Which new Steel has the vintage ShoBud sound?

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 2 May 2009 2:31 pm

What Johnny said. And are you driving truck these days? :- )

Tq

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 2 May 2009 4:19 pm

Thank you Mr. Johnny Cox. Your testimonial about the Madison 63 means a lot...no one knows the Sho~Bud sound better than you do. Thanks for educating us about the Sho-Bud Permanent sound..I did not know which they considered their best sounding model...it is always great to have an expert such as yourself reply to a thread...best of luck to you and your wife.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 3 May 2009 3:57 pm

No problem guys. Tom I was driving for a large trucking company for a short time then an opportnity came to drive lease coaches again with a well respected company. Some old and dear friends encouraged me to return to the industry. I'm driving one of the singers with the group IL Divo and his family. The tour started 4/27 in Halifax, N.S. and ends 7/24 in Reno. The ride is much nicer and pay is better too. Once again God has blessed the Cox family.

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 3 May 2009 4:36 pm

Johnny, I had seen your name around for years, but living in Tokyo back then meant that I was unfamiliar with your picking. You are a fabulous player with tone that is just beautiful. You are also a great ambassador for the Jackson Guitar Company. Now, please keep the rubber side down on whatever you're driving; if you ever get near Sacramento, let me know and I'll buy ya a cup of coffee!!

(And the Lord does indeed watch over all who chose his care) :- )

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 3 May 2009 5:44 pm

Tom, thank you for your kindness. On this tour I'm going to be in many cities and I think Sacramento is on the list. You can check at www.ILDIVO.com.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 3 May 2009 6:59 pm

Johnny, that is VERY COOL!

Mike Christensen · Post by **Mike Christensen** » 5 May 2009 6:02 am

I just got back from a 9 day road trip so am getting in on this late. It was mentioned a couple pages back why does Coop not build his own guitars. Part of my trip was to stop by and pick up my round-front s-10 from John. I haven,t even had a chance to sit down and really try it out yet but I will say one thing. When Johns parts are in an old Sho-Bud the only thing left of Sho-Bud is the sticker and the beautiful wood cabinet. You can even get a new gumby key head if you want. I mentioned to him in fact that after a Sho-Bud has been done with his parts it should be called something else because it is not really a Sho-Bud any longer. I will be posting pics in the near future to back up what I am saying and I,m sure most will be impressed. Happy Trails.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 5 May 2009 8:17 am

How critical is the mechanics to the tone of a guitar? I'm more inclined to think that the sound/tone comes from the body and the pick ups. It's not that uncommon for any instrument to need replacement parts as they age. I've replaced the tuners and bridge on my Guild acoustic, and can't hear any difference. Coop isn't making a new steel out of the old Sho-Buds. He's simply giving them new life. It just so happens, due to his great skill, and quality parts that they now have a very long life expectancy.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 5 May 2009 8:58 am

I think that the changer affects the tone of a guitar quite a bit. The alloy used for the fingers is critical, as is the method used for attaching the changer to the body.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 5 May 2009 9:12 am

Thanks bOb. Well then, what would the most effective alloy be for the changer, and what would be the best method for installing the changer to the body?

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 5 May 2009 1:20 pm

I see the changer as the heart of the steel guitar, where everything meets. Builders are always very concerned about what's going on there. Many PP fanatics consider the changer to be the main ingredient in its special tone. And (to me, anyway) the early "real metal" Sho~Bud changers with the pins sound better than the later pot metal slot changers. I argue that it's probably the most significant part of the steel guitar for tone. If the tone had everything to do with the body, then all mica PP's would sound like crap. And we know they don't. Once again, just my opinion.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 5 May 2009 1:34 pm

I like your Opinion Chris....I will have to go along with you and b0b on that.
First thing you do on a steel guitar is set the string in motion...>so what is that string vibrating on; and what is it made out of...how is it assembled and what is it mounted to and what is that mounted to...and so on....>that is the sound.....that the microphone(the pickup) picks up.
Ricky

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 5 May 2009 1:46 pm

b0b wrote:I think that the changer affects the tone of a guitar quite a bit. The alloy used for the fingers is critical, as is the method used for attaching the changer to the body.

I agree with this. There are a number of components of a pedal steel that add to the basic tone, and b0b is right in his assessment. The body, keyhead, mountings and castings all play a part. I love the sound of the big body ShoBuds, but even then you can still get variances in them. The main thing that I have found is that if you come across a guitar with great natural tone, make it a keeper.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 5 May 2009 2:10 pm

Fred Glave wrote:Thanks bOb. Well then, what would the most effective alloy be for the changer, and what would be the best method for installing the changer to the body?

I haven't a clue. I just know that the changer is very important, just as the bridge is on a standard guitar.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 6 May 2009 8:55 am

Okay, I can relate to the fact that the changer, like the bridge on a guitar needs to have a solid foundation for the strings to anchor with the tuners. This is most likely the first point of critical importance for tone. However, once reverberations travel onward after that point, I believe that the body of the guitar resonates the string vibrations secondarily. Then, the pickup transduces the vibrations into an electrical signal. Chris's opinion that mica guitars have good tone is simply an opinion, as is mine that quality wood guitars have the best tone. However, I owned a Sierra Crown for 4 years, and could never get it to sound even half way decent despite pick up changes. The Crown was built very well. It is an engineering masterpiece. But in terms of tone quality, my Fender, as well as the Sho-Bud puts it to shame without dispute from anyone who has heard both. I've also played several Mica steels and have been equally disapointed. I think the body and pick ups play a huge role in tone. I do conceed and agree that this can only occur past the point of the changer.

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Which new Steel has the vintage ShoBud sound?

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