The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi everybody, For those of you who saw the pictures of my really burned Sho-Bud Pro 11 universal from a house fire last year, here's the latest update from David Langdon whom I spoke to yesterday. David has been really busy on other projects of his own, so it's still going to be a little while on this enormous project of ressurecting my guitar. Because the burning was so bad, the square profile on the front and rear aprons have been rounded off. He's had to make a complete new neck from Bird's eye maple, as the original was just too toasted and even with trying to skim some of the burned wood off, it was too much of a task, and just didn't look right. David then stripped the guitar down to the bare wood and tried a red colour, but as he is such a perfectionist and because some of the scorch marks of the burns showed through, he has already re-stripped yet again to the bare wood and is going to re colour it in the original dark blue it was when I got it in 1977. All the mechanics have now been cleaned, and that was a real job from all the black that encompassed the parts. He actually had to put all the bits into a bath tub, it was that bad! John Coop has kindly donated a white fret board to us, and some decals. The next step is to get the nylon end tuners as they all melted in the fire.Then it will be the case of the pickup, and John Coop has already given me his suggestions on this. When it is all completed I will contact someone to make a seperate case for the body and one for the pedal rack and rods etc, as I had before, but as you can imagine the original was burned to ashes. On completion I will ask Basil Hendricks if he can put pictures of "before" and "after" on here for all of you to see. Best wishes to all on here

Micky Byrne England www.mickybyrne.com <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Micky Byrne on 20 August 2006 at 05:22 AM.]</p></FONT>

Gmail/Email me with the rod diameter and the overall nut length you need, and how many you need to complete the job!!!
PRR

Micky .. you just have to send them to me and I'll oblige ANYTIME be-it pictures, video or sound clips..

BTW I have an old Sho-Bud pick-up that needs rewinding.. you can have it as my 'Donation' to the "Phoenix Guitar"
Send me your Snail Mail address ..
Baz<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by basilh on 21 August 2006 at 02:04 AM.]</p></FONT>

Basil, you are a true gent.If the Pickup is a 12 stringer then I'd so appreciate it. Just have to find someone to rewind it. I live in Cheltenham Gloucestershire now. I used to live in Grays Essex, and Dave Wiggins was a mile away, but it's more difficullt now, and he seems too busy for a quickish return.The Bud had an Emmons single coil wound at 18,000. Will e'mail you my address shortly.May be better to send it to David, I'll copy and paiste your message and send him.
take care mate, keep well

Micky Byrne www.mickybyrne.com <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Micky Byrne on 21 August 2006 at 12:00 PM.]</p></FONT>

No problemo Micky,
Here is the tune you played on the Sho-Bud Universal that is being ressurected.

Micky says "This was done prior to my transplant, so it must have been 8 years ago. Was just done on a Fostex 8 track I used to own, and just useing a little reverb ala Alesis microverb."
Somewhere Over the Rainbow <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by basilh on 21 August 2006 at 10:30 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Basil, as I said, you're a "true" gent....thanks for posting my version of the tune on here. I miss that "Bud" and can't wait for the "ressurection" to be complete. All the best to you mate

Micky Byrne England www.mickybyrne.com

Mick..If Basil will send me the pickup that needs rewound, I will send you a good working original. Coop

Hi John, thank you so much, I have forwarded the message to Basil. I just can't believe the Comaradie amongst us steel players, especially one in need of help. I told that to Basil also. Thank you to all that are donating. It's hard when something you've had for so many years and the main axe of your income gets destroyed, and in such tragic circumstances.

God Bless you all.

Micky byrne www.mickybyrne.com

No problem Micky, will do.
As for the guitar, when it's finished I really think that a small "Phoenix" somewhere on the apron, might be appropriate (As the legendary Phoenix AROSE FROM THE ASHES)


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by basilh on 22 August 2006 at 07:32 AM.]</p></FONT>

