Rebuild or get a different steel

Steve Hackney · From: Milton, Kentucky USA

I've got a 70 something LDG. It's due for a major tune up, but I can't decide whether to have it rebuilt or just go for another newer steel.
I do feel a certain amount of nostalgia for my old BUD. It's the first and only steel I've ever had ( almost 25 years), but I've heard a lot of good things about other brands of steels.
Just thought I'd ask for an outside opinion or two.
Thanks

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

I would say hang on to that steel, and maybe look at some of the incredible rebuilds available for Shobuds -- Duane Marrs, or a Ricky Davis job with those great new parts by John Coop --- it would be like a brand new guitar, and it would play a lot better than it used to, but still keep the classic qualities of the LDG !

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

If you decide to sell send me a price.

ernie

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I really depends on what you want in a guitar.

A LDG will never play or sound like any modern guitar. Is that good or bad? It depends on what YOU like.

Ask yourself this question:
"If I was shopping for a new Steel and the LDG was available new, would I choose it over the other brands?"

If your answer is Yes, you need it restored.
If it's No, there's a line of buyers forming...

I wonder what Ricky would say?

Earl Foote · From: Houston, Tx, USA

Steve, go to the "How Does Your Guitar Feel" thread and scroll down till you see Ricky Davis' LDG. That may help you make a decision.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

If you like the tone and the copedent, I'd recommend the rebuild. Lloyd Green played a JCH for a while - one of the finest instruments ever made - and ended up going back to the LDG.

Comfort is the key. If you've been playing one guitar for a long time, you may never be able to reach that comfort level with another.

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Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Steve
What's wrong with your LDG now?

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

It all depends on how you are wired... Consider this analogy...Which is "better".. a restored Corvette worth 50 K or a new Corvette worth 50K??..
Both cars will turn heads, both will perform as they were designed to, both will get you from point A to point B, both will allow you to display your personality and your individuality.
Either choice is a good one....

Same with your decision.. Either scenario would work equally well. Depends on what you like.. Personally, I prefer the SOUND of old steels and the playability and precision of new ones... If your LDG can be made to play as well [or close to] as a modern hi tech steel, It will be an incredibly nice guitar... It won't be cheap, but neither is a NEW steel.. best of luck either way!!

bob

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Steve; "the Grass looks greener on the other side" is always the frustrating part, but like my Dad always said: "The Grass on your side is only as Green as you want to make it".
So with that; I also would ask like Ernest> "What's wrong with your LDG now??".
If indeed it needs some work/cleaning/upkeep/tweeking; it can certainly be done and can play dang nice. Depending on which mechanism you have in your LDG(there were several different Mechs over the years of LDG)would also depend on my opinion of what could/should be done. Your LDG can be made to play as good as any modern steel; with it's existing parts or replaced with John Coop's exact Sho-bud parts and it would revive the original voice/tone of your LDG. You can replace it's original parts with newly made updated modern pulling mechanism; but you would certainly change it's original voice>then I would say; just buy a new Steel guitar.
If you have the double raise/double lower or more changer fingers; I would certainly suggest absolutley change the fingers to John Coops Super Fingers; as they are an exact replacement of the originals but the rivots are far superior and the friction push point is a ball-bearing that rolls; and that is the part that makes or breaks the action on the old fingers.
So; I hope that helps you some, and if you have anymore details to what your LDG actually is mechanically and style wise(or pictures..etc), I can suggest more.
Ricky

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Listen to what Ricky is sayin'! And I haven't even gotten my guitar down to him yet! I can't wait to get it back. Do a search on the guitars he's restored. I didn't want anyone else to work on mine. JB

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I've had three LDG's over the years. Liked all of them. Why not have the LDG redone from top to bottom and keep it for special occasions to play at. Carter makes a fine S-10 on a double frame also. If I were just a E9th player that's what I'd be playing now. My main guitar is a D-10 Carter. Second guitar is a D-10 MSA. Of course there's several other brands for a S-10D that are fine also. But none of them have the old LDG feel. Just my .02 worth of info.

