Sho-Bud Serial Numbers

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 8 Mar 2021 1:06 pm

Jon, that would put it at about Feb 5th, 1977.
I don't have any other info other than what you posted.

Michael

Jon Irsik · Post by **Jon Irsik** » 8 Mar 2021 1:07 pm

Thank you, Michael!

Andrew Szumowski · Post by **Andrew Szumowski** » 26 Apr 2021 9:25 am

Hello everybody! I have a (mostly two-toned) Gretsch-era D10 Sho-Bud serial #13536 (stamped on wood and on metal inside, and the metal ser # stamp is located just above wood ser # stamp on the undercarriage side). Rocking a somewhat standard 8 pedals and 5 levers. No model name, but the Sho-Bud (Nashville) brand sticker is intact and under the clear lacquer. I need some help identifying exactly what I have here. Mystery pickups, too. Head scratcher for sure, but beautiful with no neck inlays, and this wild triple-wood/mother of pearl inlay job on the front. What do I have here??

I've heard from Ricky who guessed that it's a '78 Pro II Custom with a custom or re-done front apron, Rusty Rhoads thinks it's either a Faux-Bud or an early 80s Arkansas-built Pro III custom, and I've heard some folks opin that it might be a two-toned Super Pro custom built for an artist or someone who never picked it up or installed a nameplate. There's varying evidence for either of the 3 possibilities.

.

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 26 Apr 2021 10:18 am

I would wager that guitar left the factory in '78 as just a plain old generic Pro II, with all the mods and inlay/re-finish work done later. It's not Pro III, which was essentially a Pro II with metal necks. It's not Super Pro, they have completely different body, end plates, etc. It's just a Pro II with some mods. The angle of the curved bouts on the necks where they meet the tailpiece looks a little too flat like they were re-shaped, or perhaps built new. Lots of stray holes on the underside, like they re-positioned all the pedals or something. The teardrop knees look like James Morehead repros, the stock knees would have been the straight cast pot metal jobs. The pickups are interesting, the top plates look sort of ZB-ish. In any case, it looks like a nice rig.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 26 Apr 2021 11:03 am

Yeah I pretty much go with what Ian just said. Dick Miller did a LOT of finishes on Bethels and refinishes on ShoBud and he always seemed to use that same Mother-of-pearl inlay; so I wouldn't put it past a Dick Miller finish for someone that wanted that two-tone color scheme...ha.
And Yes James Morehead made Curved knees that would fit the hex cross shaft knee-mounts...yeehaaa...
I also don't know those pickups...but if Ian said they look like ZB...then they probably are..OH and those are "slick" narrow pedals right?? Those were certainly Pro~II Custom.
That Serial number is August 1978.

Ricky

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 1 May 2021 8:14 am

Hello Mr. Michael Yahl and Shobud gurus, I'm wondering if this '73 D10 is in your database? I'd love to know where it was sold originally. SN 4100 with a very small 4 stamp for some reason. I was told its a '71 and the case has '71 written on it but serial #'s don't lie. I think the seller lost a few years in there..the '70s was a wild time

I just rebuilt the C6 changer and am still setting that neck up. The E9 is playable, but I'll work on that changer next, the C6 was gummed up bad. Original pickups and coil tap works great. Overall seems in very solid shape.

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 1 May 2021 2:50 pm

September 1973

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 1 May 2021 3:37 pm

Thanks Rick. I found that date from the list but was wondering if there's any more info in the company register.

Bruce T Meyer · Post by **Bruce T Meyer** » 20 Jul 2021 4:20 pm

Hey Gene, welcome to the forum as well, I just joined the forum today. I noticed that you are good at serial numbers, I have a Sho-Bud Pro 1 with the serial number 5386 stamped on the underside. Could you tell me when it was built and where is was shipped to? I live in the Detroit Michigan area and bought it at a Guitar Center in Southfield MI around 2005. I look forward to see what you have to say. The sales person at Guitar Center said that it was traded in by a grandson of one of the musicians at Motown.

