The Steel Guitar Forum

There's no denying it. Ricky Davis has a way with Sho Buds. Maybe it's that wavy blonde hair or that smooth talk or those hawaiian shirts, but Sho-Buds just seem to come alive when he puts the moves on them.

Case in point, check out the job Ricky did on this Pro II I purchased recently.
http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/RedEyeShoBud.htm

Now, this Pro II happened to be in pretty good shape, but the finish and the metal were dull and it wasn't setup exactly right and it just needed the kind of tender loving care that Ricky knows how to apply. Not only did he clean it up and set it up, he got the parts needed to make both right knees operate the C6th neck, something I really wanted.

If you have a Sho-Bud and you want it to defy aging better than Goldie Hawn, get in touch with Ricky. But be sure to put on your sunglasses when he's done with it.

Thanks, Ricky.

As we speak I have mr.Ricky Davis restoring my D-10 Marlen.I can`t wait to get it back and see it.He is a very fine gentleman and great player.I will post some pictures as soon as my guitar gets back home.Thanks Ricky.

Oh you mean THIS ONE!!!

WEll it's my pleasure Stephen....as this was very exciting to me in making this baby come back to life.

I absolutely took every part off this guitar and cleaned and polished...and there is not a speck of dirt anywhere in that changer/pivots....and therefore it is smoooth as butter.
Also want to add....this guitar now has ZERO cabinet drop....NONE>zilch>NADA...ha
Many times; the axle from the C6th neck fits even tighter in the E9 neck assembly...and no grooves...and so now you have NO drop...

The copedent for the shobud is super cool as Stephen said "put the Ricky Davis changes on there"..ah...ha...so here is a quick look at that>
Copedent
Thanks for your Support Stephen and trusting me to bring this ShoBud back to life.....I love doing this(it's alot of work) and it's my goal to get these old classics back on the front line.
Ricky

Hey Rick...you done it agin.....
Super job,you need to put that one one your website.
OOPS...I see you did
BF

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Bill Ford<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 02 April 2003 at 06:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

Wow...what a beauty!!!

Lem

Ricky, super job on a beautiful guitar. Beats the heck out of my old worked to death Pro II...

Stephen, betcha' you're proud of this one, huh?

Ricky sez:
"Also want to add....this guitar now has ZERO cabinet drop....NONE>zilch>NADA...ha
Many times; the axle from the C6th neck fits even tighter in the E9 neck assembly...and no grooves...and so now you have NO drop..."

This statement is kinda' proof that what some of us have been saying is that a major contributing factor to 'cabinet drop' is the changer axle, right?


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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

Fred, you bet I'm proud, proud of Ricky that is. Anybody can shell out a few bucks and buy a steel guitar, but it takes somebody with experience, dedication, and a true love for the instrument to do what Ricky does. I will treasure this instrument just because of the bit of himself that Ricky put into it.

When Ricky says his goal is to get these old classics back on the front line, he means it. Ask Ricky, he'll tell you that when one of these old war horses is properly cleaned and setup, they'll play as good as anything out there.

Bill, thanks for your nice post.

Demir, can't wait to see a picture of that Marlen. I've seen some stunning Marlen's and Ricky's got a soft spot for them, I know.

Thanks Guys....
Fred....yes it is quite true about the axle and I prove it every week I work on one of these pedal steels. It is the MAJOR contributing factor to the drop in un-pulled notes.....most most guitars will have some drop....but there are very few that have Zero....and this is one.
Ok back to work....I'm log-jammed over here..ha.
Ricky

Ricky, that's a great tip about swapping changer axles between the (typically) much-pumped E9 neck and the less-pumped C6 neck, but I am surprised that the wear would be in the axle -- isn't it steel? -- and not in the finger. Have you ever found everything so worn that you needed to ream all the holes and substitute a slightly larger axle?

Hi Jack> no I haven't found anything so worn yet.
But if you rub on anything long enough...it will deteriorate eventually.
Yes even steel...and metal rubbing/pulling on metal create these very small inflection/grooves in the Axle....on a guitar that has been played for 25 years...and alot of times you can just rotate the axle over and you get a more solid anchor and the fingers line up better.
But the changing of axles from the C6th neck is always a winner because the most pressure and most use is on the E9th neck/axle.
Might I make a suggestion and a challenge to Every STeel player out there right now???
"Turn your AXLE over".
Mainly on guitars where the axle is exposed on the ends....just loose the 10th string E9 neck...Loosen the lower spring all the way....take out the rod from finger.....pound the axle towards the 1st string away from 10th string finger...so that the finger is now not on the axle.....Go to the front of the guitar where you have axle sticking out of assembly....and get a cloth and put it on end and grab with good plyers and turn 180 degrees.....and repeat the process backward to put everything back together.
Your guitar will automatically play better...sound better....and less drop....yeeee haaa.
Ricky

Stephen,
Another beauty !!....This is really a nice looking bud !!....Ricky, Great job !!...You really have the touch !!....Jim

Ricky, what do you do with all your spare time?

Beautiful Guitar!

Hey thanks James and Don for the kind words.
Don; there is no spare time...ah..ha....as I do this with my spare time....as I still keep a full gig and recording schedule and a couple of very important Golf Money games a week...
But I do get to come to the computer for about 15 minutes every two hours...
Ricky

Every time I thought I´ve seen the prettiest ShoBud done by Ricky, he comes up with another one... awesome. This RBFS looks just like a Professional with its brass tuners, or are they made of steel? Am I guessing right that this one has bellcranks as well as tuning barrells on the underside? They were made like that only for a very short time, so Stephen can consider himself really lucky to have an immaculate one like that

Regards, Joe H.

Ricky - I think you should emigrate to England, (you would love our rainy weather). You could then refurbish my Pro 111 Custom and a load more ShoBuds across Europe. Is there some way we can make you an offer you can't refuse?

Ken
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 04 April 2003 at 11:13 AM.]</p></FONT>

Joe, I do feel lucky, that's the truth. But the best bit of luck is knowing Ricky because this thing was far from immaculate when it arrived at his door. What you are seeing are the "after" pictures. As to the underside, maybe Ricky can provide a photo for us?

Yes Joe you are correct. This baby has two hole bell crank pullers with barrel tuners behind it...and of course metal tuner rod ends....plays like butter and tuning is not an issue...and again....NO DROP on this one.
Ken; I'm taking all offers...ha....heck your country is one I will miss very much by not touring like I was....I LOVE GREAT BRITIAN...
Stephen; you should have a underside pic in that group I sent ya...but I'll send again..maybe it didn't make the trip..ha.
Ricky

ok, here's the underside. Nice and clean!

<img src="http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/HouseOfW ... rneath.jpg"