Steve Hackney · From: Milton, Kentucky USA

First of all, let me say thanks for all the input.
I’m gonna try to give a little history and list some of the problems on the steel that I know of.
I bought the steel in 1981 from George Hines in Louisville Kentucky. He said it was about 5 years old. Thats all I know about the age of it. He had added a C neck to it, which I have taken off and put a pad back on it. That means it’s got a lot of unused screw holes underneath which I guess doesn’t hurt it, but it’s also got the right side end plate with a hole for the tuners where the C neck was. I imagine it would be close to impossible to find an end plate.
The fingers are double raise single lower, so I definitely would want to change those. Most of the bell cranks have a lot of slop in them. There are a couple of home made stops on it. The pedal bar has some unused holes in it. It still has the long rod for the pedals of the C neck. All the metal needs to be polished. The legs need to be re-chromed or replaced. The finish is in decent shape other than the normal bar dings. The levers seem to be in decent shape, just need to be polished. The pickup needs to be rewound which is a minor expense.
One thing that seems odd to me is the pedals. Most pedals I’ve seen on Sho Buds are either the wide ones or the narrow one. Mine are in between so I don’t know if their even original.
Ideally, I’d test drive a few different brands of steel and buy another one and keep my old Bud too, but that’s just not in the budget.
Anyway, thanks for all the good advice.

Pat Carlson · From: Sutton, Nebraska, R.I.P.

Guess I'm the exception here.I had one of the last LDG'S made by Sho~Bud.Sold it for nearly enough to buy a Brand new Mullen 3x5.Have not regreted it.The tone is quite similar on the two.The extra weight of the LDG was a factor.
If I were flush with funds would have kept the LDG for sentimental values. Not playability.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Steve.. some major issues there my friend.. an endplate?.. new pedals too??.. PLUS a complete rebuild??? serious bread.

I'll go out on a limb here and say this... Personally,I'd get out of it. If you buy a modern S 10, [I like Carter]you'll never look back at that sweet old LDG. If you can only afford one, I'd go with a modern guitar,judging by your statements.. Too many issues there I think..however, It will sell for a good price regardless. You'll love today's steels believe me. bob

[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 04 August 2005 at 07:59 PM.]

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Well, I have the luxury of owning the 3 best sounding 12-string guitars I've ever played. But I understand the budget piece of the puzzle too, and if more than one guitar isn't possible, then it just isn't possible.

My Emmons is wonderful, like a push-pull should be -- tone to the bone. My Fessy is brand new, has most every pedal and lever change I can think of, and sounds as good as any guitar made today. The Bud is new to me, but all I had to do was plug it in for the first time. It has a vintage vibe that you WILL NOT FIND in another guitar -- I don't care who makes it. Just like a push-pull, if it is set up properly, it plays every bit as smooth as a modern guitar and can be made very reliable by replacing a few key parts. Mine is a newer one with a triple raise / double lower changer, but I believe Coop can retrofit that piece for a pretty reasonable price -- once again -- talk to John Coop before you do ANYTHING.

Your decision is a difficult one, and I understand what Bob and Pat are saying about having a new guitar. There is peace of mind there and reliability issues that can plague a vintage instrument, but I disagree that you won't look back.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Steve Hackney · From: Milton, Kentucky USA

Well I haven't made a firm decision yet but I'm leaning towards selling the old Bud and trying something different.
All I have to do if I decide to go that route is try to decide on a price or maybe list on ebay with a reserve.
And if it doesn't sell, John Coop has given me a good price on a rebuild job with the parts he makes. He can even make a new end plate.

Thanks agin for all the responses.

Steve Hackney · From: Milton, Kentucky USA

Decision made. I'm gonna try to sell the old BUD.
There's a couple guys from the forum that have already expressed interest. If they don't want it, I'll list it in the instruments for sale section here on the forum to give members first chance. If that doesn't work then it goes to ebay.
Thanks for all the response.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

All the best Steve.. Either decision would have been a good one.. I was in your shoes a few years back and went with a Carter...
My old steel was a Bud ProIII... It was a very nice steel, and was NOT worn, but I do not really miss it.

The Carter is a joy to play in comparison to that cantankerous Sho Bud...

Get your new steel, and when the bug hits you and you have a few dollars to spend, I'll bet you can get a nice deal on a "vintage" steel. There were a LOT of them made, and are always for sale somewhere ... Prices seem to be fairly stable...

I see lots of nice deals right here in the Instruments for sale section.. I hope you enjoy your new steel!! bob

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