The Steel Guitar Forum

So if you're particularly fond of the old 70's Sho~Bud sound (as I am), which of the modern guitars (or obscure rare guitars) sound to you the most like them in a S-10 or a SD-10?

Fessenden
Zum
BMI
GFI
Mullen
Excel
Sierra
Justice
MSA
Carter
Rains
Marrs
Rittenberry
ZB
Sho Pro
Jackson
Emmons
Fulakwa
Williams
Desert Rose
or name any others

I don't know how to do the poll option. kind of looking for dialogue anyhow.
And I do know that it depends on pickups and amps and a lot of other factors. You old steel Jedi's, be patient with me
(Ricky Davis, I'm expecting you to say 'none of the above'--but maybe you'll surprise me?)

My guess would be Show Pro. I’d love to have them build me a clone of Buddy’s Sho-Bud (cosmetically at least) that he used on the Nightlife album. Maybe someday 😊

Skeeter

thanks, I added Show Pro

Conspicuously missing is Jackson...

thanks, added Jackson

Fulakwa for sure! I was in the long waiting line for one before Ed passed. Great instruments that for me have a true Sho~Bud vibe.

Fulakwa, added it!

Larry Weaver wrote:Fulakwa for sure! I was in the long waiting line for one before Ed passed. Great instruments that for me have a true Sho~Bud vibe.

I'll second that! The album "Northern Steel" has the old song "Lonesome 7-7203", done as an instrumental by Bob Lucier (on a Fulawka), and I think it sounds a heckuva lot like an old Sho~Bud.

I have a Jackson Pro IV that sounds pretty much exactly like the best of the classic ShoBuds, but the mechanics are a bit more modern feeling. Great guitar. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

The thing about Jacksons is that they seem to be constantly changing, which is cool, but it means that my guitar might be quite different from yours. Mine has a wooden neck, a Pro III-like changer and a large axle/thin walled finger at the changer like the old permanents had.

Others that I've seen have a thin aluminum neck, pull-release type changers, changers at the headstock, etc. etc. Can't vouch first-hand for any of those other than they're all very nicely made and well engineered guitars. Can't imagine that anything out of Jackson doesn't sound and play great though.

Dave

Desert Rose!

Sho-Bud sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yb6piA ... e=youtu.be

From what I have experienced past several years concerning the sound qualities of modern steels, the Jackson steel guitars sound more "bud like" than anything else out there.. Pretty pricey tho'...


If you really have to have that old time Sho Bud tone, you are best off just buying an "old time' bud,. Still some around, but they are getting snapped up, and prices are starting to get pretty high for nice examples... bob

Brooks, is your Bud giving you problems?

You might want to add Williams to that list.

You might want to add Williams to that list.

Gibson Hartwell wrote:Brooks, is your Bud giving you problems?

No not at all. I love it. I'm just fascinated with all the brands out there and always like hearing what all the 'collective knowledge' here thinks of the different brands. I do have an old MSA Classic that I'm going to sell......and well, there will be that empty space available in my guitar room for another..

Desert Rose & Williams added

Bob Muller wrote:Sho-Bud sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yb6piA ... e=youtu.be

Nice!

oh good! My main lighter, drag around guitar is an S10 Williams. You are welcome to check it out if you make it up to Missoula, I like the way it sounds but to my ears it’s quite different than my ShoBud Professsional. [/quote]

Bob Muller wrote:Sho-Bud sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yb6piA ... e=youtu.be

Thanks for posting Bob.

None of the Above...!!!ha..
EXCEPT...I will say; my Fulawka sounded dang close>
Here it for yourself>

https://youtu.be/IqmIKfL_VS4

Ricky

Super pick'in Ricky!!!! I do have to agree with you 100%!!!!!

My woodneck Williams with Truetone single coil has a lovely midrange Shobuddy honk

Ricky Davis wrote:None of the Above...!!!ha..
EXCEPT...I will say; my Fulawka sounded dang close>
Here it for yourself>

https://youtu.be/IqmIKfL_VS4

Ricky

Indeed!!

My vote is the Fulawka.

I own one. I find it sounds most retro with a pot pedal and tube amp.

It sounds good with a modern pedal and modern amp, but to my ears the difference is there. I rarely haul it and the twin due to weight and volume, but if you’re chasing a certain vibe, To my ears, pot pedal and tube amp, is part of the equation.

I Never owned a Jackson , but I thought the sho pro with true tones , same theory, at least to my ears.

I also found that a ShoBud into a modern active pedal into a modern solid state amp lost some of that vintage mojo.

I don’t know much, and I’m not sure why, but I think part of the magic on many of those recordings was a single coil pickup sending an unbuffered signal to a tube amp.