The Steel Guitar Forum

Can anyone here (maybe Ricky, Herb or Buddy)explain the difference in these two guitars? When did the Professional begin and end and when did the Pro-II begin and end? I'm speaking only of the Shot Jackson Sho-Buds not the Gretch built guitars. Also what was the last year the Shot Jackson guitars were built?

4) THE PROFESSIONAL
Around 1970, Sho-Bud introduced the Professional model of pedal steel. The same basic undercarriage design using the small metal baskets on the Baldwin Crossover was used on the Professional model. The Professional was also very similar to the Crossover except having the metal frame and crossover removed. The Professional had a wonderful rich and warm tone. The Professional production era was from 1970 to 1973, and the suggested price at this time was $1450.

5) THE PRO SERIES
Sho-Bud introduced the Pro Series in late 1973 with the Pro-II. Although the Pro-I had been around for some time, considered by many to be just a single neck Professional, it was soon called the Pro-I. The Pro-I was standard first with three pedals and one knee lever. The Pro-I and II were a very popular pedal steel for Sho-Bud. The undercarriage featured rods and bellcranks that replaced the baskets. The early Pro-I used a single raise-single lower changer with any additional raise or lower of the same string provided by a tuning collar on the rod. The Pro-II had a double raise-single lower changer. In 1975, Sho-Bud introduced the Pro-III featuring metal necks. The standard changer on the Pro-III was a double raise-double lower. Also, in 1975, the Pro Series body designed changed from a rounded body front to a square front. This was the start of the Pro/Custom series. Also during this time a new nylon rod tuning changer was introduced on the Pros. This enabled the player to tune all of the pedal/knee raises and lowers at the right end plate which was a great improvement over the changer and undercarriage of the past. As was stated, the Pro-I had been around a number of years before the Pro-II and Pro-III. In the early 1970's, Sho-Buds suggested price list for the Pro-I was $995. In 1976 the Pro-I Custom listed $895 retail. Gretsch in 1981 listed the Pro-I for $1450. The Pro-II in the early 70's listed at $1595. In the 1976 catalog the Pro-II was $1595 retail and the 1981 Gretsch catalog suggested price was $2120. The Pro-III first produced in 1975, had a retail price of $1795 for the Pro-III Custom in 1976, and Gretsch listed it for $2350 in 1981.

......and I might add...ha....that the Professionals were being built in '69 but his marketing right about '70; and they came with 2 knees standard.
The Pro II came out in the overlap '72-'73 and basically were a Professional body but with 4 knees standard..and they did have the crossbar with pulling fingers replace the baskets(racks): although there was an overlap there too...cause I've seen a rack and barrel Pro II....but mainly they were the cross bar with pulling fingers and a barrel tuner on the rod behind the pulling finger..and that transfered right to the double raise/single lower nylon tuning system...which transfered immediately to the metal neck Pro III.
The single neck professionals(as they were called) was just that...and then they started having the name Pro I labeled on the front..is what the ended up being called.
However...there were single neck ShoBuds being made during the last of the Baldwin days that had the same rack and barrel system...and the wood wraparound changer..as some crossovers were...but immediately went to the single neck professional with the metal casing changer..as we know it....
So yes there are lots of overlaps in years of mechanisms and design...but every now and then I run across some "not very many made through this transition" ShoBuds like the one below...(sorry this was long guys)

Ricky

Ricky, having handled and played a lot of these, do you hear any common difference between sound of those with the "wrap around wood" mounted changer vs. those with the later big casting mounted changer? I guess it would have to be a comparison of the single neck models, since the cast frame of the Crossovers clearly influenced their overall sound.

I notice that the Sho Bud catalog lists the standard Pro ll, and/or Pro ll Custom as having only 2 knee levers, while the Pro lll had a standard 4 knee levers. Therefore, do you suppose that the Pro lll was supposed to be the "top of the line"?

The Pro-II's were top of the line guitars and some would say they're a lot better guitar than the Pro-III. I prefer the older Shot Jackson built guitars by far for looks and tone.

Ricky - My Pro II was single raise & single lower, and I ordered 2 extra knees for a total of 4. Sometime around '75 or so, I sent it back to add #5, and Duane Marrs told me of a "new" undercarriage they were using. Mine came back with my changer modified to double raise (where needed) and nylon tuners. My guitar was built at Music City Mfg. I visited Sho~Bud on Broadway sometime in 1973, and there were a couple of Pro II's there in the shop, but were probably "Pro's" guitars. Also got a chance to see the "Big E" keyless guitar while I was there.

Kenny way cool man...and Kenny and Brian; you may be right in that the Pro II's came 2 knee standard....but I don't know that any actually left the factory with Two...as Kenny metioned the option to put two more on before she left...and I would say that was the majority.
I also agree with Frank in that...I believe the Pro II to be the all time top of the line ShoBud....and everything before it was cool...and everything after was cool...but the all time perfect playing/sounding Shobud to me WAS the Pro II.
Jack> there was a noticable difference in sound from the one above with the wood wraparound the changer ..and the one below with the axle mounted in a casing>

Which these are the same guitars but the only difference is the Wood wraparound neck has the changer bolted right to the cabinet and the other has the changer affixed to the casing that is bolted to the top of the body......and the wood wraparound one has a much warmer sound/resonance to it...and the other has a brighter sound/resonance to it.
By the way....the ShoBud with the straight knees above> now has two original Curved knees added(so 4 now) and we're working on replacing those two straight ones that were put on before we got it...and this particular ShoBud........so far......is the best sounding one that I have Ever played >EVER....and I've played alot of them....and this one is especially special in it's sound...wow.
Ricky

Here's one Ricky. I read about the movement of the Sho-Bud store until it got to Broadway but what was the time frame when they were on 9th ave south? I had a guy come into the club I play at a while back (can't remember his name) and claimed this guitar of mine is definitely a 72 and that he in fact built it. He seemed to know everybody that I knew at Sho-Bud and more. The inside of my case has the same serial number and model number my guitar has and it says it was made Music City Mfg, 609 9th Ave south here in Nashville. They mu8st have been there before they were on Broadway but when?

If I'm not mistaken, the store on Broadway was a regular 'music' store, a 'skunkworks' for design and 'pro' guitar work. Music City Mfg. was where the lion's share of all the guitars were actually built. At least, by the time that MCMfg came about.

Yes I was gunna refer you to my Brother Kenny...but I see he jumped in as he is up on the Store stuff...as I'm not.
Ricky

I had one Pro-II that left the factory with two knee levers that was in 76-77. It was my first new PSG, Sho Bud Pro-II, Charcoal black, 8 x 4, with the changer some referred to at the time as the X style with the then narrow pedals.