I thought I would post a reply as I haven't had time to do so for a while. The old blue colour is now done and sealed ready for the decals that were so kindly donated by John. I've sent Micky very blurred pic of the front so he can see it.
The plastic tuning collars measure 3/4 inch long, and the rod diameters are 1/8th inch. I need 20 in total. The other bits I would like, but aren't essensial are a pair of clamp brackets for the pedal rack. These have corroded badly. I could blast them and replate them, or just paint them. The pedal rack is of the adjustable type with extruded sections.
4 new rubber feet for the legs would be nice too.
One of the cross rods was missing a return spring, and also a 'circlip' was missing from one of the bellcrank collars. I could probably make the spring as I have some spring wire, and I could probably source a circlip. So that's not too much concern.
A case is needed. I used to build flight cases, but I can't see me finding the time. Any suggestions?
I just can't describe the gunge I've had to clean off. If any of you have stripped down engines from an old junk yard, you'll know what I mean. I still haven't finished all the metal work. I've got a couple of legs to do and quite a few bits of the undercarriage, but it's cleaned up well so far.
This won't be 'like new' when it's finished, but it will look quite good and should work just as well as it used to.
Who knows, it might even sound better as a result of being 'fired', and then everyone will be asking the steel builders to 'toast' their custom order. "Would that be easy over, or medium rare sir?"
Dave.

Hi Dave, thanks for your personal input here, much appreciated, also thank you gents for all the generous responses to our plight. Basil, I'll forward you the pix Dave sent me. It's blurred and he's gonna take another one soon. Dave had asked me if "Phoenix" on the front apron would be appropiate, or the name "Jolene" my dog who died in the same fire. I thought "Phoenix" would be better as seeing her name would just upset me too much, even though I'll never ever forget her. Now any ideas of someone who can make a small "Phoenix" decal....preferebly in white? as the Sho-Bud Decals John Coop sent I "think" are white to go on the blue body.

Micky Byrne England www.mickybyrne.com

This is what was sent to me and Dave from John Coop. The man is the tops!!!! I had to put it on here

Dave...Along with the original Sho~Bud pickup, I will send you 20 nylon tuners...4 original new rubber leg tips...and 2 new pedal bar leg clamps. I need your mailing address. Thanks. Coop

This man does the most incredible work, I can vouch for him. http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=inlaidartist

He says

<SMALL>My great proud honor to present my inlay art to all my luthier friends.These unique art works are the result of my 30 years of experience in the art of inlay and building custom musical instruments. I am a master craftsman and the main artist in my workshop.I also work for the most prestigeous antique musical instrument Museum in Taiwan.This Museum has 13 valuable Italian antique violins by Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri Del Gesu they are currently restoring. I perform high quality inlaid work for all my luthier friends for reasonable prices. My workmanship and years of experience will add high value,individuality and character to any musical instrument. Please contact us, you will find I am reliable and a good long term relationship. Thanks and good luck to all luthier friends. Antonio Tsai - Taiwan</SMALL>

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by basilh on 22 August 2006 at 02:41 AM.]</p></FONT>

Lets see some pictures of the guitar! That was one badly burned bud!

Mark

If you wanna see a nice picture of Micky playing his old 'bud go to [URL=http://www.evertize.com[/URL] and scroll down to his name. This website was put up for steel players from the Virginia area but we're happy to have Micky as an honorary Virginian....JH in Va. Excuse me, that's www.evertize.com/sutphin

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 22 August 2006 at 07:24 AM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 22 August 2006 at 07:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Lets see some pictures of the guitar</SMALL>

In case you missed it in the other thread :-

Micky, sadly the pick-up I have is a 10 string, BUT the good news is that Tony Sai (Whom I deal with on a regular basis) says he can make a "Phoenix in either Black and white OR colour.
I'll sponsor it for your guitar and Tony needs to know what size you want it .?
BTW I could send the 10 string Pick-up to COOP and pay the difference for the 12 ,if he would do that ?

Hey Micky I have a picture of you playing your Bud on my website. Does`ent show the guitar detail all that well but I must have the original on a pc somewhere

That's quite a horror series there. It reminds me of the accident pictures they show you in Drivers' Ed classes.

I suspect it would be cheaper to buy a second-hand Sho-Bud than to repair this one.

I have one I will sell you. PM me if interested.

Alan and Al, thanks for your comments, but that Bud is special to me. All the end plates foot rack etc, have been hand engraved by me, from many years ago.Engraving was my hobby and I've engraved many steels, and Harleys, when I worked in the States years ago. The main thing about that Bud was that the underside has not been damaged and still has the hand written autographs of Buddy Emmons, Hal Rugg, and Herb Remmington. All lacquered over of course

Micky Byrne www.mickybyrne.com