The Steel Guitar Forum

I am a die-hard Sho-Bud fan. Bought my first one in 1965. I have owned most models including a permanent, a fingertip, 2 or 3 crossovers, several with barrel pull systems and the late "Super-Pro" versions. I am wondering what you all think of these different models as compared to one another? I personally prefer (hands down) the newer, light weight, short pedal action and general feel of the later Sho-Buds. I have 6 Buds at this time, they are all the late version with the exception of my old fingertip. I can't part with that one because of sentimental reasons. I am not talking value or value opinions, I am talking only about the action and feel of the guitars.
Thanks, Neil

I'm currently playing a permanent and it plays and sounds great. Its my favorite, my second favorite model is a round front Pro II. Wish I had one. Favorite sounding is Fingertip but the mechanics require too much maintanence. Just my opinion. I have a new Jackson, Shot Jackson model being built now. These guitars play great and sound like the old perms.

I've had my "Professional" for about a month now and I must say I'm very impressed with the tone of this guitar. Ricky Davis and John Coop turned my eBay purchase into one smooth and trouble free guitar. Of course it goes without saying that it pays to know and learn the mechanics of any pedal steel guitar so that you can tweak and adjust it to your liking.

Neil,sent you a PM.Thanks.

Now Neil, don't go thinkin'...... oh never mind

Andy Sandoval wrote:

That thing is beautiful!

Scope is limited here, but as I see it, Sho-Bud has two models:

1. LDG
2. Others

Flame suit on.

I picked this one up a while ago and I really like it!

I presently have three d-10 sho-buds all setup the same. They each sound completely different. I use the Super Pro all the time even though I don't think it has the best sound of the three. It is narrower and lighter than my other Pro models which have the wide pedals and don't feel comfortable to me. The Super Pro is black and black always looks clean and new compared to the others, one smokey grey birdseye and the other an emerald birdseye that has faded to almost gold.

Wow Erv, that's gorgeous!

Thanks, Scott!

Yes, Erv..very nice indeed!
Glad it found a good home
I never met a Bud I did not like!

I've had a Pro I from mid-70's, a '73 LDG, and a '73ish Pro II.. The best of those would probably be a tie with the LDG and Pro II. I sold the LDG to forum bud Randy Lindley, and kept the Pro II, but would have been happy with either.

My Professional is by the far the best-sounding of all the 'Buds I've owned.

These are the models I've owned:

'69 Baldwin
'76 6139
'75 6139
'82 Pro 1
'70-'72 Professional

They all had good and bad points. The '76 6139 had the best action of all the guitars, but the earlier Baldwin guitar really had the goods in Hugheyland, as does the Professional. While I liked the feel of the 80s Pro 1, the sustain was lacking up high.

A round front Pro II with the barrels and pullers (like Erv's) seems to be the best of all worlds.

Currently, I have a hankering for a round front SD10 with barrels and pullers, a la Lloyd's LDG.

A round front Pro II with the barrels and pullers (like Erv's) seems to be the best of all worlds.

Yeah buddy... that's what I think too, see above

I don't know enough to compare all the models but I do know that I just bought a Sho-Bud LDG from Jeff at Show Pro. and I am loving it. By the way Jeff is a great guy to do buisness with IMHO....Tommy

I 'em.

I 'em.

What I meant to say is...I don't like 'em. Compared
to most steels built today they're dinosaurs.

Them's fightin' words where I come from!
Good thing you're not where I come from!

Compared
to most steels built today they're dinosaurs.

I know where you're coming from, and to be honest I play a Carter D10 on most gigs.. reliable, sounds great, plays great, what's not to like?

But every time I think I can do without a ShoBud and think about selling it, I play it again, and it just oozes Mojo and tone, and I can't pull the trigger. I'm sure other ShoBud guys will agree.. there's just something about 'em, but they're not for everybody I reckon..

Ha, Bill! Didn't see that part of your post until now...too funny!

"Compared to most steels built today they're dinosaurs." but then, so am I. These have been posted many times before, and the professional is still my favorite guitar although I'm using the no-Bud for the next "event". I removed the MIDI pickups and the EMG pickups, which were replaced with a pair of Tonealigner pickups,(not in the photo) to go with the Emmons pair and it sounds way better than it used to.