The Steel Guitar Forum

A before picture an after pickup change.

I took the old Factory Sho Bud single coil out an built the aluminum too go around the new George L pickup an changer housing.
But the morale of the story is the George L pickup too my ears was a huge improvement over the noisy single coil Bud pickup.
Zane came over yesterday an played this Bud an was completely blown away at the sound an the string separation.

Here in the picture you can see how the casted changer that holds the changer fingers mount too the cabinet.

This was a C 6th steel from the factory 5 pedals an 1 knee.
I added 3 more knees an made her a 4 an 5 E9th Bud.
This is a wrap a round wood neck model with casted finger holders that bolts too the cabinet I think these are tone monsters.

Great work, Johnie. ☺

Johnny, I too made the change to my "Bud" years ago. Mine was also noisy and so microphonic it was pathetic. Bobbi Seymour and myself had a few conversations and philosophy's about PU's. I have a 10-1 in mine. I've tried others but that is the one! Nice job on that guy and I bet it does sound great! Loren.

Great work Johnie, I have used the same pick up for years in sho bud too, definitely a big improvement in tone plus the noiseless factor, Some people say a Georgie don’t belong in a Sho~Bud but Honestly I think the Geo’s are very dynamic and bring a lot to the table over noisy single coils, you still can’t beat an old E66, they cut through the mix and full throttle with no buzz in an old neon honky-tonk, definitely a step up. Great work on the alloy plate, that’s beautiful.😊

Thanks Larry

I just watched a video of Paul Franklin interviewing Lloyd Green. Lloyd had a Lawrence 710 in his green LDG Sho-Bud.

Where did you get the parts for the knee adds? I’ve got 2 knees on my d10 r&b and I’d love to get some more usable changes added.

I’ve put several BL710’s in Sho-Buds …great improvement…

I'm a great fan of the early Sho Bud pickups--the Madison era, either Stratosphere or early Shot wound ones. Best sound ever to my ears, but I don't play out so the neon lights don't mess with the sound. Later Bud pickups are fine but again I don't pay out...

Dave

Real fine work Johnie! T.Lee

Thank y'all

yeah, tried The GeorgeL's in Buds.. Quiet, but they change the tone too much for my taste.

nothing beats the sound of the original Bud pickups..

Personally, I could never warm up to a humbucker in an old Bud.
That being said, its MY problem as a lots of good players dump the Bud pickups and sound fine.

This guitar posted by our friend Johnnie is gorgeous.. Lovely workmanship.... bob

Yeah I'd like to have one myself, but I'm to MSA happy T.L,

I would think the entire point of playing an old Sho Bud is to get the old Sho Bud sound. If you wanted a more modern sound, why bother with an old instrument?

An old Sho Bud looks good, but the sound is the best part, and a lot of that comes from the pickup.

If you ground those single coils to the body,the buzz is almost gone. Ricky Davis posted about this a long time back. The only pickup that makes a Bud sound like a Bud, is a Bud pickup.

Johnny, is that a knee lever or a snow shovel? ;- )

I notice that the inlay strips are different on the neck and front apron. I’ve not seen that before.