The Steel Guitar Forum

My wife joked that I'd never want to turn it right side up after this... guess that would solve the problem!

Thanks James. I love this guitar but yours is in a class by itself. As for the pups, I believe they are the original split coil pickups. Before I got the guitar the E9 pickup was apparently rewound with larger 1/4" diameter magnets. I assume it was the original pickup because both pickups have ...

Here are the results of my Sho-Bud Professional refurbish with parts from John Coop. I'm emailing pictures to Ricky and perhaps he'll be kind enough to post them. I bought this guitar used in 1976 and have never had it apart until now. The fellow I bought it from was gigging steady 6 nights a week (...

James that is a gorgous guitar and it looks like Coop did a really nice job on it! I'm almost done with my Professional renovation with Coop parts, and John has been very helpful throughout the process. Is that a new refinish job on the cabinet? (sure looks like it but it's hard to tell via photos)....

I'm about half way through a refurbishing of the mechanics on my Professional using Coop's parts. Thus far I'm really glad that I went this way and I'm having a ball doing the work myself. It's not rocket science, by the way. It just takes patience, time and handyman skill working with tools. It's t...

Leon,

Looks like you are making good progress. Did you also enlarge the rectangular openings in the end plate to allow full access to Coop's triple raise / double lower changers?

George

I was aware that I'll have to relocate some screw holes. I'll plug the old holes and then probably repaint the bottom, though I may try careful touch up painting the plugged holes first. Against the splatter paint background it may blend in ok.

George

I'd love to see 'em, Leon. I should say at this point that I've pretty much decided to go with JC parts and do the work myself. The choice is pretty subjective, but I'm not hearing a compelling preference for the Marrs mechanism although both have their advocates. For me the determining factors are:...

Very cool, Leon! What parts were used for your own rebuild?

Ernie's guitar body looks exactly like mine except I don't have my name on the front.

George

That's what I was planning on doing, Jon. My old basket pullers are worn and noisy. Coop's 2-hole pullers look like works of art and have brass/nylon bushings, and he says they will work just fine with the older Professional brass tuning barrels. I'm leaning towards going that route instead of the M...

From a mechanism standpoint I'm more interested in accuracy, reliability and smooth, tight response than I am about authenticity so Duane's parts being different doesn't bother me per se. I did forget to mention tone, however. I'd be very cautious about any changes that alter tone, particularly if t...

After some agonizing (mostly over cost $$$) I have decided to completely replace the undercarriage on my Sho-Bud Professional. I've been debating whether to order parts from John Coop and do the work myself or have Duane Marrs do the restoration. I'm fairly handy and would enjoy doing the work mysel...

I appreciate your input, Bobbe... I didn't purchase the Pro III that was on Ebay last week although it was probably a decent deal. According the the owner it was very low miles and came with a Nashville 400. I didn't see the final bid but it was at ~$1700 last time I looked. I've decided to hang ont...

Thanks for the input, guys. I hadn't heard of John Coop's changer. If there is a more economical way to update my current Professional than the Marrs refurbish I'm all ears. Tell me more... how do I contact him?

Thanks again,
George

I currently have an old Professional with a pretty worn changer mechanism. I'd love to have it refurbished at Marr's Music but can't really afford to invest an extra $1500. I'm thinking of purchasing a Pro III on line and selling my current guitar but I've never seen or played one. I'm looking for a...