My new 6139 ("Is this a Pro-1 or a Maverick?")

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I'm on the road and found this in a pawn shop today. Thinking about going back tomorrow morning to grab it before we leave town.

It's got a round front, no model on the apron, 3+1, single-raise and -lower, wide pedals, rack and barrel underneath (at least, I think that's what that is).

Can anybody tell me if I'm about to accidentally buy an old Maverick? I'm pretty sure this is a Pro-1 myself. Even if it was an early raised-neck Maverick the price wouldn't be too bad, but if it's a Pro-1, I'm about to get a great deal.

I know there are fellows out there who refurbish old Buds. This one could definitely use a buff on all metal surfaces, and I'd be interested in adding a second KL. Anybody in the know care to throw out some names of some guys who would do this type of work for me? Any Ontarians happen to know if Ed Fulawka would do this type of work?

Pictures to follow. Any input appreciated, thank you.

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Early 70's 6139 model, pre-Pro 1. Nice guitar, needs 3 more levers. Figure that into the total cost, but if you get it for less than 1k, you're doing good. Less than 700 and you're doing REALLY good.
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Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thanks Herb. How difficult do you think it is to convert the Allen key adjustments to nylon rods? Or should I not be altering the guitar? I don't think it's particularly collectible is it?
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Michael Yahl · From: Troy, Texas!

Aaron, to convert to nylon tuning nuts, you'd basically have to replace the entire undercarriage with round cross shafts and 2 hole pulls. that would allow the brass swivels on the 2 hole pulls to lock the rod allowing the use of nylon tuning nuts.

These are actually pretty good setups with rack and barrel, but like Herb said, needs a few more knees.

I'll be working on the rack assemblies in the future but have replacement rods, barrels, and knee levers for these.

That guitar looks to be exceptionally clean and unaltered. Indeed a 6139 Pro I. This was before they began putting the Pro I decal on them.

Reference Herb's pricing, and go for it!
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Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thanks for your comments Michael and Herb. Yes I would definitely like to add at least an E-lower KL, in LKR position, and would love to move the E raise to LKL. Is this a complicated endeavour? I'm somewhat mechanically inclined but have never done this kind of work to a PSG. Michael do you have all the parts that would be necessary?
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Traynor YGM3s w EPS15s

Michael Yahl · From: Troy, Texas!

No, I don't have the rack assemblies at this time. That's a future project and I already have a buch of guys wanting them.

It's possible that someone, such as James Morehead, may have a setup laying around.
_________________
"Don't fergit to kiss yer horse!"
'72 Sho-Bud Professional D10, (in pieces .....), '78 MSA Classic XL D10, '69 Emmons PP, Fender 2000
Peavey Session 500 BW, Crate Digital Modeling Amp

PSG PARTS
http://www.psgparts.com/

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Technically, that is NOT single raise, single lower.
With either 2-hole pullers or racks, those tuning rods could have a barrel at every crossrod on every string.
As far as supporting complex copedents, that system has the greatest flexibility, although you can't control leverage, therefore pull timing.
I'm using two of those rod systems in my MSA U-12 because there are two strings I want to raise 4 times. 1 rod, 4 barrels, problem solved.

Come to think of it, is there any problem using 2-hole pullers when adding levers to a R&B Bud?
It wouldn't be stock, but if it'd work, why not?
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Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Basically unlimited on the raises and lowers, even though the changer has only one up/one down.
Great system...simple, versatile, and bulletproof when adjusted correctly.
I'd leave it as it is, and whatever else you add to it, just use barrels and two-hole pullers. There's no problem there, since both systems used the same changer.
The 6139 is unofficially known as a single neck Professional.

James Morehead and Michael Yahl are your go-to guys for this sort of thing.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

As Michael said, you would need a complete new undercarriage to make the guitar a true Pro-1 with 2-hole pullers, but what MIGHT work (shade-tree style) would be to turn the racks so that the flat side would face the peg heads, then fasten the nylon-type tuning rods with collars snug against the racks. If tuned with the pedals down, the rods MIGHT be snug enough to allow the nylons to do their job. But it wouldn't be the correct fix.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

Thats a nice guitar.Not a maverick I think a 6139 is what this is someone may have already said that though but that is what it looks like.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Hi Arron, I have bushels of racks and barrels(I now make barrels, and offer them at a reasonable price), and Quivers full of stainles steel pullrods with stainless allen heads--not the cheap crimped stuff Shobud commonly used back in the "budget days". And no, a new undercarriage is totally un-neccessary--all you need to do is to add to what you already have. Yes, I can help you upgrade your guitar, as well as help you to understand how to make it play totally QUIET, stay INTUNE, and play like butter. And yes, with rack and barrel.

