am I crazy? PSG repair question

Nick Zyromski · From: Indiana, USA

Hi All - this is my first post. I've enjoyed the forum for a long time - lap steel player for 15 years, teetering on the edge of the PSG rabbit hole for many years and finally tumbled in this summer. I traded a guitar for a "Sho-Bud" PSG that "needed a little work" - the too good to be true deal likely is. Anyway, I found that this seems to be a Frankenstein guitar - the main problem is that several of the "elbows" are broken (see pic) - after some research and calling a few reputable repair folks I found that Sho-Bud doesn't make this mechanism (or individual "keys" - sorry if incorrect terminology) any more and the suggestion was made for me to take the mechanism apart and rearrange the keys so intact keys will be available to connect rods on 2,3,4,5,6,10. I'm reasonably handy, and willing to tackle to project as last ditch - I'm really looking to play this as PSG and not a console - but wanted to see if anyone here had advice. Questions:
1. is this a totally crazy idea?
2. in worst case scenario, can this guitar be rebuilt?
3. anyone in midwest (i'm in Indianapolis) with experience who may be willing to tackle this project if it is not something a rank amateur should do?

thanks!

Nick Z

Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

Nick. Unless this has sentimental value, I would say it"s not worth the trouble. I strongly doubt anyone here on the forum would disagree with me. Your parts may be worth something. Pedals, etc. Mavericks are not looked upon favorably when they are in perfect shape. Good luck finding an other guitar. Ron
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Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

This Maverick is very rough. I wouldn't invest any money in it.

But I would try moving the "elbows" as has been suggested. I see three broken elbows, not four.

You need to have functioning "elbows" on strings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. That assumes you have the standard 3 floor pedals, plus a knee lever that lowers the second string a half tone, and lowers the 8th string a half tone. I think that was what was standard on those guitars.

You might as well give it a try. You have nothing to lose.

Precise terminology is helpful. I think the "elbows" are generally referred to as changer "fingers". I'm not real sure about that however.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

Yep - my first pedal steel was also a Maverick. I was lucky that only one of the pot-metal changer fingers broke. Laughing

It is easy enough to tap out the axle rod and swap the fingers. But likely the others too, will break eventually.
The Mav was a student (cheap) steel Sho~Bud made. You could probably spend a lot of time trying to track down replacement fingers.
I suggest you fix it enough to play, and play it as much as you can (they sound like a Sho~Bud!) until it breaks!
Have fun!
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

Don’t spend a lot of money or time on this. Swapping the broken parts for others is barely worth the time but that woukd be ALL I would spend time on. Make sure strings 3,4,5,6,8,10 and maybe 2 have working parts.
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Danelectro, Evans, Fender, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Looks like the key head has extra nuts an bolts.

Perfect little bud too bring back too a good pedal steel.
Harry Jackson or Jim Flynn could make this steel sing again.
I'm assuming you have the pedal bar an legs.
I'm no pro steel repair man but I would love too find a Maverick like this one too bring back too life.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Was a Fender Maverick an all-pull guitar?
I'm seeing return springs and what looks like scissors.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

This should be helpful.

https://images.app.goo.gl/mVYYTRB4sF4a1RLb9
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

I had an early 70s Maverick, and I think it was pull-release. It had the raised neck 3 pedal ,no roller nut, no knee lever. Sounded really good to me then!

I have an early 70s 6139/40 model now , Birdseye city! 3&4
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Those aren't return springs. They're there to provide friction for the release tuners, which are likely #10/32 machine screws.
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Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

Nick Zyromski · From: Indiana, USA

Thanks everybody- I’ll let you know how it turns out

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The tipoff that it must be a pull-release design is that there is no place to attach lowering rods!(No lowering fingers.) Mr. Green

As others have said, it could be made playable with what's there. When I first started playing, I would have loved to have something like that to start out and monkey around with! Laughing

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