The Steel Guitar Forum

I've just seen one of these in the wild for the first time; i didn't realize there were still sho buds being made on into the middle and late 80's, possibly even a few in the early 90's. The one i saw some photos of just says "sho-bud" on the logo, doesn't have 'nashville tennessee' on the decal. Does anyone have any experience with these? looks like super pro type parts underneath and the non-gumby keyhead but the thicker square one with grovers, not the thinner one with sperzels...

Early 80's (I think) I went to a steel show in Iola Kansas. The "show" was Scotty and Emmons. Actually it was Scotty doing a small seminar and Emmons was the show.
There was a table with some people from the new Sho-Bud factory. I got the impression they were being built at the Kustom amp shop in Kansas but it could have been Arkansas.
I wasn't really interested in a Sho-Bud so I didn't spend much time there. I was really only there for Emmons.

Hopefully Foreman member Gene Haugh will see this post.
He was involved with Sho-Bud in Arkansas.

I have some programs from the ISGC with ads from Sho-Bud, era of the Super Pro 1981 stamped division of the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company Chanute Kansas.

Also around 1985 Fred Gretsch Enterprises era headquarters listed in Ridgeland South Carolina.

If all that's any help. Haven't found anything from Arkansas.

The Chanute Kansas would confirm my thought about being made at the Kustom amp shop, as that was in Chanute Kansas.

My friend Carl Chandler also was working at Sho Bud when was in DeQueen Arkansas. He built one for himself while was working there. Was a metal neck red Pro II D-10, without Gumby keyheads. He had quit playing and I bought the guitar about 12 years ago. Wish I still had it. Was one of the best playing and sounding guitars I’ve ever owned. Terry Sneed bought it from me and don’t know where it went after that. Carl has since started back playing and plays a Ritt but don’t think he is a forum member. Great player.

Joe Finley (forum member) worked for Baldwin in Conway Arkansas building Sho-Buds.

Bill

When Fred Gretsch bought Sho~Bud along with the Gretsch company from Baldwin in 1985 he made the decision to remove the Nashville Tenn. From the Sho!Bud Decal. So all steels made after 1985 will not have it.
There was never any steels made in Chanute Kansas. Charlie Roy was in charge of Kustum Gretsch and later bought the company and moved it to DeQueen Arkansas. The steels that were shipped out of Chanute was built in Conway Arkansas and sent there.
I worked with both Joe Finley in Conway and Carl Chandler in DeQueen. Have not heard anything from Carl but I got to see Joe about three years ago when he came to our steel club meeting.
Those were some "good" mixed up days.
I guess that's just part of life.
Hope this information is helpful to someone.
Gene Haugh

That clarifies the Chanute relationship I remember from the Iola Ks show.

As a side note, former Gretsch/Sho-Bud salesman, Johnny Bondzinski (Johnny Bondz) owns a music store locally in Wildwood Florida. His personal steel is an SD-10 Sho-Bud built by Paul Franklin.

Hey Jack
I was at a show in Iola KS with E and Scotty
It was cold as hell and some guy named Don Hodgeman that lived there had a store and was selling Sho-Buds
Here's a pic from that day LOL

I live across the stateline from DeQueen and had no clue about this. Very cool steel history!

W. C. Edgar wrote:Hey Jack
I was at a show in Iola KS with E and Scotty
It was cold as hell and some guy named Don Hodgeman that lived there had a store and was selling Sho-Buds
Here's a pic from that day LOL

W.C. that was the show. I was living in Kansas City Mo and drove down there.