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Topic: Sho-Bud/Dist. by Baldwin? |
Mitch Ellis
From:
Collins, Mississippi USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2010 8:18 pm |
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I saw an old Sho-Bud that had "Distributed by Baldwin" on the headstock end. When did they come along? Are they considered a good Sho-Bud tone and mechanics wise? Are they one of the more desireable Sho-Buds? Thank you,
Mitch |
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Jason Hull
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Posted 22 Feb 2010 3:47 am
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From: http://www.telusplanet.net/~gsimmons/shobud/models.html
3) THE BALDWIN CROSSOVER
Sho-Bud became involved with the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company because of its large distribution potential. Baldwin wanted Sho-Bud to produce a pedal steel with their name on it to promote sales, and in 1967 the Baldwin Crossover was introduced. This model of pedal steel like the Fingertip had a wonderful rich tone. The guitar was standard with 6 pedals and one knee lever (generally placed on the right knee), although at this time, players were adding knee levers on a regular basis, and it was not uncommon to see two or even three knee levers. The Baldwin Crossover was a double neck with a shift type lever or gear that the player could move. In one position all the pedals would operate the top neck. Moving the shift lever would disengage the pedals from the top neck to the bottom neck(by moving the shift lever, the pedals "crossed over" to the other neck, thus the term "crossover"). In this way, all the pedals could actually be used on both necks just by the flick of the shift lever. This shift lever was positioned on the back side of the pedal steel facing the player. The undercarriage of the Baldwin Crossover was unique in the fact that the pull rods were attached to small metal "baskets". These baskets were connected to the pedal crossrods and bell crank. The guitar had a metal frame that wrapped all the way around the body of the steel. On the front, the frame was on the inside of the body and the actual front was covered with maple. This wrap around metal frame supported the undercarriage. There were two models of Baldwin Crossover available. One was the Regular Baldwin Crossover in which the metal frame was an unpolished black textured-ruff finish. The other model, called the Custom Baldwin Crossover had a smooth polished metal frame. These Baldwins like the Fingertip was sensitive and temperamental in the fact that the tuning and pedal setup up had to be adjusted perfectly in order for it to play right and in tune. When this was done and the guitars were adjusted, both the Fingertip and the Baldwin Crossover played great. The generally excepted Crossover production years were from 1967 to 1970. Suggested retail price of a double neck 10 string, six pedals and one knee lever was$1295 for the maple body in 1970. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2010 6:45 am
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That article is generally correct, but leaves out other guitars that were made. Here's a pic of my ShoBud/Baldwin S-10, 6 and 2, 1967. Great sounding guitar!
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Louie Hallford
From:
denison tx
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Posted 22 Feb 2010 5:17 pm
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My second pedal steel,both used,was a cross-over Sho-Bud.In a recent post,some one out of Nashville was quoted as saying,"it was one of the best ideas he had ever seen that didn't work".
I always had the problem of it jumping out of gear while I was playing and leaving me with "zero" pedal action"
A pair of pliers and a 10" piece of bailing wire to tie the cross over mechanism down on the E9 neck, and I was back in business.I couldn't play C6 at the time any way. Slopppy mechanisim is the most polite way I can descibe the action of the guitar.
Whoops mispelling...just for emphasis I will just leave that extra"p"in sloppy
Most beautiful birdseye maple wood,with blond and brown wood finish I have ever seen.
Even had it been perfected, I don't think it would have ever allowed players the same versatility that we enjoy with today's knee lever options, which almost give us another set of hands. |
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