Trading Emmons D-10 for ShoBud D10. Anyone ever done that?

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 11 May 2015 12:53 pm

Just lock it once it's tuned, just kidding Erv.

I think there is some Locktite that just tightens up a screw but doesn't lock it up and hopefully you could still tune it. I've never even seen a fingertip let alone play one but there must be some remedy to keep the tuning nuts from moving. Hal and LLoyd played one for years and I don't think they would play a guitar that didn't stay in tune, but again, don't know for sure. I've seen a lot of old Wilburn Bros shows where Hal was playing one and it sounded awesome too.

Edward Rhea · Post by **Edward Rhea** » 11 May 2015 1:13 pm

Well, they're bound to have a few issues,those Fingertips...after all, that really was Sho~buds first attempt to an all pull changer. I believe James Morehead has corrected a lot of "issues" the Fingertip had. Perhaps, since he's already been through this particular guitar, it has been corrected?
The two I sat behind, at his place, were superior in tone and played super smooth. I don't remember any tuning problems, from either.
Congrats, on scoring that Fingertip! Looks like a keeper to me.

J. David Carrera · Post by **J. David Carrera** » 11 May 2015 2:53 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:The way it is designed with the "fingertip" nuts on the end of the guitar. Every time you actuate the changer and the acorn nuts bump the end plate, they unscrew a little. It doesn't take long and you're out of tune.
If you've ever owned one, you know what I'm talking about.

Erv Niehaus wrote:How are you going to tune it then? Whoa!

Put Loctite on the acorn nuts but not not the tuning nuts.

I think you made a good trade, I recently made a very similar trade of Mullen for a Fingertip.

I'd say steel guitars will eventually go the way guitars, drums, and synths have all gone years before. Modern instruments aren't valued near as much as old classic instruments with killer tone.

As long as steel guitar is popular people will look back on old videos of guys like Buddy and Lloyd playing old Shobuds and push pulls.

Jake Gathright · Post by **Jake Gathright** » 12 May 2015 8:31 am

Wow!!! I didn't realize this post had blown up so much. Donny Hinson nailed it. I'm very happy with this trade. How many fingertips were made? Only about 100. How many modern Emmons D-10's are there? People are selling and trading them literally every day. Erv, I understand that the modern technology in machinery makes this like comparing a Corvette and a '32 Roadster, but I'm just fine with that. I play the old school way. I play a guitar, a volume pedal, and a tube amp. I don't get into the fancy gadgets and this and that. In my opinion, the steel guitar world is eaten alive with gadgetry.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 8:36 am

Jake,
It would be nice to have one that stayed in tune, though.

Jake Gathright · Post by **Jake Gathright** » 12 May 2015 8:47 am

And for the record, Damir Besic is an absolute pleasure to do business with! Great guy!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 8:54 am

He should be one happy guy!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 8:58 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:The reason it goes out of tune-----poor design!

that is exactly what Bobbe Seymour said to me about '66 bolt on Emmons, that is why he didn't play one either... but even so, I wouldn't use '66 Emmons or Fingertip as an boat anchor ... I just don't have as much money as you do to do that, obviously ...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 9:07 am

Jake Gathright wrote:And for the record, Damir Besic is an absolute pleasure to do business with! Great guy!

thank you my friend, I enjoyed talking to you...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 9:25 am

https://youtu.be/nJQdR0ciwYg

Lloyd playing out of tune on his "boat anchor" ...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 9:45 am

I ordered a new Sho~Bud from Shot Jackson in approx. 1965. He delivered me a new Fingertip. I was playing a program in Littleton, Colorado and I bought every thin string in Denver to try and find one that wouldn't break on the 3rd string along with having to re-tuning between every song. I finally traded it off on a Pro III. Al Udeen was a Sho~Bud rep. and wound up with the guitar. I asked him later if he still had it and he said: "No, I couldn't keep it in tune".
You can argue all you want but that particular model Sho~Bud was a dog!

BTW: If that guitar was so great, it's a wonder Lloyd isn't still playing it.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 9:50 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:You can argue all you want but that particular model Sho~Bud was a dog!

I am so glad we have you Erv, who needs Lloyd Green?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 9:51 am

Who needs Bobbe Seymour when we have you.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 9:54 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Who needs Bobbe Seymour when we have you.

I do, I would love to have Bobbe around, he was a dear friend of mine, and I miss him...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 9:55 am

Bless his heart.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 10:01 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Bless his heart...

I agree 100%

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 10:04 am

Finally, we agree on something.

Jake Gathright · Post by **Jake Gathright** » 12 May 2015 11:02 am

People with a natural ear for pitch don't have so much trouble keeping their guitars in tune. We don't have to have a fancy electronic strobe tuner and a hundred gadgets to cut our gig. We play music, not "let's collect expensive steel accessories." That's why Lloyd Green's playing sounded special. He wasn't driven by his constant need for more high-tech guitars. He was driven by his ability to put out sounds that made the listener stop and turn around and take notice. Not reading tablature and trying to play clone solos. If the Sho-Bud Fingertip was good enough for those guys back then, it's good enough for me now. I don't really give a hill of beans what one guy or another thinks. I started this thread knowing we'd all wind up getting a laugh out of someone. You're it, Erv. You're it. And by the way, I don't think it's very kind of you to put smiley faces in your reply to Damir's message about losing a dear friend. I'm sure this thread will probably get deleted now for this controversy, but I couldn't let that go unsaid. That was just rude of you.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 11:05 am

Bless your heart.

BTW: Have you received your Fingertip yet?
It will be interesting to see what Damir asks for your Emmons.

Jake Gathright · Post by **Jake Gathright** » 12 May 2015 11:12 am

I hope he gets $10k for it.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 11:20 am

Erv, I can sell you that Emmons if you really want it, but I doubt you'd be able to keep it in tune anyway... bless your heart

Jake Gathright · Post by **Jake Gathright** » 12 May 2015 11:25 am

I approached Damir with this trade offer. It was my idea, and I knew the difference in prices when I made the agreement. Damir even asked me if I knew the ins-and-outs of vintage steels, as this one likely wouldn't play as smooth or hold tune for hours of playing on end like my Emmons. I wouldn't expect him to ask anything less than what the Emmons is worth. I'm just happy I'll be getting the vintage Sho-Bud of my dreams. And if "out of tune and trying to tune in between every song" is what Lloyd Green was doing on the Panther Hall album, I'm gonna start practicing that technique.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 11:35 am

Jake Gathright wrote:what Lloyd Green was doing on the Panther Hall album

and not just that album, but on countless other albums and number 1 hits he recorded with his fingertip through the years...but then again, he is a talented musician who can keep his guitar in tune...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2015 12:02 pm

I have no trouble keeping an Emmons LeGrande II in tune, just those Fingertip dogs, woof woof!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2015 12:12 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:I have no trouble keeping an Emmons LeGrande II in tune, just those Fingertip dogs, woof woof!

Bless your heart