Pro 1 w/ Coop LKL & Decal

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Here my '76 Pro 1 with a newly-installed Coop LKL kit and "Pro 1 Custom" decal. I installed the LKL myself, with the guidance of James Morehead. If you're wanting to add knees to your Sho~Bud, just get them from Coop and do it yourself. It's not that hard, especially when you have fine folks like James to help you with correct measurements, etc.

The lever is smooth, precise, and silent. You can really tell the difference between it and the original two. Coop's parts are second to none.

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Wow, Chris, what a beautiful guitar. I know you love your Buds! Your Pro I looks like the same vintage as my LDG: square front cab, gumby headstock, smooth narrow pedals.....I am guessing that your Pro I originally had the straight knee levers, "pot metal" brackets, a triple raise/double lower changer with the chromed "pot metal" fingers? If so, did you change the fingers to John's fingers (Super Fingers)? If you did change the fingers, how has the tone and sustain changed? Has the new hardware changed the sound of the guitar?

She's a beauty! Thanks for posting.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Hi Cliff,

I'm pretty sure this one came original with two tear-drop knees, double raise/lower with two-hole pullers, brass swivels and round cross shafts. It's one of the last before the Superpro mechanics, I believe. I heard great things about this mechanism, so I bought it based on those recommendations. I'm glad I did. It's a keeper. Sounds sweet, thick and big........it's everything I've ever wanted in a Sho~Bud.

Coop's lever is real solid and smooth - I can't imagine what this guitar would sound like if the whole undercarriage was Coop. Everything else does work great, so I think I'll leave the rest as is. But I'm tempted.

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 07 November 2006 at 11:01 AM.]

Jackie Anderson · From: Scarborough, ME

And you did it all with that blue and yellow "fine tuning tool" in the background? Nice work!

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Good one, Jack........ha-ha. My son helped me a bit.

I'm adding wide pedals to this guitar next week. The narrow ones, on this guitar anyway, are too far apart for me. I especially have trouble engaging B and C together.

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

"double raise/lower with two-hole pullers, brass swivels and round cross shafts. It's one of the last before the Superpro mechanics"

Ahhh....yes, I should have looked more closely at the picture of the mechanism. There are so many various configurations on these transition era Buds. Great shots, BTW. I have heard the same things about the sound of your Sho-Bud's design. My LDG with the Super Pro changer and guts sounds good, but I really would like to try it side-by-side with one like yours to find out what the difference is.

Your guitar looks like the ideal gigging axe. Awesome!

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Sweet guitar, Chris! Nice job! If the tone of that guitar is anything like the tone in my Pro I, you must just stay mesmorised all the time!
Thanx for the kind words, but Coop really deserves them this go 'round, as he gave me the measurements on the exact same model guitar I did this summer! I just passed them on.

[This message was edited by James Morehead on 07 November 2006 at 02:50 PM.]

Colby Tipton · From: Crosby, Texas, USA

Slick, Coop makes good stuff. I have a Double that I think I'm going to get him to make all of my parts for. That is the best mechanical stuff Sho-Bud ever made. I had one, it was a LDG and I sold it to Jim Van back in 1980, I wish I still had that guitar, maybe I'll have a Coop double soon. Again, thats a cool deal.

Colby

[This message was edited by Colby Tipton on 08 November 2006 at 12:54 AM.]

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Look me up at Dallas show in March, Colby. I will have my '70 Professional set up again, like we did at St. Louis show, demo-ing the John Coop conversion. My guitar was rebuilt by John Coop with EVERYTHING John makes right down to the "Super Fingers. Your welcome to take it for a test drive.

Email me if you'd like some pics, I'll email you a few. Right Chris? IMHO John's parts are the best system you could hang under your guitar to enhance eaze of play-ability and enhance tonal quality.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I can attest to the tonal qualities, just by having Coop's LKL installed. I didn't know I could have a LKL that held its tune so good and felt so solid. There's a definite difference between this knee and the others. It could be my imagination, but the whole guitar sounds better to me with the addition of Coop's LKL, not just that raise.

Colby, ya gotta see some of James' pics.......they'll blow you away. And the ones of the Sho~Buds are pretty good, too.

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Lord, Lord. That is some beautiful maple. Congratulations, Chris.

