Hey guys, i'm not really sure if this is the right place to post it but i'm sure someone will tell me otherwise if it's not, this is my first post after all, anyway!
I've been left in the possession of two pedal steel guitars from my dad, and being an electric guitar player myself i don't really have any idea about either of them, apart from one is zb custom and the other is sho bud, i've been asking around but not many people seem to know, so i'm hoping i can try my luck here! I'll post the pictures from my google drive below and hopefully someone can tell me all the information they can about them,
The ZB is an old student model prolly 3 pedals 1 knee, not worth mush. The Bud is a total basket case, cable pull model, mite be good for parts. Maybe James Moorehead will take a look ,he mite want it for parts. My first psg was a ZB student just like that ,not the worst student model ,but not the best either...Stormy
That shobud is a permanent model. The lack of "gumby" style keyheads suggest it was built late mid 1970's or later? I'm no expert..maybe they'll chime in.
So the ZB isn't worth mush, and the shobud is mental? haha i'm not understanding this here! i just want to know what the actual models are called and a rough estimation of value maybe? haha i feel like such a nooby haha thank you anyway guys! I do really appreciate it
Permanents were/are the first generation of shobuds produced. Followed by the fingertip, professional....etc. They are known for tone and are great machines/instruments. Do a search on them and read it. You will find some fans and lotsa valuable info!
like i said, nooby here, undercarriage is just literally the underneath and the bridge is the 'fretboard' (being a guitarist idk what else to call it haha)
The end where the ball ends of the strings attach, is the changer. The fretboard has the "card faces". Keyheads hold the tuners. Cross shafts run perpendicular to the strings underneath the cabinet(wood body). On them is a bellcrank that the pull rod connects to from a finger(individual piece on changer). Pedals connect to a rod that will likely attach to the cross shaft. When the floor pedal is engaged, it pulls a pedal rod turning the bellcrank, pushing/pulling a pullrod, pushing/pulling the finger either releasing or tightening tension on the guitar string(s) and effectively changing pitch. Kind of like a floating tremelo/whammy bar does on a six string.
Thomas, I've only been playing about a year. Again, I'm no expert. I've never seen a shobud changer quite like that. Their is a lot of parts that seem to have been removed from underneath.
It would appear that your father either rescued or was going to rebuild or possibly part this guitar out? The wood body(cabinet) is very similar to a shobud perm. However the changer looks different from any I've seen. You might actually have an other than shobud here...many similarities and more differences. Learn everything you can...and go from there. It is going to be a lot of work, even for an experienced builder/restorer. Might make a good non-pedal steel, but it's a ways from being a playable pedal steel.
Unless you are an extreme tinkerer, that ZB student model may be more realistic to play as a pedal steel(if in fact it's all there). Take some more pics, you might get more help or suggestions. Good luck!
Thank you Damir, I was getting doubtful myself. That is an ideal perm. you've been able to provide along with some valuable info.
Thomas, Damir is a much better source than I for info...I'm sure he has seen many more shobuds than I! (so is Stormy, for that matter)
Edward Rhea wrote:Thank you Damir, I was getting doubtful myself. That is an ideal perm. you've been able to provide along with some valuable info.
Thomas, Damir is a much better source than I for info...I'm sure he has seen many more shobuds than I! (so is Stormy, for that matter)
Edward, you are welcome, I was lucky enough to own many Sho~Bud guitars, but never a permanent , and I am by no means a Sho~Bud expert, would love to have a nice finger tip or a permanent one day, and restore it completely , those guitars are not of a modern design, but they have better tone than any of the modern guitars ....IMHO
Thomas, I see that you are in the United Kingdom. There are some expert players from the UK that frequent this forum, so perhaps one of them will see your request and chime in. I have no idea myself, but would suggest the possibility that one or both guitars may be of English manufacture?
Damir, I to would love to own a perm. or a fingertip one day. I couldn't agree more about the tone they produce. I've had the pleasure of "picking on" each, and they are the bomb! Someday....
this is my baby, push pull on steroids,but I would love to get another FT or maybe a permanent one day....don't care much about the modern stuff..I guess you can call me a dinosaur lol
Ah thank you for all the information guys! I'm hoping any one from the United Kingdom can help me out as well haha, possibly come and actually take a look at them, what do you guys think i should do then? My plan is to sell them but as far as I'm concerned i don't know what to label as one of them isn't even a sho bud now! haha but yeah thank you again
Label as "unknown manufacturer" is one option. Definitely get'em to someone who can more accurately assess their condition and marketable traits and go from there. Don't be afraid to get detailed photos(some you already have) and post here on the forum. Look in the for sale section to get various ideas on angles and photos you can replicate to inform those who may be interested. Good photos speak volumes. Also I feel that the forum has a concentrated market for potential buyers for such items, so don't be intimidated to post here "for sale." There's almost always a "project seeker" hiding in a dark undisturbed corner! If no one bites, offer/consider disasembling it and parting it out in pieces? Good luck my friend
Thank you for your help! I honestly appreciate so much, i will do that as soon as i'm home as i have to go out in a sec haha, i think i'll put the student model up and hopefully try shifting that as soon as i can, i might hold off on the 'sho-bud' until i get more info on it
edward....you're sounding like someone who thinks he's an expert...but you don't know what's what really. to say that the 'sho-bud' was probably made in the 70's is ridiculous. spreading misinformation is not a good thing....especially to new players who are gullible enough to believe you.
Last edited by Bob Knight on 26 Apr 2014 8:29 am, edited 3 times in total.
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The ZB Student seems to be all there, albeit with a broken return spring on the 3rd finger.
It appears to be 3 pedals, 5 levers, although they're not all connected up to the changer.
If its anything like my old ZB Student (long gone, now) it will have terrible cabinet drop, to the point where it is unbearably out of tune with a pedal pressed.
Value is difficult, they fetch at least three times what I would pay for them on ebay, so ebay's the place to go.
I don't even know what the other steel is, it seems to be a complete basket case.
Chris, you are absolutely right! I was in the same spot a year ago...knew nothing about what I had...still clueless. For the record; It's not my intention to persuade, elude, or misinform anyone, especially a new steeler. If I'm out of line, or have done any of the following, I apologize, now, to him & anyone else affected by any comments, suggestions and/or misleading info I have presented. Now, I'll graciously bow out, and leave it to you
haha thank you anyway guys! I do really appreciate it