Bruce T Meyer

Ronnie Myers · Post by **Ronnie Myers** » 23 Jul 2021 8:16 pm

This steel was owned by Cal Freeman said to work for and bought by Ray Price Cal produced Ronnie Dunn,Barbra Mandrell,ZZ Top and many others played on Hay Ride been around i worked with him on sessions and this guitar was given to me i am currently rebuilding it to modern standards hard to get parts Rick McNamara is trying to work me through it what year is this who built it ???thank you

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 24 Jul 2021 6:11 am

Ronnie Myers wrote:This steel was owned by Cal Freeman said to work for and bought by Ray Price Cal produced Ronnie Dunn,Barbra Mandrell,ZZ Top and many others played on Hay Ride been around i worked with him on sessions and this guitar was given to me i am currently rebuilding it to modern standards hard to get parts Rick McNamara is trying to work me through it what year is this who built it ???thank you

October 1972

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 24 Jul 2021 6:38 am

David, yours was built about early July '73.

Ronnie, I have no other info on yours. What model is it, color, pedals, knees, built by tag?

Thanks

Michael

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 24 Jul 2021 10:17 am

Was #14449 Super Pro a 79 model?

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 24 Jul 2021 10:26 am

Gary, yes, about April '79

Michael

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 24 Jul 2021 12:12 pm

Thanks Michael

Bruce Blackburn · Post by **Bruce Blackburn** » 31 Jul 2021 10:47 am

Super Pro SN 14677? Anything on that?

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 1 Aug 2021 6:48 am

Hello Bruce, Yours is the first in the 146XX sequence and I've got nothing. Gene has the actual build records.

I'm gonna say late May of '79

Michael

Mike DiAlesandro · Post by **Mike DiAlesandro** » 29 Aug 2021 6:34 am

The guy I bought this Professional from said he was told that it is a 1975, but by judging from the pickups (2 screws thru top of pickup), I believe it to be an earlier model, like a 1971?

This short thread kinda confirms it, am I off track?

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... 67c3327af4

The main Sho~Bud serial info states that the serial numbers from 7001 to 8109 are lost, but apparently they went out of sequence in the early 70's for some reason.

Thanks!

Nicholas Thomas · Post by **Nicholas Thomas** » 29 Aug 2021 8:07 am

I would say your right on the money, if I were to guess it would be 1970-1971 model guitar.

Todd Snelgrove · Post by **Todd Snelgrove** » 6 Nov 2021 10:37 am

Hi everyone! New member/new player here, and I'm excited to have found such an awesome forum about my new obsession.

I have a Sho-Bud Maverick, serial number 2638. I have gleaned from other posts in this thread that it was made in September of 1972, but if anyone could supply any other details or information about this instrument I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks!

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 10 Nov 2021 11:48 am

Thanks for your response this past july Michael, I just logged back on after months away.

Ross Harrell · Post by **Ross Harrell** » 6 Dec 2021 9:45 am

I just bought this from a small music store in Kentucky. It had been for sale there for 7 months and I just ordered it online, and drove there from Atlanta to pick it up. Its very dirty and heavily gigged. Serial number 7827. The case has "J. DUNN NORMAL IL" stamped on it- it came with the seat, a volume pedal, and a Peavey Session 500. I have a consultation/lesson set up with a real steel player tomorrow to figure out how to get it up and running.

James Polk · Post by **James Polk** » 5 Jan 2022 12:12 pm

David Weisenthal wrote:Hello Mr. Michael Yahl and Shobud gurus, I'm wondering if this '73 D10 is in your database? I'd love to know where it was sold originally. SN 4100 with a very small 4 stamp for some reason. I was told its a '71 and the case has '71 written on it but serial #'s don't lie. I think the seller lost a few years in there..the '70s was a wild time I just rebuilt the C6 changer and am still setting that neck up. The E9 is playable, but I'll work on that changer next, the C6 was gummed up bad. Original pickups and coil tap works great. Overall seems in very solid shape.

I'd love to see more photos of the underside of this! The reverser mechanism looks interesting to say the least. Any insight as to whether that was standard at one point?

Stephen Randall · Post by **Stephen Randall** » 6 Jan 2022 6:48 pm

Hi Sho-Bud fans and gurus... Interested to get any more info on my Sho-Bud S-10 Pro 1, Serial #15023 from 1979. It originally had 3 pedals and 2 levers and was modded with period correct levers by Mike at Steel Guitars Ohio to have 4 levers. Not sure why it has the rope inlay rather than the more standard style but maybe that was the style that month?

Thanks and a Happy New Year!

Alan Struthers · Post by **Alan Struthers** » 8 Jun 2022 2:52 pm

I just bought a Sho-Bud Pro II Custom D10, 8X4, beautiful red finish, serial number 12100. Is there any information available about this guitar?

(FYI, the guitar is undergoing some repairs now. I'll post photos later.)

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