Sho-Bud Pro I dilemma

[T. C. Furlong]

Attn: Sho-Bud gurus


I have a dilemma. I am probably going to put this up for sale but before I do, I’m wondering if I should have two knee levers added by a pro. It’s a very, and I mean very clean, original Pro-1. In the world of vintage underarm guitars, it’s mortal sin and a mistake to alter an all original guitar in any way. I don’t think that’s true in pedal steel guitars. What do you think?

[Dana Blodgett]

I’m not a guru but…Go for it, do what you want! I have A ‘73 SB and had two knee levers added to give me 3&4 Emmons set up E’s on the left 1&7 raise and 2&9 lower on right.
I’d be very hesitant to alter any of my other 6 strings though.

[Wayne Brown]

PM sent
Thanks
wayne

[Doug Earnest]

I would sell it as is.

Not because adding parts will detract from the originality since like you I don't believe that is much of a factor in pedal steels. By the time you come up with the right parts and go to the trouble of nicely installing them you might be lucky to recover that investment.

Now if you just want to upgrade it because you enjoy messing with it that's something else entirely!

Thanks for all you do for the PSG community.

[Brett Hansen]

If you find a source for parts please let me know. I have a 78 Pro II I want to add rkr and lkr but can't find the parts. I called the usual go to people.

[Barry Coker]

These might be something you could use.








Barry

[Paul Wade]

Barry is your man for parts. Does great work

P.w

[Barry Coker]

Thanks Paul

[Jim Palenscar]

What Doug said.

[Rick Kornacker]

Hey T.C! Saw your post...thought I'd say hey. Sounds as if you have a dilemma of originality vs. practicality. The guitar is good to go as she is original and a nice specimen. Adding the two knees using original styled parts will just make it "mo better"! I'm sure some Pro 1's were ordered with extras from the factory. I had a Pro 1(same walnut finish). It was my first real pro guitar after my " toy steel", a Maverick(haha!). It was enough to get me hooked and led to you becoming a good friend over the years. I ordered two knee lever kits from Duane and I installed them myself at Bobill Music before moving to Nashville. Hope you have been well. Regards,RK

[Ron Funk]

Hi T.C. -

"Do it"

After also starting on a "Maverick," I ordered my first 'real' steel in 1977 through George "Spibb" Woodard in Springfield, IL.
It was a red "Sho-Bud Pro 1" & arrived with two knees on its right leg, just as the one you have pictured.

"Spibb" added two more Sho-Bud knee levers and also reconfigured the Pro-1's knee lever set-up to a standard Emmons 3 + 4 set-up.

Then in 1979, I traded it back into Spibb for my first Emmons D10 PP .....Rosewood ('gotta be like Buddy') which I still have.

And the rest is history.......

Take best care TC -

Ron

[Bob Carlucci]

I dunno,, If I were in your position, I would sell as is... Yes, you will get more with 4 levers, but not sure its worth the hassle.. I think its a break even either way.. Take a little less and sell as is, or pay for the levers and pull parts and get a little more.. Its not usually worth spending money to increase value on many things I have found. In my experience, you basically get just enough more to cover what you spent "increasing the value"..bob

[Tony Prior]

Sell as is. This is a late 70's early 80's Sho Bud, probably 4th or 5th generation. Parts are available for those who may want to add a lever or two. Let them do it !

Should you decide to do it, adding levers to this instrument would be an upgrade and would not upset the Apple Cart !

Best

tp

[Dave Hopping]

Yup. Pedal steel guitars are generally viewed as instruments you'll be using onstage and in studio to make music and earn money with.

Six-strings are generally viewed as instruments that look like the ones Dad (or Grand-Dad) used onstage and in studio "back in the day" to make music and earn money with.