The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello, I'm new to the forum and pedal steel guitar, and just acquired a faded but seemingly pretty original Sho-Bud LDG. I'm looking to clean it up, and learn as much as I can about how to work on it myself. And play it too, of course. I live out in the middle of nowhere, so I don't really have any local resources. Anyway, I'm attaching some photos because the first step is to figure out what I have. Any ideas on the year would be appreciated. The serial number is 10440, and as you can see it has curved knee levers and narrow pedals.

I'm mining the resources of past discussions using the search function but any advice on recommended learning resources for a beginner would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

My guess, 1976-78. You did not say where abouts in California your at, there are several teachers in So Calif. If you could make the trip just once in a while it would be to your benefit, as nothing is better than a live teacher. As far as coarses goes, I used Jeff Newmans UP From the Top, with great success. There are others, equally as good, I'm sure.

Thanks, Jerry. I'm in Bishop, CA which might as well be Nevada. I'm about 5 hrs from the LA area and 6 from the SF Bay area. But, I do go to one or the other from time to time, and next time I do I'll be looking to set up some lessons in advance.

My guess is 75-76. Double raise and single lower changer.

Dag

Hi Matthew,
Nice pad with some native touch.

Jeff Newman courses are great. You may find a bag of info while hangin' in here, too.

Enjoy and have fun,
Manfred

Mathew

I will be at Hot Creek Ranch this weekend. Probably will go to the Imperial Gourmet for Chinese food after golf on Saturday.

And the store with the big red horse for a breakaway honda.

@Manfred
The steel came with the unique upholstery. It coincidentally kind of goes with my living room.

@Chris
Thanks for the note, and enjoy your trip to Hot Creek. Too bad you're not a pedal steel teacher - then you could write the trip off by giving me a lesson!

Matthew,

Probably late '75. Nice axe, and will be a whole lot better when you get that E-66 out of there and get a coil tapped Truetone in it. The "dust catcher" fretboard was one of the most accurate Sho~Bud made. I like the pad.

Thanks, Mike.

I almost ordered a new pickup from Jerry Wallace earlier today, but couldn't decide on coil tapped or not. Since I'm a total beginner I don't have a good idea of if I'll want to use the lower resistance setting for the brighter tone, or if I would sacrifice any tone at the higher setting because it's tapped. Anyone?

Others will jump in I'm sure... but for my money the coil tap is the way to go.... usually 11.5K or so and 17.5K is the magic number. There is no loss of tone with a coil tap. I have 2 '73 LDGS, one with the original pickup and one with the Wallace, love 'em both.

I will defer to Mr. Coop on the date.

Thanks very much Coop for the information. I've been lurking on the forum for awhile learning what I can and looking for my first PSG, and I've enjoyed looking at the photos of some of your beautiful restorations.

And thanks Mike for the input on the pickup. It may have had a coil tap at some point, as there's already an extra hole for the switch.

They came from the factory with the coil tap.... hence the extra hole

I have a 73 LDG with truetones, wound 12/20k. I'm very pleased. I'd call Jerry Wallace and tell him where "your tone heaven" is, and he'll make it right.