Sho-Bud Voulume Pedal String

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 21 Jun 2017 4:25 pm

I bought a used Sho-Bud volume pedal with a known bad pot and ordered a Dunlop pot for it from Tom Bradshaw. Started work on it today and the string is a bit frayed so I want to replace it as well.

I can't find a source for the original string. Some posts say use fly fishing leader line, one said use a waxed shoelace for dress shoes. Google doesn't come up with anything.

Any one know what type string Sho-Bud used and where to get it?

Would an Ernie Ball String & Spring kit work with the Sho-Bud pedal?

Thanks!

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 22 Jun 2017 3:27 am

Another vote for fly fishing line.... It worked the best of anything I used over the years, easy to find, and cheap to purchase.

Most any heavy string will work, most just will not last very long. There really is no magic other than getting it routed in the pedal.

Robert

Edward Rhea · Post by **Edward Rhea** » 22 Jun 2017 3:30 am

Here you go Tony, just in case you need it!?
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... t=#1775771

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Jun 2017 6:04 am

I replaced mine many years ago with heavy nylon cord, the kind you use for bank fishing poles or throw lines. I think it's about 100lb test? Anyway, it's still on the pedal and looking good after all these years.
I modified the center post and cut it shorter and added a pulley wheel on it. Then ran the cord over the pulley wheel and added a tension spring to the end and anchored it to the center of the pedal frame with a screw. That way, as the string stretches it will still stay tight and you get a smoother rotation of the pot.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 22 Jun 2017 8:36 am

I'd always thought it looked like chalk line string. And I was once told to use that.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 22 Jun 2017 9:41 am

http://www.goodrichsoundcompany.com/Acc ... _c_18.html

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 22 Jun 2017 12:40 pm

Thanks all! I removed the old string and measured it. It's about 12" long and about 0.048" thick. Since it old and worn I assume it's stretched out a bit.

This afternoon I realized that I have a spool of surplus nylon sash cord that we use in HAM radio for antenna guy lines that is very strong, doesn't stretch, and is very cheap (yes, I'm a HAM - W1AJO). I measured it and it's 0.050" thick. Perfect!

I cut 13" off and laid it out next to the old string.

Next up is to restring the pedal using my sash cord.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 22 Jun 2017 4:08 pm

Sometimes it's good to put violin rosin or a little rubber cement where the string runs across the pulley. Also - chewing gum works, too.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 22 Jun 2017 4:46 pm

robert kramer wrote:http://www.goodrichsoundcompany.com/Acc ... _c_18.html

I looked at it. $12 for a piece of string & a screw?

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 22 Jun 2017 5:28 pm

I know - I know - and I bought a couple of them. At least they look good - if only the audience could see them.

"It's only money... it'll go away."

Mark Draycott · Post by **Mark Draycott** » 23 Jun 2017 2:03 am

I used the cord from an old set of blinds. You could buy a new cheap set of blinds for a few bucks, if needed

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 23 Jun 2017 3:16 pm

You can use almost anything if you trust it~or you could drive to the hardware store and get mason's twine and do the next 1,000 pedals that you need to restring and while you're there you can get the right screw and rubber based washer~~ or you can spend $12 and stay home and practice.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 23 Jun 2017 3:25 pm

All is fixed! The pictures on this site were very helpful. It took me a while to figure out how the danged string goes.

Tom Bradshaw's 470K pot works like a charm.

The 0.050" sash cord I used is surplus from the North Carolina mills that make blinds and privacy curtains. I have a big spool of it so if someone needs a piece to fix a Sho-Bud pedal I'll give you a piece if you provide a SASE.

Question: why don't PSG volume pedals use gear drives like my Dunlop Wha Wha & Vox volume pedals do?

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 23 Jun 2017 3:43 pm

Both methods work well to rotate the shaft of a pot. It has been my experience that gear drives have a higher rate of failure than a string and are harder to find as one needs the mate to what you had depending on if it's the track or gear that has failed.

Steve Smith · Post by **Steve Smith** » 25 Jun 2017 7:05 pm

fly line is the ticket it is plastic coated
nylon won't slip and won't break I've been using
it for 40yrs never ever broke one about 15dollars for 100yds

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 26 Jun 2017 5:42 am

Seriously , does it matter whether it's salt water or fresh water? I just looked online and there are too many choices

http://www.orvis.com/fly-lines

EDIT - I just saw Jim's post about mason's twine - that what I use now - no need to go fishing.

Jim Palenscar wrote:You can use almost anything if you trust it~or you could drive to the hardware store and get mason's twine and do the next 1,000 pedals that you need to restring and while you're there you can get the right screw and rubber based washer~~ or you can spend $12 and stay home and practice.

Or repair another musical instrument

John LeMaster · Post by **John LeMaster** » 26 Jun 2017 5:56 pm

I had read that a waxed shoe lace would suffice as volume pedal string. Stopped at the local Dollar Tree hoping to find waxed shoe laces. They didn't have the waxed variety, but on the same aisle, they had drawstring tote bags. I didn't need a tote bag, but these bags come with nice nylon string. About 10 feet of it! It works very well (only $1 for 10 feet of string, and you get a tote bag)

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Sho-Bud Voulume Pedal String

Sho-Bud Voulume Pedal String

Discovered at Dollar Tree...