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Post new topic Shobud Keyhead--possibly first Shobud rollers???
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Author Topic:  Shobud Keyhead--possibly first Shobud rollers???
James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 21 May 2014 4:59 pm    
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I have acquired a VERY early Shobud keyhead with string ball end rollers. Notice the closed top. This keyhead's dimensions are nearly identical to my '59 Perm, which has only string grooves. Also, this unique keyhead uses 1/4-20 mounting screws to mount to the cabinet. I have never seen one this primitive before. Likely a very first run. Check out the pics:














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Ken Campbell

 

From:
Ferndale, Montana
Post  Posted 21 May 2014 5:11 pm    
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Cool! Nice Score James!
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J R Rose

 

From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 21 May 2014 6:32 pm    
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Good Fine James. I like it. J.R.
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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 4:44 am    
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Drilling a straight hole for that axle must have been a real challenge! Confused Are there two axles?
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Jason Putnam


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 5:10 am    
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That is cool. I've heard of them but never actually seen one. Look how much difference there is in the thickness of the metal between each string roller. Almost looks like it was cut by hand!!
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 5:23 am    
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Jerry, mightn't they have drilled before they cut the slots?
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects


Last edited by Lane Gray on 22 May 2014 5:38 am; edited 1 time in total
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Sonny Jenkins


From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 5:29 am    
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I think they WERE cut by hand???? Don't look milled!
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James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 5:56 am    
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Here's a couple more pics. Jerry, that's a good question. And Jason, you have a good eye. I did slide the axle out and it is one piece. Good comments, fellas, keep 'em coming.










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"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 6:03 am    
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Crude,,,, even by Shobud standards! Hacksawed?
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Greg Cutshaw


From:
Corry, PA, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 6:27 am    
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Like everything else about Sho-Bud, from the logo to the cabinets, everything just has a charismatic shape to it. So much personality and artistic sense and so timeless even if crude when viewed up close.
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Jason Putnam


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 6:39 am    
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Slots definitely cut with a metal blade. Theres also a lot of pits in the aluminum casting which probably indicates they were practicing getting it right. Its awesome to see where someone started an idea and hand crafted it. To see what its turned into today is cool. Who knows, that could be the very first one that was completed!! How cool would that be!
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James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 6:58 am    
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The craftsmanship is pretty amazing, considering the tools and technology back in that day. I'm glad they hung in there and gave the world some awesome steel guitars.
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"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 7:07 am    
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I wonder if Buddy would remember this? He might still have been there when this was made.
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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 7:09 am    
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Here's another example from the forum and notice that the axle slot does not exit the the ends of the key head.



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Jerry Jones
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 7:12 am    
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Jerry,
The earliest run of Fingertips had the 5th and 6th tuners offset like that. That's probably a '63 key head. James' key head looks to have started it's life as a Perm casting.
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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 7:15 am    
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I guess my observation had to do with the use of string balls for rollers in early Buds and how they were designed.
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Jerry Jones
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Jason Putnam


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2014 7:17 am    
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The rollers are also evenly spaced in the second picture. Id say the first one was a prototype maybe?
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Phillip Ogle

 

From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2014 3:31 am     sho bud key head
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Sonny is exactly right. The key head rollers are hand cut. This key head came off an old homemade guitar that I salvaged for parts. An old steel guitar enthusiest built an old guitar that was made from just any parts that he could acquire. He told me that the rollers were put in by him. His name is Ray Hall. Hope I didn't burst anyones bubble. James bought the key head and changer housing from me a couple weeks ago.
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James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 23 May 2014 4:55 pm    
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That explains alot. That keyhead he aquired is identical to my '59 Perm keyhead. Thus the mystery is solved. Thankyou Philip! Cool
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"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 29 May 2014 3:29 pm    
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John Billings wrote:
Crude,,,, even by Shobud standards! Hacksawed?
Good eye, John!

There are definitely hacksaw kerfs there, and the fact that the slots are uneven and not perpendicular guarantees that was a "hand job". How can we tell that this was done by Sho~Bud, and not just by some "unskilled owner" of an old part?
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Dennis Detweiler


From:
Solon, Iowa, US
Post  Posted 29 May 2014 4:53 pm    
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Maybe Buddy sawed for hours on that one? Whoa!
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1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.
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