The Steel Guitar Forum

Buddy of mine has access to an old rack n' barrel Shobud professional.

I sat and played it a while today. Awesome tone, but she's pretty damn worn out.

8&4, although two levers are later additions - and a fairly amateur job of it, too. The E lower is on the right side and it's Day setup (I'm used to Emmons). Couple racks look like they've come apart in places. Seems as though a few changes might be missing, at least for the modern copedant to which I'm accustomed.

I was able to get open tuning set and a few of the endplate changes set up. The boo-wha lower on the 10th string - C6 neck would not adjust with the allen wrench, just kept turning with nothing happening. Didn't mess with any of the barrels.

Finish is faded and there's a crack behind the C6 changer. Aluminum seems okay and should polish up, legs have scratches commensurate with a road-worn guitar.

No case.

What should I offer for this thing? I can fix it (I can just about fix anything), but will it be worth the effort in the end?

What say you good folks?

Not sure what to offer, but if the parts are mostly in good shape, it might be worth the rebuild if you can get it cheap enough. You would have a killer axe.

man, that sounds exactly like the old SB i had - i happily sold it for $500. they do sound good though.
i've seen some of your work, so i dont see it as anything you cant handle.
buy wisely.

Sounds like a rebuild. Sho-bud fingers wear out as well. $500-$1000.

On the plus side, people are making parts.
As to whether it's worth it, I couldn't tell you. I tend to hold the opinion that only people who wanna play 'em should buy 'em.

Jerome - Thanks for that. You remind me of my Wright rebuild thread and the fact that I already have two vintage guitars languishing on my bench right now!!

Think I'll let this 'un pass.

If anyone's interested, it's at a pawnshop here in town where my friend works. I think they're looking for at least $800 and plan to list it on ebay.

Sounds like a lot of work Bill. That might be real smart thinking. Lee

sounds like an ok deal for someone, though. but you'll need a case. how do these old cases disappear?

I have had a Sho Bud professional for quite some time and I have been told it has one of the sweetest tones of all the Sho Buds. If you need parts James Moorhead can probably help you out.