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Topic: Sho Bud Super Pro II History. |
Neil Lang
From:
Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 11:36 am |
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After reading this article Bobbie Seymour wrote in 2003. Do you think this could have been one of the 7 he is talking about? I just purchased this shell that was stripped out. Has NO serial number on it.
Hi guys and gals,
A bit of history.
As most of you know, Sho-Bud started business in 1957. In the period since then, they have built many different models of steel guitar … singles, doubles, triples, pedal, non-pedal and used many different changer configurations and on and on. Some of these guitars were truly brilliant as well as being some of the finest steels ever made. But just like Ford and General Motors had their Pintos and Corvairs, a couple of these models didn’t really ring the bells of the professionals … namely, the Baldwin cross-over and the last generation Mavericks. However, this company did design and build one extremely sought-after, very valuable model called the Super Pro II. The name is very misleading because it is not a Super Pro and it is not a Pro II but a totally different guitar. As a matter of fact, very few parts that Sho-Bud ever built interchange with this rare guitar. This guitar was supposed to be the ultimate, supreme, albeit most expensive Sho-Bud ever built. Only 7 ever were built. They were designed and built in 1984 and most went to name players for promotion purposes. These guitars have many innovative features like glow in the dark Sho-Bud fretboards, grooved end castings, rollercam (meaning a brass roller was installed in the end of each finger to eliminate wear and sliding in the changer). The single coil pickups were unique in several ways … one of which is they had the Sho-Bud logo etched in the top of the quarter inch magnet pickup. The entire mechanical undercarriage of the guitar was pure aircraft aluminum and was totally different than any Sho-Bud before or since. All 7 guitars were made from the finest, choice birdseye maple available. The several unique features of these high-quality guitars contribute to their present value of approximately $12-15,000 each, which puts them undoubtably among the most collectible of all steel guitars and definitely the most valuable Sho-Bud ever made.
After Fred Gretsch bought Sho-Bud in 1985, the company under his guidance, built several Sho-Bud guitars that had the Super Pro II decal on the front and used the Super Pro II end castings and bodies, but used the standard Super Pro changers and undercarriage. These guitars should not be confused with the original 7 Sho-Bud II prototypes. However, they are also very good and desirable Sho-Buds.
So the next time you hear someone mention Super Pro II, you’ll be aware of it’s history and true value and how unique and desirable it is in the world of steel guitars. I encourage anyone having any questions about these guitars to contact me. Look for an upcoming photo essay on my website.
Your buddy,
Bobbe
Will upload pictures,soon, having trouble with that.
_________________
Sho-Bud Steel Guitars, 3 Super Pro's, 1 Super Pro II (Rose) & 1 Finger Tip
Fender Guitars & Basses
Peavey Amps & Sound Equipment
Last edited by Neil Lang on 25 Mar 2017 11:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Neil Lang
From:
Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 11:42 am
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_________________
Sho-Bud Steel Guitars, 3 Super Pro's, 1 Super Pro II (Rose) & 1 Finger Tip
Fender Guitars & Basses
Peavey Amps & Sound Equipment |
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Gene Haugh
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 5:29 pm
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Neil;
If I did this right here is a picture of that guitar.
We took it to ST Louis the year the Super Pro II was introduced. This steel was never sold or even finished and that is the reason for no ser.# We never got a chance to finish the steel for some reason and gradually it wound up in the someday pile.
It is not one of the registered because technically
it was never produced.
Sarah Jory stood in front of that steel and just looked at it for about 30 min. She wanted that steel! But we couldn't sell it. It was also her first time in ST Louis.
Just a little history, I know I built that steel
Have a Blessed Day
Gene Haugh
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Neil Lang
From:
Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 7:01 pm
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Gene,
This is AWESOME!!!!!! Thank you sooooo much!!! I really appreciate this!! If you have any other pictures of a Super Pro II please send them to me, as I am going to try and breath life back into her.
Or advise, for that matter!!!
Sincerely,
Neil
_________________
Sho-Bud Steel Guitars, 3 Super Pro's, 1 Super Pro II (Rose) & 1 Finger Tip
Fender Guitars & Basses
Peavey Amps & Sound Equipment |
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Craig A Davidson
From:
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 7:39 pm
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| It has endplates like Jimmy Day's Blue Darlin'. |
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Kevin Mincke
From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2017 1:09 am
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| Great to see some knowledge of its history popping up hereðŸ‘🻠and thanks Neil for its resurrection, |
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