Sho~Bud Pro III Resto Questions - Bobby Black's old guitar?

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

Hey there everyone... looking for a little info on an old Sho~Bud...

A friend of mine has this old Pro III that just got dropped off at one of the rehearsal spaces of a band I play with. It needs some love, especially on the C6 neck where as you can see it's missing a pickup and a lot of rodding, but I've been told that the E9 neck is basically playable. It may also need a new set of legs. The guitar has been left at the rehearsal space for use during practices and I've told the owner that in exchange for that favor, I'd do what I could to try and clean the guitar up/restore it and get the C6 neck back in working order.

So - I haven't seen it in person yet but I had my friend send a few photos, and I wanted to post them to get some info on the guitar from the powers that be here. Supposedly the guitar was once owned by Bobby Black, (and any first hand confirmation of Bobby playing this guitar would be cool!) so it only seems right that she should be taken care of!

All that said - can you Bud experts out there give me some more info on this old girl? I'll get a serial number at some point but all signs point to this being a late 70s guitar, I think... any info beyond that would be much appreciated, as well as the best places to source parts (although I have some ideas already of forum members to contact). The owner has said that he'd pay for parts if I'm willing to spend the time to clean it up, which I think is a pretty fair deal as it'll give me some more experience "under the hood" of a guitar that isn't my main gigging instrument.

Thanks!

Photo Slideshow here:
http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/coloradobenedic/slideshow/ShoBud%20Pro%20III

Ian Worley · From: Sacramento, CA

Bobby plays with a Bay Area band called the Saddle Cats, you should be able to contact him through their website to ask if it was once his.

The guitar is likely from around '76, serial number is probably in the 10,000 - 11,000 range. Check page 11 of the sticky at the top of the "Pedal Steel" section when you have the number.

The 2/2 changer with nylon tuners was the last iteration of the two hole pullers before they went to the Super Pro style with hex shafts, which was ~'77. It looks fairly complete underneath except for the missing pedals and rods. Michael Yahl would have the correct undercarriage parts and pedal rods if needed, but not the pedals themselves (which may be stashed in the case or something).

Good luck, have fun.

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

ben you got a lot of work to do on
that old girl!!!! just saying

p.w

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

pic >>

p.w

Ian Worley · From: Sacramento, CA

That pic is from the Commander Cody album "Hot Licks, Cold Steel and Trucker's Favorites". That album was released in the early 70s (as evidenced by the hair), so can't be the same Bud. I love Bobby's playing on Truck Driving Man though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8fJIzY1d6U

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

Hey ya'll! Just checking in quick, apologies for the delay but I've been out of town on gigs and had a heck of a drive home to Denver last night into this afternoon, and now about to run back out for another set...

I'll upload a few more pics that I have when I get a little more time... Yep - I know this old girl needs some work, but given I don't really have much to lose (and a lot to learn) I figure it will be a worthy pursuit... will respond more in depth ASAP!

Cheers,
-b

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

Howdy all, sorry for the delay but finally got around to picking up this old Pro III from my buddy's place and brought it home for a closer look. She's gonna need a lot of love but the E9 neck is fully playable as a 3x4 guitar right now, which is a start. The C6 neck is an entirely different story and needs a new pickup, re-rodding (although most of the original rodding is still with the guitar), a good cleaning and a tune-up, plus needs new legs and pedal bar. Once the mechanics are back up to speed we may even go so far as to refinish it as the cabinet saw some water damage at some point (though the undercarriage is mostly fine), but that's a whole other project...

All that said, I'm looking forward to this as a learning experience and to getting this old battle axe back into decent shape. The owner has said he'll pay for parts if I do the tinkering, and once it's ready it'll live at a rehearsal space for anyone to use, so it's a pretty win-win situation all around.

I'll be updating this thread with questions, photos, and hopefully a sound clip or two as things progress.

I've added a few more photos to the PhotoBucket album here: http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/coloradobenedic/library/ShoBud%20Pro%20III

And here's a quick shot of the inspection tag, built by the great Duane Marrs - Ian, you were spot on, looks to be built around July of 1976:

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

Bobby got his D12 Emmons before 1976. I wouldn't have thought if this Sho-Bud is from that year that it would be Bobby's. Just surmising.

Arch.
_________________
I'm well behaved, so there!

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Wonderful instrument but a full tear down including the changers is required to bring it back to life. Metal cleaning, polishing, lube etc. For the body I personally wouldn't do anything but clean it.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I agree with Tony, but if you have either a polishing wheel or a friend with one, you can do a teardown, cleaning and polishing and reassembly in one weekend per neck
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

Thanks fellas, and I have yet to get in touch with Bobby so who knows if it was indeed his, that's just the story... makes no difference really, either way the guitar needs the same amount of work!

I spent time today doing some basic things... had to re-glue the E9 fretboard in place, and was able to hand polish a small portion of the crud off various aluminum surfaces, but as mentioned a full teardown and a date with a polishing wheel would really be the best solution long term. That said, after putting in a little elbow grease and spending time on cleaning, oiling, and throwing on a fresh set of strings, plus some minor adjustments - and the E9 neck is actually pretty fun to play. Lever stops are positive and in-tune, and the pedal action is smooth. The old single coil has some hum when it gets turned up but that's to be expected...

I'll be picking up what remains of the C6 hardware soon - the owner actually thinks he found most of the rodding and missing pedals, so fingers crossed they're all in good shape and able to be installed.

I am probably not equipped to do a complete teardown/restoration of the guitar, and really it's up to the owner as far as how much cash he wants to sink into it when it comes to a complete job... but if I can get both necks reasonably playable, even if the guitar still looks ugly, I'll be pretty happy.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

kool ! enjoy. Just a heads up, a polishing wheel is not mandatory until the very end, if at all, but a very fine wire brush wheel as well as a scotch pad are. You will be totally amazed at what a fine wire brush will do to the metal parts then a hit on the scotch pad. None of the parts in the photos below were cleaned with a polishing wheel , all were cleaned via the wire brush/scotch pad. And yeah, it was pretty nasty before I began but well worth it.

Those Pro III's with the 2-hole pullers just have flat out amazing /distinctive tone.

But For sure you want to polish the end caps with chrome polish and a small wheel if you have one. You can get a polishing kit at Home Depot for about $10 that uses your electric drill.

_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Ben Waligoske · From: Denver, CO

Wow Tony, nice job on the cleanup there! I don't have a wheel but that's a nice tip on the Home Depot polishing kit that uses a hand drill - I do have one of those.

I've been busy and have not had a chance to dig into the Pro III again for a while, but I was able to get the rest of the pedals from the owner, so I'll try to hook up some C6 stuff soon. Keep ya'll posted!

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