The Steel Guitar Forum

Now that Fender has acquired Gretsch guitar, and thus I believe rights to the Sho-Bud name, has anyone heard any rumors about production resuming? I thought I noticed Sho-Bud T-shirts being sold on the Fender accessory site.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that the Gretsch family retained the rights to Sho~Bud.

.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 08:52 PM.]</p></FONT>

Fender has a custom shop, and they make guitars costing thousands of dollars. If there were enough steel players who wanted a 'new' Sho-Bud with a traditional style cabinet, pedals, and knee levers, it is possible to make a few guitars on a limited basis. They's cost a fortune though. But then it'd be up to the Fender and Gretsch people to decide, and I doubt that they'd be interested.

Well who would build them?? Gretsch people?? They haven't a clue how to do it RIGHT. There's only one man/enterprise that is alive and can do it and knows the Sho~bud like the back of his hand and that is Duane Marrs....and he already Builds a Guitar or he has Sho~bud Bodies done by the only man in the world that knows the Shobud body and finish and that is:
A.J. Nelson

<SMALL>A.J. worked with Duane at Sho-Bud for years and finished hundreds of guitars during his stay. He's using the original paint formula and colors that were used at Sho-Bud for all the classic guitar years. </SMALL>

So if you want a brand new Sho~bud there is only one place to get it and that is www.duanemarrs.com and believe me; nobody at Gretsch or whoever has the Sho~bud business can come close to what Duane and A.J. and Jeff Surratt can do and them boys ain't never working for Gretsch..ha..
Ricky<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 14 July 2004 at 02:16 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hey Ricky, If someone to but buy the Sho-Bud.name and start building Sho-bud.steel guitar.do you think it would be a big hit.and would it have a big price tag too,and would you do a update on the guitar or just leave it like it is. or do you see a new bud comeimg on Thanks Gary.

I agree with Jim about the Gretsch ownership. I was a Gretsch dealer before Fender got invloved (still am), and it is my understanding that Fred still owns Gretsch (and Sho-Bud)This was also the story I got from Duke Kramer at the time all this went down. Three years ago when I first became a Gretsch dealer I talked with Fred a couple of times about the future of Sho-Bud and he did show some interest in doing something, but I never heard of anything happening. Who knows....

I'm sorry Gary I don't understand the question?? Can you refraze and ask it again??
Ricky

Ricky if you or someone was to buy out the Sho-Bud name and start rebuilding the steel guitar,what would you do,? a update on the steel guitar or leave it alone.and do you think it would have high price tag.like some steel builder think they should get,
I don't think i give more 3500.00 for any steel guitar new or old.thats just for me Thanks Gary.

The real heirs of Sho-Bud are Paul Franklin, Sr., Duane Marrs and his protege' Jeff Surratt. Fred maybe still owns the name, but that's pretty irrelevant.

New Sho-Buds CAN be had today... or, the boys in Nashville will take your old Professional and put some killer mechanics under it, which amounts to the same thing.

Ok Gary I got ya now.
Well What I would do and what someone else would do; I'm sure would be different. Duane has his own Machine and would make parts like he does. I myself would have to get the parts made and I personally would build the Shobud like the old Pro II's ..ha..
As for the price...I'm sorry to inform you that to machine all these parts or to get them made from a hired machinist and to construct a pedal steel guitar body and all....is WEEEELLL over 3500.00 ah...ha...
Any pedal steel being built today that is under 5000.00 dollars is a GREAT Deal; folks don't realize how much it cost to machine parts or get them machined....Steel guitar builders are Barely hangin' on finance wise; we as steel guitar players are lucky for whatever price they sell them at.
Ricky

Hello all,

Mike Lewis from FMIC/Gretsch here. Just to clarify, Sho-Bud was not part of Fender's agreement with Mr. Gretsch.

Regards,

Mike

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Marketing Manager - Gretsch Guitars

Hi Mike and welcome.

Can you tell us if Gretsch has any imminent plans to begin building Sho-Buds again?

Thanks,
Jim

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The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese...

I'm not sure I'd buy one from Gretch, what do they know about building steel guitars? I have a feeling that unless they hired someone who knew what they were doing, they would be putting out an inferior product that would probably be way overpriced for what you'd get.

"New Sho-Buds CAN be had today... or, the boys in Nashville will take your old Professional and put some killer mechanics under it, which amounts to the same thing."

Gene Haugh used to build sho buds out of Booneville Ark in the early 90s, he completely redid and old Pro II of mine with new mechanics and it plays beautifully and sounds great! BUT those old birds are heavy! really heavy! Last time i talked to Gene which was years ago, he told that he wasn't building them anymore and that Ed Naylor had gotten all the parts etc.

PMS

Theres some interesting questions here, I'll give you my take on the subject, I was Sho-Bud Product Mgr. at Gretsch from 75 to 80 & Duke Kramer was my boss, Sho-Bud in Nashville was sold to Fred Gretsch Enterprises in the mid to late 80s after that time only a few guitars were made, & these were asssembled at Mr. Gene Hough's home in Magazine, Ar. on a one at a time, pre-sold basis, I know this arangement ended several yrs ago, at that time, Duke Kramer told me that he was trying to find a buyer for the Sho-Bud Name, Parts,Manufacturing Equipment, Etc, but the asking price was too high! I would say that, If you want a good Sho-Bud today! My long time friend, Duane Marrs is the way to go, especially with the vastly improved mechanics that Duane offers, Best Wishes! Al Udeen

I put some aluminum neck inserts made by Duane and also replaced all of the knee lever brackets with Duane's brackets and you guys are right, he does excellent work! I used to snap the potmetal sho bud brackets all to hell, since i put duane's aluminum brackets on i haven't had any problems and that's been about 6 or 7 years or so now. AND was a very very nice guy to deal with as well.


PMS

I seriously doubt Sho_Bud will ever be built again. The overall Steel marked has fallen to a point it would not be pratical from a mfg. standpoint. With all the current well built guitars available most just keep there old "BUD" for sentimental reasons. I get many calls for "Original" parts.I keep busy repairing old "Buds" but who knows what the future will bring. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works.

I sure do LIKE mine purtygood!

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 16 July 2004 at 10:11 AM.]</p></FONT>

Nice Sho~Bud you have Nick.I always liked the Pro-I guitar.

I have one of the Pro-1 Shjo-Bud and it sound great and plays great. E9 with only 3 pedals and 2 right knee levers. I'd like to add 2 left knee levers and other parts if I can Get Ed Naylor to send them to me. He is just so busy. It has been quite a while...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Al, have you tried Bobbe Seymour or Duane Marrs for your knee levers?

Roger

I ran into Harry Jackson (son of "Shot" Jackson)at one of our NTSGA "SuperJams" last year,& he was sorta "hinting" that there would be a new steel on the market,to watch out for.

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I'm not a ShoBud expert (my last one was a Madison Permanent 3 neck monster), but Nick's guitar above looks like a Pro III changer to me. I thought the Pro I had the old "thick" tuning rods. I didn't think the nylon tuning nuts came in until the Pro II or III. ??

The Pro I was simply the single neck version of the Pro II. The later ones had nylon tuners on them. Perhaps you were thinking of "The Professional"?

Lem