Shobud Fingertips and Permanents----got a picture??

[Jamie Stoner]

Anyone know how many of these d12's were built?

[James Morehead]

Here's a possible solution to eliminate the rings in the changer. These clips can be found on the internet. Type in throttle linkage clip and you will soon find them. The extra loop on the clip can be snapped off with a needle nose pliars.

[Bill Ford]

James,
I was speaking of the finish on the wood part of the bottom side, stellar job on the polishing you did. Looks familiar,but I hesitate to say.

Bill

[James Morehead]

James,
I was speaking of the finish on the wood part of the bottom side, stellar job on the polishing you did. Looks familiar,but I hesitate to say.

Bill

Hey Bill, Try Mother's on the worst spots----it will clean the crud off the paint and not harm it. It will lift the grease and oil. I use a mild degreasing dish soap on a damp dish clothe for the rest, and follow up right away with a dry clothe. Cleans the underside right up.

[Bent Romnes]

For bringing the shine back you might also want to try auto swirl remover 2.0 on a foam buffer pad in your drill

[James Morehead]

James,
I was speaking of the finish on the wood part of the bottom side, stellar job on the polishing you did. Looks familiar,but I hesitate to say.

Bill

Hey Bill, Try Mother's on the worst spots----it will clean the crud off the paint and not harm it. It will lift the grease and oil. I use a mild degreasing dish soap on a damp dish clothe for the rest, and follow up right away with a dry clothe. Cleans the underside right up.

Something better than Mothers on the underside flocking/paint--try Orange Hand Cleaner. Buy it at any auto parts house or WalMart.

[James Morehead]

I have these replacement handles, for anyone who has a fingertip/perms that have lost or broken ones.

[Brian LeBlanc]

WHERE DO I GET ONE A THOSE 10-INCH LEVERS !

[John Billings]

Sorry Brian! A 10" lever is strictly hereditary!

[James Morehead]

Here's my Fingertip I aquired this last summer. The keyheads lead me to believe it's a '63. Notice the 1/4" rope inlay on Brazilian rosewood. Can't say I've had a sweeter guitar--karisma, tone, and playability. As soon as I catch up on all the 'bud projects I have going on, I'll refurbish my own. Currently, the "petina" is just fine. I did put on 4 knee levers to go with the 9 floor pedals, to make it playable. I don't have to tell you, this guitar played through my Vibrosonic is a tone-rush deluxe!!

[James Morehead]

Also, Here's some pictures of the case. Is this a typical case for permanets and fingertips? Way cool case!!

[John Billings]

Ah James!
I didn't know you'd gotten another one! Appears to be a "first run" like mine, although there appears to be some dispute as to which year that first run was. Ricky once told me '64/'65. But offset 5th and 6th tuners, ball end rollers,, yup! This 'un looks a lot like mine!



Different trim though.


We're gonna have to talk about knee levers.
Keep gettin' better Buddy!
JB

[James Morehead]

Hey John, Here's all I know--from Duane Beckers material:
2) THE FINGERTIP
Around 1963, production started on the Sho-Bud Fingertip. This model was unique because unlike the Permanent, it was possible to change the pedal setup. It was nicknamed the Universal for this reason, and was basically the start of the all-pull undercarriage system. The Fingertip got its name from the fact that you could tune the pedal raises or lowers with your fingertips. On the end of the changer, slotted, finger turntable screws for each of the strings was used to tune the pedals. The changer was designed in such a way that you could raise and lower the same string if so desired. Additional raises or lowers of the same string had to be adjusted in the undercarriage. Although the setup was easy to change, the guitar was very sensitive. It had to be setup and adjusted perfectly in order to stay in tune. Constant adjustment was pretty much a given. But once it was adjusted correctly, it played and sounded great. It had a wonderful tone. Generally, the Fingertip was standard with one, and then later, two knee levers. In 1964, the Jackson family moved the Sho-Bud company to lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. A full service music store featuring Sho-Bud pedal steels and products was offered. Fingertips and Permanents were built and assembled at this store on lower Broadway. The generally accepted era for the Fingertip was from 1963 to around 1967 or possibly later. Suggested prices for these Fingertips during their production run varied from eight to twelve string; single,double, or triple neck. The type of wood and finish, plus any wood inlay work also affected the price. As the Permanent, the Fingertip was considered a custom pedal steel. But for an example, a double-10 listed at $620 and $50 for each additional pedal or knee lever

[John Billings]

Same case as mine. But my Perm case is different.

[John Billings]

Yeah. I had been doing my dating from Duane's site too, and was pretty surprised when Ricky told me my guitar was "First run, 1965." By '66, they were into the early models of the Crossover model. Rick Abbot has the oldest one I've ever seen. Strangest changer on that guitar! By '67 R & B were the standard, although they still made pretty much whatever one wanted.

[James Morehead]

Ricky sure might have his reasons, depending on his sources and the reasons WHY he feels that way---alot of time has passed. So it's down to shobud forensics. So we can just go on what is documented. Dating these old guitars is pretty difficult, when you consider the memory of those that were back there, as aging takes it's toll--thats half the fun of these old guitars--trying to figure out the history behind them. The beauty is playing these old classics and submersing oneself in tone euphoria.

[John Billings]

Some people say they're too noisy, but once you turn your amp on, all you here is the glorious sound of these Classic guitars!

[James Morehead]

Slip a little strip of foam through the pullrods, and it's quiet as a dead church mouse. At least mine is.

Glorious is a pretty good way to describe the tone.

[John Billings]

Mine is a bit noisier, because I've got those "flat back" bell cranks. You can hear a little click from the collars. I know how I'm gonna fix/upgrade that though.

[Jay Yuskaitis]

No mater what, I'll never get over the sound of the "early ShoBuds" Call them "raw","exacting", "exciting", "wonderful" or whatever you may think fits in! Guess I'll never stop living in the past, "from 1955 til 1962". My wife tells me, "I have one foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel". Jay Y.

[Bob Muller]

Here are a few shots of my restored fingertip project. I have restored the guitar, the amplifier, and no other accessories for this guitar.



This guitar plays very well through the Compactra amplifier, and produces very nice vintage sound.

[James Morehead]

Bob, the white fret boards are awesome, and the gold tuners are sweet.

[James Morehead]

Ah James!
I didn't know you'd gotten another one! Appears to be a "first run" like mine, although there appears to be some dispute as to which year that first run was. Ricky once told me '64/'65. But offset 5th and 6th tuners, ball end rollers,, yup! This 'un looks a lot like mine!

Hey JohnBuddy, Do you have a picture of the changer on this guitar?

[John Billings]

Fur Shure James! Is this what you want? Or a different angle?

[John Billings]