Al

Rob van Duuren · From: The Netherlands

that's a great looking Pro-1 Chris! Good job on the lever.(i see plenty of space for some more

).
I played my new LKL for some days, but didn't feel very comfortable with it's placement. Yesterdayafternoon, while my little boy was asleep, I changed the angle somewhat. Like how it would have been placed under an LDG fe. It may seem like a small adjustment, but it makes it work just a little bit smoother. Rob

[This message was edited by Rob van Duuren on 08 November 2006 at 12:52 AM.]

[This message was edited by Rob van Duuren on 08 November 2006 at 12:54 AM.]

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Thanks, Al.......thought you might like that one.

Rob, what's the half-stop in the picture doing? Something with the LKR?

...Don't worry, another lever or two is in my Pro 1's future.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Hey Rob, Way cool! I like the angle deal, I agree, the angle helps the guitar fit you like a glove!

Rob van Duuren · From: The Netherlands

i first attached it straight because of pictures of other single neck guitars, followed blindly. However, my leg kept kinda rubbing against the lever so i figured this should help, and it did. I now don't understand why you don't see this more often, it seems very normal on SD-10's.

Chris, there isn't a half-stop in the picture, what exactly do you mean?
rob

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Ooops..........thought that brass barrel was a half-stop. It looks like one, without the perspective of the rest of the undercarriage.

Charlie Tryon · From: Glovertown Newfoundland, Canada

Chris nice "BUD" now are you going to keep this one for more than a week??? OH wait that was the wife saying that. Chris just to let you know I have picked up a LDG and will get it next week. Well enjoy the new old BUD.

Charlie

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Charlie,

Tell Denise I've finally found a keeper.........Yes, I certainly am keeping this one. If I get another, it will be in addition to this one.

You're getting an LDG? No way! I did not see that one coming......thought you were getting another Rains? Suppose you got both of them, didn't you? Congrats, man. You'll have to post some pics when you get it.

Charlie Tryon · From: Glovertown Newfoundland, Canada

Chris I have been looking for an LDG for awhile and one came up along with some spare money so I bought it. I will keep my rains but my guitar player in the band twisted my arm and I have sold him my Williams. I have ordered a new Jackson guitar to try out and will pick it up on my way to Florida in Feb. and use it for the dates I play down there.
I will post some pic's for you as soon as I get it.

Charlie

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Chris-Very nice looking Sho-Bud Pro 1 you have there, beautiful and You and I know about their great tone....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Rob van Duuren · From: The Netherlands

yeah, it's a rather crowded corner around that left knee, haha. But everything works great and smooth.
While still tweaking and fine-tuning Coops perfect parts, i ran into a little 'problem'. I wish it was possible to adjust the angle of the levers. It is a bit awkward you have these long levers and your knees grab them somewhere highup near the body of the guitar. Especially the right knee because of the volume-pedal. I would have liked to place the levers a little bit wider apart and then position the levers in a V-shape, so your knees grab them at a lower point. You will need less force to move them, and you could adjust them in a way that they're just about touching your knee, giving you more control. Again, this is mainly for my right knee, which raises 2 whole notes and lowers 2 whole notes the other way. For now i 'solved' it by raising the guitar 1 inch, and 'customized' a few Coop parts. I've got my V-shapes, and playing became lighter and smoother again... tbc, rob

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Thanks, Al.....the tone you are getting on yours is out of this world. I've been thinking a bit about your copedent - ideally I'd love to have it on mine.

I have to mention that Dana Flood in Maine sold me this one. Dana set it up really nice. The pedal and lever action is so easy and smooth that I had to re-adjust my touch quite a bit. It plays like a brand new guitar. Dana was a real pleasure to deal with in the transaction. I highy recommend him to anybody looking for a steel guitar.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Here it is with the wide pedals - a vast improvement for me with regards to pedal control. They feel a lot more solid to me than the narrow ones, especially with two-pedal stuff. Thanks to Jack Shrader for shipping them to me in record time.

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 09 November 2006 at 05:41 PM.]

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Nice gtr, Chris...congrats. You gotta love those old single Buds...I know I'll never part with mine.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Thanks a lot, Skip..........I haven't heard your Pro 1, but I have heard your Super Pro on recordings - and it smokes.

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