Sho Bud 7 String Resonator

[David Rauen]

I am helping a friend with her Aunt's estate. This guitar has original case, sales receipt, stool and catalog. The initials in the headstock match the buyer's name on the receipt. Is it true less than a dozen of these were made as customs by Shot? I am trying to determine the value.
best regards,
David

[Mark van Allen]

Stool?

[Mark van Allen]

[Jay Fagerlie]

I think it's "tool"

[Tom Snook]

It quite possibly could be a stool,many Dobro players are avid dog lovers.

[Brad Bechtel]

Here's some information on Sho-Bud resonator guitars. There's currently a similar guitar on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $1,350, but I think personally that's way too high.

Here's one that sold recently for $400 on eBay, and here's another that sold for $543.

They're not considered particularly collectible, as they have a much more mellow sound than most resonator guitar players want.

[John Billings]

I had a 6-string. It didn't sound very good. Very mellow, no bark.

[David Rauen]

Stool?

There is a sho-bud stool w/ storage underneath that will sell with guitar.

[Doug Beaumier]

...a Sho-Bud pac-a-seat. (stool)

Regarding the Sho-Bud dobro... I had one about 25 years ago and it didn't have much volume or tone. As John said, very mellow, no bark. A nice looking instrument, but not very highly regarded, sorry to say.

IMO the Sho-Bud seat should be sold separately. That seat is of more value to a pedal steel guitarist. It was designed to go with the Sho-Bud pedal steel, although a dobro player could certainly use it to sit on...

Is it true less than a dozen of these were made as customs by Shot?

Probably not. I've seen three Sho-Bud dobros up here in New England with the owners name or initials on them (in the past 30 years).

[David Rauen]

Here's some information on Sho-Bud resonator guitars. There's currently a similar guitar on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $1,350, but I think personally that's way too high.

Here's one that sold recently for $400 on eBay, and here's another that sold for $543.

They're not considered particularly collectible, as they have a much more mellow sound than most resonator guitar players want.

There are no Gretsch markings anywhere, the invoice is from Sho-Bud, Nashville, TN.

[Al Terhune]

David, it does look like yours is a Sho Bud, not ShoBro. As pointed out in the link, the ShoBuds handcrafted by Shot sound much better than the Gretsch guitars. I have one - an 8-stringer - made by Shot. What would make "yours" more valuable is if it is signed by Shot inside like mine is - and dated. You'll have to take out the cone, but that's not a big deal. Good luck!

[John Billings]

Al.
I agree. When I had mine, I knew nothing about setting it up. It might have sounded much better if it were set up by a pro.

[David Rauen]

David, it does look like yours is a Sho Bud, not ShoBro. As pointed out in the link, the ShoBuds handcrafted by Shot sound much better than the Gretsch guitars. I have one - an 8-stringer - made by Shot. What would make "yours" more valuable is if it is signed by Shot inside like mine is - and dated. You'll have to take out the cone, but that's not a big deal. Good luck!

I did not see a signature! The thing is built like a truck. One question: What about having an aluminum bridge milled to fit in place of the mahogany? Would that increase the "bite"?
best,
David

[chris ivey]

assuming the bridge pieces are like on any spider type dobro, there are options for bridge material. lots of dobro players use ebony capped maple. i would experiment with whatever you want in your case to brighten it up. maybe even brass.
mahogany would be kind of dull i would think.

[Bill Mollenhauer]

I made a bridge insert for the trebel side of a 6 string dobro from a piece of 1/8" aluminum and jammed a piece of thin aluminum sheet against it to make it tight in the slot. String slots were cut with a utility knife and a very thin screwdriver.

I am very pleased with the bright sound from it. I play a lot past the 12th fret and past the fretboard end and think it has more sustain and is brighter than my other dobros. Could all be in my imagination though.

[basilh]

Is there anyway to determine the date of my Sho-Bro Hawaiian 7 string. It has NOT got an internal sound chamber just support posts (Dowels)
Model # 7710 serial # 7.6047