What you have:
1) About THE number ONE tone monster singleneck Shobud ever created. Great score and an often over looked/underestimated SLEEPER.
2) single/single changer--the best system Shobud ever made, in many's experience.
3) It would be foolish and a huge step backwards to ditch the allen head metal tuners just to use nylon. You would seriously limit this changers ability. Basicly, you would turn your nice guitar into a toy--copedant wise.

Single/single changer NEEDS BARRELS, or you can't make the changes you need, to have a decent functioning copedant. Barrels need either racks OR two-hole pullers with brass rollers--one system or the other. It is difficult to mix both systems.

Yes, I have all the proper knee levers/kits, and provide tech support if you are a do-it your self kind of guy. I have your email, I will shoot you my phone#.
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"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
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James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

And also, be very careful buffing your large metal(endplates, keyheads, changer housing)---it's ultra easy to ruin them--opening thousands of pin holes in those old castings.

But there is a safe way just for the asking--------------

Thankyou to those who are kind enough to mention me, it means much to me. Smile

_________________
"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
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Marc Jenkins · From: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Aaron, James certainly tells it like it is! Same steel I have, and I couldn't be happier.

Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

Who could say no to that wood!!! A round front Blonde Sho~Bud no less!!!!!

Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

Who could say no to that wood!!! A round front Blonde Sho~Bud no less!!!!!

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

James to the rescue! Thanks everybody for your input. I knew it had to be a Pro-1 (or in this case, a pre-Pro 1). The chrome is in pretty rough shape but I still thinki'm getting a great deal. I'll follow up once I've grabbed the thing tomorrow. I'm touring with a phenomenal LDG that is still very new to me and sounds amazing, but in its flight case it is over 70lbs and hence cannot fly commercially. But with another KL or two and a buff job this 6139 looks like a great fly guitar to me.
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Updates from the road on Twitter
Traveling with Daniel Romano and his Trilliums Band
Custom '15 Show-Pro
'76 Sho-Bud LDG
Traynor YGM3s w EPS15s

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

I own two of those babies, and a D-10. They are part of my growing arsenal, and the better I get, the better they sound. James has all the parts you need for them Smile

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--carl

"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Here's an update, I just nailed this thing for $700. It needs some work for sure but is in working order. James I'll be in touch next week when home! Thanks all for your input.
_________________
Updates from the road on Twitter
Traveling with Daniel Romano and his Trilliums Band
Custom '15 Show-Pro
'76 Sho-Bud LDG
Traynor YGM3s w EPS15s

Frank Freniere · From: The First Coast

Great score, Aaron! Guitar looks to be in pretty good shape but James Morehead will bring out the very best in that thing, up top and underneath.

Marc Jenkins · From: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sweet deal indeed!

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Over 50lbs and they charge you for being overweight, over 70lbs and they won't fly it period. At least this is my experience with Air Canada. But I am often flying with them or another Star Alliance carrier.
_________________
Updates from the road on Twitter
Traveling with Daniel Romano and his Trilliums Band
Custom '15 Show-Pro
'76 Sho-Bud LDG
Traynor YGM3s w EPS15s

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

The overweight charges are on top of the excess baggage fees, usually 25 to 50 bucks each. Usually only one piece of luggage can be checked without charge.

I have an S-10 PP that I use for fly-dates with Michael Martin Murphey. I had to get the lightweight legs from Suncoast (Ray Allen) in Nashville to get the guitar under 50lb. But carrying a guitar, a pack-seat, and a suitcase is still $100 each way in excess baggage fees on American, Delta and USAir, for a fact.

Southwest Airlines still allows 2 free bags under 50lb, but for some unexplained reason, the travel agents that work for MMM don't use SWA. Probably has to do with lower commissions or some such thing.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Aaron Goldstein · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Further update. I strung the guitar up in the green room after soundcheck today just to scope it out. I found that the A pedal is raising 5 and 10 a full two-and-a-half steps (!). Weird. Also learned that the KL lowers the E's, doesn't raise. I poked around the rack and barrel system a bit and I'm getting the hang of it. Went to see if I could change the KL to raise the E's instead of lower, but found, strangely, that the C pedal is raising the high E but not the low one. Somebody has really mucked about with this thing. I'm going to try to put it back to standard Emmons when I get home. Can anybody tell me if it's wise to do these adjustments with strings on? Does it matter?

Here's a couple better shots of the undercarriage. Can anybody spot what the copedant is currently?

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