The Steel Guitar Forum

Sho-Bud model 6164 SERIAL # IS17982AAA does anybody have any idea what year and what the numers and letters represent.

Shobud serial #s are notoriously USELESS! Best way to date one is by it's features and mechanics. Round-front/square-front. Big pedals little pedals, and on and on. Post some pics. You'll get an estimate as to year. That's about as close as you can usually get.

Ok guys thanks I know how to narrow it down was just wondering if there was an exact way to date with serial I guess not.

I still wish you'd post some pics!

Me too

Unfortunately, RC has become infected!

Yeah... and it's yer fault

BWAAAA! I admit it!

Ok guys here it is not a good pic will actually have guitar here next thursday. can post better pics then.
If someone can ID pickups I'd like to know what they are.
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Late '70's - early '80's.
Are the headstocks the "gumby type"?
The p/u's look like BL705's.
Very cool gtr. Congrats.

square heads on this one no gumby and thin pedals

I'd say '80's.

Zoomin' in, they don't appear to be gumbies.

Good pups. I have the same one on my Marrs

What kind of info can you give me on this one?
I've been told it's a '73. Any other fine points??
Grovers, Gumby, Wider pedals, Info on pick up?
Has one knee...where can I go for additional knees??
Had to get her. I'm a push over for blondes!!

Dana I think that's a pro 1 contact John Coop for parts.

Dana,

That's a 6139 roundfront from the early 70s. It's absolute junk. Send it to me immediately and save yourself hours of agony

Seriously. it's the same fine guitar as the Pro 1 sans the decal which didn't make itself known for another year or two. It came with one knee lever. Coop can supply you with everything you need to add more levers. You didn't show the bottom side but I assume it the two hole puller with nylon tuners. Great guitar with the famous Bud tone. Should hold tune well.

Here's what the bottom looks like... I paid 1400...Did I do alright?? I really appreciate the knowledge base of the forum members...Thanks. Dana

Dana,

That's a Baskets and barrels. Probably a late '60s, early '70s. The pedals are located to the left which makes it an early '70s. The earlier models had the pedals more to the center. Very simplistic and dependable mechanics. I have one myself. It's outstanding feature is it's ability for "infinite" raises and lowers. Everything you'll ever need is available from Coop. That little switch at the end plate is for changing the tone. IMO, you did pretty good. Any of these old Buds bring the money and you'll never lose on it.

JB Billings and Ricky Davis know as much about these as anyone.

I'd say '73. It still has the tap switch, which had been moved from the back shelf to the endplate around then, and it doesn't have the T&V pots on the back shelf, which also went away around the same time.
It has the metal posts thru the p/u, which also places it at '73, or possibly '74. Same thing with the raised fretboard.
1974 was about when they switched from baskets to 2-hole pullers, perhaps in late '73. You know how SB was...they would just keep using stuff till they ran out of older parts, so the newer models came out piecemeal, with all sorts of hybrids along the way.
Rack and barrel is a greatly underestimated system, with pretty much unlimited raises & lowers. The only real disadvantage when compared to today's gtrs is the lack of being able to time the pulls like you can on a multiple hole bellcrank, like say, a 14 hole Legrande bellcrank. I personally don't think that's a big deal. I think the system is simple, with fast action, stays in tune as good as anything out there if adjusted right. It's also not as noisy as it's cracked up to be. JMHO.
Dana, I think you done good.

Skip, I agree. 1973. I don't remember when they started using "dustcatchers", but my 74 has them. I happen to love baskets and barrels!

howdy, without buttin in , ive often wondered about my bud, rack and barrel, 3-1, blonde, it has the tone and volume, on the back, big pedals to the left,stick on fret, the sho-bud transfer on the front, looks slightly different, and has the smaller card mottifs actualy around the sho-bud, tennessee, transfer, would that make it earlier, lew.

About Dana's steel;
I belive this is a Professional and not a Pro I.
Notice the neck has two visible screws in the wood between fretboard and pups. I don't think the Pro series had this - only Professionals. So it's most likely from before -73.

My -73 LDG had Barrels but not Baskets. It had bellcranks on the cross shafts.

Dag

So now I have this Sho-Bud in my possession. I see drill holes that indicate iy had 3 more pedals (still just the one knee)at one point in time... Three more pedals and one more question for the Bud afficionados. Did they ship these with 6/1 set up or was it an add on at some point in time. Does this give any more clue as to the age of the guitar?