ShoBud: Problems mounting large strings

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I like beefy bottom strings. I use a 079 and 058 (the GeorgeL 'Buddy Emmons Tension Balanced' set also uses these strings) for the bottom 2 strings of my U-12 guitars. Even with a roll pin mounting on my Emmons and Fessenden guitars, the 079 can be tricky but it can be done. The slot in the ShoBud finger isn't wide enough to accommodate the compound wound GeorgeL 079s and even a 068 is difficult to mount.

Other than completely replacing the changer with one of John's, does anyone have a solution?

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I had a universal tuning on my old ShoBud S-12 for many years and on the low B string (12th) I just took a large pair of pliers and squeezed the string right in front of the ball and flattened it out so it would slip into the slot. This worked very well and I never lost any tone doing this or never broke one of the strings.....JH in Va.

------------------
It's all on 12, who needs 20!

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 19 July 2005 at 10:52 AM.]

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Very Good advice Jerry just gave(actually that's really the only way to do it); and that's exactly what I do when I encounter that particular finger on the Sho-bud.
However....>Those fingers are Way more inferior than just that....>so I say RIP them pieces of crap out of there..and put the Super Fingers in....
That is the single best thing anyone can do for their Sho-bud and expense is NOT an issue compared to the amount of issues one will encounter constantly throughout its playing Life.
Ricky

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

*

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 05 April 2006 at 04:58 AM.]

Neil Lang · From: Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA

I also squeeze the string just by the "ball", I do it by putting it in a vice, but you have to be careful, you can over do it!
Neil

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

You can clean the large string by loosening it verry loose, put a news paper under it, pour lighter fluid on it and then pop the string, the crap will fly off of it and it will be like new, wait till you see what flys off that thing, but it will be clean and sound good.

ernie

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Another squeezer here. ALso bending the loop slightly inward.

A Leatherman small blade screwdriver narrowed slightly it just the tool.

Push the ball down with it until it slips off leaving the blade wedged slightly against the finger slot.

Tighten the string slowly or jerk it into the slot before you do if you want.

This is on 68s.

I also unwound the ends and re inserted the end through the space like before. Never had one "unwind".

I'm really tempted myself to use a larger bass string, and now I have the Professional pegged fingers.

EJL

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

I got the same problem with my U-12 Williams
[9-10 yrs old]. This model has the same slot design as Sho-Bud.

I've gone the vice route as well; and taking a large pair of needle-nosed pliers and forced a curve above the ball. I also use a small flat screwdriver that the blade will fit into the slot. I use it to "force" the string into it's place and HOLD it there while I start to tighten. It works most of the time, but it's not fullproof.

It's my one big beef about the Williams. I don't know why both builders just didn't make a larger slot for the 12th string and compensate by making narrower slots, say, for the 3rd and 4th strings.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I don't think you would have the problem with the Williams anymore because of the new design of the changer. Bill has also decreased the "angle of the dangle" to about 30 degrees which makes changing strings a lot easier.

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 20 July 2005 at 07:52 AM.]

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Thanks for all the responses, guys

I'll just have to avoid the compound wound strings. They're 'double wound' (like the GeorgeL 079 I use on my other guitars) and can't be compressed enough to get through the notch.

Thanks again -- what a great crew.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Erv, I'm well aware of the newer Williams with all their great improves.

But I still have an earlier, troublesome,
pedal steel.

I never mentioned or complained to Bill Rudolph about this. Since I was a previous
Sho-Bud Pro III owner, the 12th string locking-in dismay I found with the Williams, came as no surprise.

At 58, I've actually learned that grousing over this-and-that-pick-i-une stuff is a waste of time. Live with it. That's what I do.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: