Looking for info on Pete Drake's Sho-Bud "Goldie"

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

I am researching Pete Drake's career and am looking for any info his Sho-Bud guitar he called "Goldie." About all I know is it was a "Crossover" model and he had it gold plated because he was using it on so many gold records. Any info will be helpful.

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

I thought I saw A STEEL THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY OWNED BY PETE DRAKE on display at an ET Record shop years back sporting "what appeared to be" something like a Marrs/Surratt undercarriage. (Thought it odd that it was double raise/double lower, could've been triple but I honestly don't remember).
Edited as I SAW WHAT IS SAW. Confused

Happy trails.

Jamie Lennon · From: Nashville, TN

I think its still in the ET record shop....you can ask Dave McCormack about it. He owns the shop
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Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

It was there, under glass, along with his footwear, in April of 2009.
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Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

I'm no expert on Old Goldie, but it's my understanding that there was more than one.
The first was the one with Pete's name in leather on the apron (the leather covered "Buddie Emmons"), then there was the Crossover, and then the Professional, which sits under glass in the record store.
No doubt there were a few more. I'd like to know the definitive story, myself. I've always been a fan of Pete Drake...got to meet him once.

The first...

the Crossover

The Professional

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

robert,

Maybe contact Rose here: http://www.petedrakemusic.com/
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Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I believe Dan Dugmore owns one of them. There was more than one.

John LeMaster · From: North Florida

The guitar in the photo of the album cover below appears to have been painted or finished in gold:

Can't tell if this is the same one shown on the Guitar Player cover or not.

John L.
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robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Thanks for all your replies and photos.

I didn't ask my question very clearly. I'm referring to the Sho-Bud Crossover on the cover of "Guitar Player Magazine" in Skip Edwards' post and pictured also in John LeMaster's post. I'm looking for technical info, stories and recording info (hits played on) about this guitar as a historical instrument important in the history of country music. I'm not trying to locate the guitar.

I have some information but would also like the point of view of musicians who would have first (or second hand knowledge) of Pete Drake's career with this particular guitar.

Sorry for my lack of detail and thanks again for all your replies. Appreciate any info.

Franklin · Posted 20 Nov 2010 5:45 pm

There was only one guitar that Pete called "Old Goldie".......Its the crossover pictured on the cover of Guitar Player magazine.........Pete was given several Professionals and he never played any of them on a session....He did not like the way they sounded compared to "Goldie"...I actually hand delivered the Blue professional to him and most of them were stored underneath the acoustic piano at his studio, "Pete's Place".......His daughters ended up with the blue professional........While Pete was still with us he would not let anyone but Dad work on "Goldie".....Sho-Bud really wanted Pete playing a current model but they were never able to get him away from "Old Goldie"......John Drake continued many years after Dad was no longer at Sho-Bud to bring "Goldie" over to Dad for any adjustments it needed and then back it went to the studio.......After Pete's Death some of the many steels he owned but never played got sold and any conversions of "Old Goldie" if that ever happened would not have come from Pete......He was adamant about keeping "Old Goldie" in tact.............The steel's pictured on the fronts of his LP's were the ones he actually played........."Old Goldie" had gold plated everything and was a gift from Shot to Pete......Pete was not only in love with its sound in the studio, he loved the thought behind the gift from Shot........Paul

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

In a TV show where a man visits Nashville and my friend Michelle Poe tries to teach him how to love country music, there's a scene where they are in Ernest Tubb's Record Shop and Goldie is seen. I've actually seen "Goldie" up close at the record shop and it still looks amazing, like it did when Pete played it.
Brett

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Thanks, Paul. It's good to hear the real story.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Maybe Douglas Green (Riders in the Sky), who wrote the Guitar Player interview, could help you out.

Good story, Paul. Very Happy

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Andrew Roblin · From: Various places

Great Sho-Bud lore, brothers!

How beautiful it is to hear from Paul Franklin about the care Pete took with Old Goldie: None but the great Paul Franklin Sr. for Goldie. And it's beautiful to read about Pete's love for Shot's gift. Can you tell us more about how the gift happened, Paul?

