Sho-Bud Resonator Guitar

Clay Powers · Post by **Clay Powers** » 27 Jul 2010 2:07 pm

Anyone out there know about these guitars? I ran across one made by Shot Jackson for Bill Johnson (steel guitar with Marty Robbins). Any information regarding the current market value for this guitar would be appreciated.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Jul 2010 3:01 pm

Conduct a search here on the forum. Enter Sho-Bro and search for all terms button. You can use the default settings for the rest. There have been a few for sale around recently.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 28 Jul 2010 11:53 am

I used to own a Sho~Bro but traded it to Cal Hand for a new Dobro(tm) in 1981. It had a larger lower bout but sounded pretty good.
One I wish I had it back

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 1 Sep 2010 11:37 am

Shot Jackson made about 6 ShoBud resonator guitars in the early 1970s. They were 6, 7 or 8 strings. I have one that is a 7-string.

Don't confuse these with ShoBros.

Ric Nelson

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 1 Sep 2010 1:27 pm

Shot also converted a least one 6-string dobro to 7-string for a customer. I now have it.

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 2 Sep 2010 5:16 am

Andrew:
I am curious as to what indicates that it was converted from a 6-string to a 7-string. He made 7-strings for both ShoBud and ShoBro.

Ric

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 2 Sep 2010 5:46 am

Hi, Ric--

It's not a Sho-Bud or Sho-Bro branded instrument. It has "Dobro" and a vine inlaid on the headstock.

A note from a previous owner says the instrument was "rebuilt" by Shot Jackson. The tuning machines--in an unusual tent-like housing--are the same I saw on many Sho-Bud instruments when I worked there 1979-83.

My best guess is that the instrument was refinished and a new neck and headstock with space for seven strings added at Sho-Bud. There was an inventory of unfinished instrument parts, including necks, in a room off the second-floor workshop.

I'd welcome any new info about this instrument or ones like it. Thanks for starting this discussion, guys.

Andrew
International Sho-Bud Brotherhood
Member #79

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 2 Sep 2010 10:04 am

Andrew:
Thanks for the info. I remember the second floor well and telling Shot that he was a pack rat! It was a also a place where you could get some "refreshments", as I recall.

I saw them redo a Norwood Chime 6-string into a 7-string (made by Regal for Montgomery Ward). It had a larger body and arched back like the ShoBud and ShoBro and a real nice sound. Shot played one on the stage for a while. In fact, the arch back gave Shot the idea to do it for the SboBro when he started making them.

My 7-string ShoBud was a custom for Lloyd Pillow, a gospel singer from Lynchburg, VA. Shot played it on a LP that Lloyd recorded.

The peg head has snapped at least three times (twice by me) since it is very thin where it becomes the neck. For me, it snapped when the guitar fell over from the stand. The last time I wanted a new neck but the shop was too busy so they glued it back with space age glue, which has done the trick.

It still has "L P" on the peg head and was made in 1973.

I got on to it after Lloyd died and Gene Wooten told me it was for sale.

Ric

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 3 Sep 2010 5:07 pm

I haven't seen enough Sho-Bros sell to have an idea of the price these instruments command. But, of course, I do notice that prices for most vintage instruments have fallen from where they were two or three years ago.

Someone is selling what looks like a round-neck Sho-Bro on eBay now.

I paid $750 for my 7-string Dobro--apparently--conversion, done by the great Shot Jackson & company.

I never saw "refreshments" on the second floor.

But late Friday afternoon, Shot would sometimes bring some moonshine in milk jugs into the lounge for his friends. He gave me some, the first shine I ever had. What a great guy.

Andrew Roblin
International Sho-Bud Brotherhood
Member #79

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 5 Sep 2010 5:16 pm

That was also the first time I ever had a slug of it. What a guy!

My 7-string ShoBud cost me $1,200 and was well worth every penny. Great sound. A.J. Nelson did the finishing work on it. A lady did the Mother-Of-Pearl trim; I forgot her name. She didn't work for ShoBud. That trim cost the original owner, Lloyd Pillow, almost as much as the guitar lone.

The ShoBros made by Gretsch (1968-1973)go for less ($500 range) than the Shobros made by ShoBud ($1,000 range)

But the few ShoBud resonators made are now collectors items and are worth far more (sound better as well). Even so, I have played mine in some of the real joints that I am ashamed to admit I've ever been in, much less played in.

Ric

Ric