Sho Bud the pro 2 custom

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Hello folks!

I have been offered to buy a Sho bud the pro 2 custom which has been convert to sd10 in 79. I am pretty new to the Sho Bud madness and I have a hard time understanding whats under the hood on this particular steel.

Anyones have a clue on what it is?

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

For $200 I would consider taking it but they would have to give me the $200 in cash.
That is in terrible condition and has been severely altered. And not in good way.

If the changer moves and is not frozen solid, then it will take MANY hundreds of dollars to rebuild the undercarriage.

Seriously, the only interest I would have in this guitar would be if I found if for $50 at a garage sale.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I'm sorry--that was a little harsh. I'd want a closer inspection. That really wants to be totally disassembled and cleaned. Then all the hardware wants to be re-mounted and done with better workmanship. That might be salvageable with a lot of TLC but it is a project.

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Thanks Jon,
I noticed the thing is dirty but what is worrying me a little more is those bellcranks. They look custom made or from the late 70s which wouldnt match the round headstock..

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Stephane -- my 'expertise' is limited. My only hand's-on experience is with two-hole swivel bellcranks on the ca. 1975 6160 steel that I own and have done extensive work on, and the Super Pro cranks on other steels that I have worked on. I can't see clearly enough to determine if those are Super Pro or something else. It is my impression, from the changer and the disrupted undersides, that that guitar would originally have been rack & barrel. With curved levers.

With tremendous respect to Mr. Lucier and his playing, this guitar, if reflective of his shop's work, is not much of a tribute.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

It was badly converted from barrels to nylon nuts.
And, quite frankly, it was a bad idea to convert it anyway.
If it's near you and you can test play it, AND it plays OK, then go ahead and buy it.
If it exhibits any playability or tuning stability problems, either turn and run, or subtract 800 dollars from the asking price to make up for the parts you'll be needing.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If they'd been Super Pro, they'd have had hexagonal holes for the shafts. They look to be done to the same quality of work as the rest of the conversion
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

If the changer works smoothly with no issues, and if there are no further issues such as bad leg sockets or body cracks...anything that shows need for further restoration, and considering Lane's $800 estimate for massive amount of new parts underneath (that estimate may be low) and the time/labor involved, I could see offering $600-800 US. Not an expert appraisal but a rough number I'd personally work from.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

A functional Frankensteel, including a Frankenbud, SD-10 with 3&5 is worth about a grand. AS LONG AS IT WORKS right.
Any deficiency in playability or staying in tune will reduce that.
Someone bitten with the Bud-bug wouldn't begrudge the money spent on making it right, but if it plays fine, I'd leave it alone (for now), and reconvert it at my (and my budget's) leisure.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Is there parts left somewhere to rebuild an old sho bud like that ?

I mean, I'm in Canada where not many knows about those steel guitars except a couple of folks in Ontario.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

With that single/single changer, I am outside of my comfort zone regarding giving advice.
It seems to me that unless you were to rebuild the rack and barrel system, the next option is barrels-behind swivel pullers enabling multiple pulls per string. Here is the prime source:

https://www.psgparts.com/main.sc

And since Jeff at Show Pro restores a fair number of Buds, he might possibly have parts available:

http://www.showprosteelguitars.com/index.html

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

I'd take a pass on this one. Good used Sho-Buds aren't too hard to find.
JMHO...

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I think that's the best advice. This might be great material if you are looking for a major project. But to make this a good (and good looking) player will probably cost you what you would spend on a gig-ready Sho-Bud.

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

I'm not sure neither..

There is a Fessenden SD10 laying around in a friend's house.. that might be a better investment..

an early Fessy with the Fessenden Guitar Co logo...

I think I'm just afraid of the new guitars..

I red on the forum that noones seems to go wrong with the Fessy... what you guys think ?

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If it hasn't been futzed with, that's right.
But a ham-fisted hack can ruin a Fessy as easily as a bud
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Hahahaha

No the Fessy isn't altered in any ways. It is not in the same house as the Sho Bud.

That's crazy how the mechanics on those pedal steels can be modified along the road, for the good but mostly for the bad...

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

Jon, Lane, Skipp,

Thanks for your help ! it is much appreciate.

Charlie Hansen · From: Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.

I can't imagine Bob Lucier doing work like that. I'm sure someone else has been at it since '79. Bob is a fine player and technician and was the steel player that replaced Ollie Strong (another fine player) on the Tommy Hunter show in Canada.
Here's a link to some Bob Lucier from the 70s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFVXanjyCfo
_________________
I don't know much but what I know I know very well.
Carter S-10 3X5, Peavey Nashville 112, plus Regal dobro and too many other instruments to mention.
Bluegrass Island CFCY FM 95.1 Charlottetown, PE, Canada, on the web at cfcy.fm.
A Touch Of Texas CIOE FM 97.5 Sackville, NS, Canada,
on the web at cioe975.ca.

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

OK I'm sure those are the original changer fingers(oh and the 1st string finger has slipped out of the guide bracket bar...so won't work..ha) because this is the very first year Sho~bud started using nylon tuners after barrel tuning. So these are original style single/single fingers; but they welded on a extra metal hole in the raise horizontally moving arm(to move 4th&5th string twice); so you can affix the rods to the original pullers with brass rollers(as this doesn't' look like any of that on crossbars is original pullers; or knee levers). Also looks to be refinished on outside; as those are not original "water decals" or right placement or color and underneath textured. But when ever someone refinished and redid mechanics and got rid of back neck; was certainly way after this one was made originally; probably somewhere between May 1974 to start of 1975-ish.
So I have about 15 more things about this "The Pro II Custom" but I would highly suggest getting the Fessy...as this one needs major work to be able to play confidently more than two freakin days at a time..ha.
I would pay 400.00 for it cause I would have to put at least 1800.00 into it to be a real Sho~bud again.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com

Andy DePaule · From: Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon

A little work and this steel could burn... In the fireplace that is! Laughing

For the money it would cost in parts alone and the hours of your time you could do way better.

I've done restoration work on older Sho Buds. More than some and a lot less than others, but this one is just ready for the wrecking ball. On top of that it's so ugly too!
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.

Stephane Morency · From: Quebec, Canada

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