Which Guitar is Best Shaped

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

I play a ShoBud Professional 73.
I would like to buy a new Axe, which one to buy?
I know this has been on the forum lots of times. Look at it from this angle.
Not sound, not tone, But how about shape.

After playing Waynes Emmons and other guitars, I do not like the seperation between the two necks.
On my Bud the front neck is higher than the back neck, more so than on the Emmons.

To me the Emmons front neck needs to be higher than it is. When playing the front neck the rear neck gets in the way.

This may be part of why some guitars feel differant than others. I know this is personal but this is what it's all about.

About tone when I play Waynes Emmons he says it sounds differant than when he plays it, Also when i play Elmers Emmons I cannot make it sound like when he plays it. The only differance is in the hands and style.
Jeff Newman says it is in the shape of the hands and the way you pick.

just my observation for what it's worth. Have been trying for a long time, someday i may get closer to where I would like to be in my playing.

ernie

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Ernie,

All the things you say are true. And you just proved that most of it is purely sugjective. I prefer the Emmon's necks. Unlike the Sho-Buds. But that is me.

As to sound, a player's hands has a lot to do with the final sound that emantes from a given amp. But it is not ALL in the hands. No way is any player going to make a Fender 1000 sound like an Emmons' P/P.

But you are correct; different ppl do sound differently on the same exact equipment. I suppose the best advice would be to take those things we know (and like) among different makes and then continue to narrow it down to our final choice.

Eg; if you lean towards an Emmons' sound, but also love the Carter or a Zum's sound, then begin to pit all the other apsects between them; taking as many pros and cons as you can; until you come up with the one you would be most happy with.

And don't rush it. Ask a zillion questions; check each out thorougly; check out very important things like the shape, feel and action of the pedals and knee levers, etc. Pay close attention to all the things you will be doing all the time such as tearing down and setting up the guitar. How does it fit going in and out of the case, etc.

When you sit at the guitar does it feel instantly good? Or are there things that just might gnaw at you and turn lust into hate later on? Be surpised at how a little thing can wear on ya.

The final and probably the most important of all is; do not be swayed by what dealers and/or manufacturer's say; or listen to those who say, I have not had any problem with mine". Along with don't fall into the trap of its esthetic appeal. Many a Pretty guitar has played lousy.

And may Jesus be with you as you search it out,

carl

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

Carl, has a lot of good advice there for anyone........al

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

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I went from a Sho-Bud (Pro III) to an SD10 Emmons - I didn't notice that the height-differential between the two necks on each brand was different, because it was disguised by my Emmons having a padded rear neck.

When I went from the SD10 to a D10 Emmons, however, I was dismayed by how much higher my wrists and forearms were forced to lay when compared to my old Sho-Bud (and my ZBs, too) - it only took a couple of weeks to feel completely at home with the new guitar, though; now it feels perfectly natural.

A factor in all this may also have been my indiscriminate choice of seating in the old days - I used to get to the theatre and look around for a suitable chair(!) - now I can't imagine playing without ny 'Steelers' Choice' seat; I now sit higher behind the steel, which puts me (and my arms) at a more-comfortable angle.

RR

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

Roger I noticed this in playing Waynes guitar his seat is lower than mine, this would make the Emmons neck higher on the C6, and it just got in the way. It's just what you get use to.
Boy there are so many vARIBLES in this thing it is mind bogglin.

ernie

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

There's always an adjustment period to a new guitar, the ones that don't feel exactly right can grow on you over time. But like Carl says, things can also wear on you to no end. My second Steel was a Marlen, had a great tone but lousy mechanics. I spent so much time under that thing with an allen wrench...

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

I´m a die-hard ShoBud fan myself and when I was in St.Louis I tried several new guitars out of curiosity and I have to say, the one I liked best, and that also was close in shape to what I´m used to, was the Fulawka. I think you would find it very inspiring.

Joe H.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Mr C.

I've toyed with it myself, and I find the strings "seem" closer together and the middle neck switch would be a change to reckon with.

Sitting up higher would relieve your arm hitting the neck, but at the expense of playing at more of an angle.

That, and the sound. I'm not afraid to say that I didn't care for the large magnet pickup I tried, and further that I have not been able to get the sound I like out of any guitar I've played besides a ZB and a Dekley.

If I DO get another psg. I'd have to ask the specifics of neck and string placement.

I will research Fessys first as I have yet to hear anything bad about them and they seem more "Sho~Bud" esque.

Whatever you do, DON't sell your Sho~Bud. At least until you find that you didn't like it better than whatever you get.

After seeing and hearing Gary Morse's '69 Basket D10 SB close up and seeing a few nore of them on the Opry, and other venues, I decided to redo the old Professional I have or maybe have DM redo it. Probably I'll keep playing my 75 ProIII, bush whipped as it is like I have for 24 years.

If it doesn't "feel right", it probably isn't. I wouldn't buy anything that would "take getting used to". If it didn't feel, look and sound better ROTB, I'd keep my 5-10 grand in my pocket.

Just my 2

EJL

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

When I set my pedals as low as I thought they should be, I found on carpet I had to add a couple of 1/4" squares of plywood under the front legs.This in effect raised the front of the guitar a bit. I like this little bit of an angle. I makes the E9th Easier to see and doesn't bother my hands at all. Just a thought...
Bud

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

Bud,
instead of pieces of plywood under the front legs, I strongly suggest you try the opposite way, get two appropriate-sized nuts (or even those collars made specifically for that purpose that have a set screw on them) and place them between the pedal rack and the collars on the legs. Because this retains the stability and stays on the guitar whenever you move it. I had to raise the front legs on my ProII because of the way the pedals were curved; the tips would touch the floor too soon, not allowing for enough travel for some changes. (I use heavier strings than most.) Raising the front end has changed the angle the pedals are set, so now it works fine. Besides, I don´t like it at all when the guitar is tilted "downwards".

Regards, Joe H.

Craig A Davidson · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

Joe, To raise mine I got a couple of furniture glides, for under the couch legs, and put them under my front guitar legs. Not for the pedal action, but to let my Emmons volume pedal have more travel, so it doesn't bottom out. It would be a hard choice to get a new guitar for me. I love my push-pull. Everytime I think about a new guitar I come to my senses.

------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: