath, but I saw no evidence of delamination or separation, either on top or underneath, the pickups sound great, and frankly, I believe you were trying to steal the darn thing. The guitar has sat inside my fathers home for 20 years, so not sure how bad you think it could get. You didn't like it, my stepmother didn't cave in to your $1500 offer, you left. Let's leave it at that.

I will offer the guitar with a 7 day return to any other forum member as long as they pay the return shipping and it arrives like it left.

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Don't you even know how to take a steel guitar apart,clean it up and put it back together? I consider that a part of buying a used steel. Anyhow you'd probably have to move a couple knee levers around to suit you personal setup. What's the beef? Any steel player could do it over a weekend. That's a triple raise Pro II fer chrisake!

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Michael, thank you so much for your post. I sold the Sho-Bud to another buyer (for the full price I was asking) the morning after Ron Spears was here. I've received his money, he's received the guitar and all parties are very happy. Thanks again,
Vicki Lynn Braun
(Al's wife)

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