I'll bet Pete's feelings about the instrument and his friendship with Shot and Paul Franklin Sr. inspired him to bring out the best in Goldie.

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Franklin · Posted 22 Nov 2010 4:02 am

Brett,

If the guitar in the case in the photo above is the one at ET's record shop it is not "Old Goldie"......."Old Goldie" had 6 pedals on it.....It was a crossover model with an ash tray on the back......The one in that photo is a professional model........

Paul

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Off the Old Goldie trail: I'm pretty sure the one with Buddie Emmons on the front is on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Dan

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I was in N'ville two weeks ago, saw Paul with the TJs and saw Pete's PSG at ET's Shop, in the Plexiglas case.

An English couple was asking about it, and I explained the basics.

It didn't have any gold on it. I would have noticed that.

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Thanks very much for everybody's replies and photos. Thanks, Paul Franklin, for the great story about “Old Goldie,” Pete, Shot and Paul Sr. Thanks, Cal Sharp, for reprinting the Sept 1973 Guitar Player Magazine (w/ Pete Drake cover/interview) on your website. The Forum continues to be an invaluable resource for steel guitar and country music research.

Here’s Pete & “Old Goldie” from 1980 on John Anderson’s “She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtFol29xEFI

Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

Is it possible that the "old Goldie" with Buddy's name on it is also the same guitar that Buddy used on the Nightlife album??

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

***I have edited this post with Jussi Huhtakangas’ observation that the “Night Life” guitar is a “Permanent” not a “Fingertip.” Thanks Jussi. I also added some info***

Jim Park, I had the same question. The sessions that produced the "Night Life" album took place on Feb 22-24-25, 1963 at the Columbia studios. Here is the "Night Life" guitar - a Sho-Bud "Permanent":

Photo is from buddyemmons.com

It’s also very possible the “Night Life “ guitar is the same guitar Buddy used to record Ray Price’s “You Took Her Off My Hands.” “You Took Her Off My Hands” is the first recording Buddy used the F# & Eb “Chromatic” strings on. “You Took Her Off My Hands” was recorded Sept 22, 1962 and “Night Life” February 22, 1963. (only 4 months apart) Those dates are close enough to be the same guitar. *Footnote: When Emmons recorded “You Took Her Off My Hands” he had the F# & Eb strings at the ninth and tenth string slots and hit them with his thumb. Later, he moved them to the first and second slots.

Please note: "Old Goldie" is a Sho-Bud Crossover and the "Pete Drake"/"Buddie Emmons" guitar is a Sho-Bud Permanent. The "Night Life" guitar is also a "Permanent."

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Franklin · Posted 24 Nov 2010 6:31 am

For historical purposes its important to know there never was versions of "Goldie"..............Pete only named one guitar "Old Goldie" and its the only guitar he recorded with from the late 60's until he retired in the late 80's due to his battle with leukemia.......Paul

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

What a great place the Steel Guitar Forum is!

Where else could you find info on players of the past from folks who were THERE? I would bet that there's no more than a handful of folks who know the REAL STORY of this historic guitar and we were fortunate enough to hear it from the kid who used to sweep the studio. Smile

Steel guitar has grown from a world where (I've heard it said) pros would go so far as detune their guitar on breaks so that nobody could steal their tuning to the kind of open discourse that Paul Franklin and others on this Forum have displayed. Whether it's historical events, mechanics, or musical ideas, Paul unselfishly shares his experiences with us. We are blessed.

Truly a wonderful source of info from those who lived it. We can't all sit on the sofa for a few hours visiting with Paul with a glass of tea and ask whatever is on our mind, but the Forum gives us the next best thing.

Thanks b0b -- we could NEVER repay you what it's worth (but I'm sure he wouldn't turn down a donation)
Laughing

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Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

Thanks all for the replies and info, and especially to Paul for taking the time to get involved in this thread and give us information that is so very difficult to find. and to Robert, sorry if I hijacked your thread......... but this is REALLY COOL!!!! I think a Sho~Bud study session for me is in order here.............lol

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