Sho-Bud Serial Numbers

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 25 May 2013 12:58 pm

Sho bud 6140. Serial 1020 any idea what year..thanks

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 25 May 2013 3:14 pm

April 1971--see page 11 of this thread (Gene Haugh).

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 26 May 2013 2:11 am

Thank Ben. That was quick..

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 21 Oct 2013 3:17 am

Thanks for the info Gene I am sure a lot of us held back when we could see you were getting swamped !
Glad I was one of them

Great job Thanks again.....

Daniel Wagar · Post by **Daniel Wagar** » 16 Nov 2013 11:00 pm

Hey Gene,
I have a Sho-Bud Professional with the serial number 1014. It has seen a lot of use to say the least.

From your previous post I believe that it was on of the 16 steelss made in March of 1971. Do you have any records showing who it was made for and possibly who made it etc.?
Thanks,
Dan

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 27 Jan 2014 4:30 pm

Gene,

Glad to see you back active again on the forum as your contribution to the Sho-Bud history are greatly valued. I've got two I'd like to ask you about:

3523 - Pro II

8892 - 12-string Pro I, inspected by Duane Marrs

Thanks for the info!

Doug

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 30 Jan 2014 1:32 pm

S-10, wood wraparound changer. Serial # 1030.
A '71? I didn't think wood wraparounds were still being made that late! Still, matching serial #s on endplate and body. So this guitar is a Baldwin-era guitar, with a Shobud serial # from before Gene got involved, I assume.

Dave Sterling · Post by **Dave Sterling** » 1 Feb 2014 3:29 pm

Gene:

I have a Fender Artist D10 8&4 built by Sho-Bud S/N 0573. Purchased from a local music store (they had to order it) in 1978. I may not be the original owner. Any idea when built? Thanks. Dave

Herb Music · Post by **Herb Music** » 13 Apr 2014 4:49 am

I have a guitar that was built for Hal Rugg serial 0538. Must be a 60's guitar. Any idea what years Hal might have played this one?

Thanks!

Herb

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 31 Jan 2015 5:26 pm

OK how about this one
Sho~Bud Pro II Custom SN# 3294 ?
Thanks !

Jim Park · Post by **Jim Park** » 1 Feb 2015 9:24 am

Looking at the production #'s for 1975, 2619 guitars built in 260 work days, if they worked 6 days a week thats 312..... either way, 8 to 10 guitars a day, how in the world did they do that? Just an interested musing on my part.... not casting doubt or aspersions............I was perusing the numbers as I had a Red Pro II D-10 with S/N 9500 that I would like to get back

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 1 Feb 2015 11:15 am

My closest guess for the following dates without doing the calculations of days/production #'s/etc. are

#3294 John Booth Model 6155 March 1973
#0538 Herb Music Unknown Our database only goes back to 1971 serial #1013 but based on the Dave S. it must be one of the Fender series guitars (4400 units) that were built over a 24 month period between 1976 & 1977
#0573 Dave Sterling Fender Artist Series
#1030 John Billings Again this would be one of the first entry in the database so guessing would be March 1971 as posted
#3523 Doug Schuch 6155 March 1973
#8892 Doug Schuch 6160 May 1975

As it's been over a year since I've looked at this, I know that some of you above may no longer own these instruments but I've posted them for reference.

The database has been compiled from the information listed here primarily in this thread and also other topics here on the forum. Gene Haugh was instrumental in providing some very specific information which has been entered into the database and compiled in sequential order.
I've tried to keep this up in the past but admittedly making parts has caused me to let it slip.
This information was originally compiled by Alain-Yves Pigeon and I believe that he began with the list that Don Blood compiled. Both he and I have tried to maintain it as we get to it. We both share the same database so it is updated real time as we do it. We have refined it several times as more information becomes available.

There is still a lot of data in this thread that has not been entered and a lot that is missing. Signed builder tags have fallen off years ago or information given about a specific guitar was not complete but we try and document what we know.

We have 270 guitars listed of the 18,000(?) made. Where are they???

Needless to say, we're short a bit of data.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 1 Feb 2015 1:43 pm

#3294 John Booth Model 6155 March 1973

THANKS A MILLION MICHAEL

Now I need to find out exactly what a model 6155 is

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 1 Feb 2015 3:10 pm

Here's a brief refresher for Sho~Bud model numbers. I've copied this from one of Bobby Seymour's articles.

I figured this would be a good reference point in this thread.

These were the standard factory builds, but of course, they were all subject to modifications after the sale or special order.

6138 Single Neck 10 strings 3 pedals

6139 Single Neck 10 strings 3 pedals, 1 knee lever, Rack & Barrel, E9th setup

6140 Single Neck 10 strings 6 pedals, no knee lever, Rack & Barrel, C6th setup

6141 Double Neck 6 pedals, 1 knee lever-maple body

6142 Double Neck 6 pedals, 1 knee lever-rosewood body

6143 Professional Model Double Neck 10 strings 8 pedals, 2 knee levers, Rack & Barrel

6148 Pro-I Single Neck 10 strings 3 pedals, 2 knee levers, 2 Hole pulls with Barrels

6150 LDG Single Neck 10 strings 3 pedals, 4 knee levers

6152 Maverick Single Neck 10 strings 3 pedals, 1 knee lever

6155 Pro-II Double Neck 10 strings 8 pedals, 2 knee levers

6160 Pro-I Single Neck 12 string 3 pedals, 4 knee levers

6164 Pro-III Double Neck 10 strings 8 pedals, 4 knee levers

6165 Pro-II Double Neck 12 strings 8 pedals, 4 knee levers

6166 Super Pro Double Neck 10 strings 8 pedals, 6 knee levers

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 1 Feb 2015 3:19 pm

Michael,
What was my '67? Wood wrap-around changer, 6 pedals in the middle. two right knee levers? A custom order? BTW, here's a pic of the rack mounts. It has a Baldwin decal.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 1 Feb 2015 3:22 pm

For database purposes:

My 6160 ...... sn# 8205

Essentially a 12 string Pro 1

---two hole swivel pullers
---double raise, double lower
---wide pedals
---claw string attachment

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 1 Feb 2015 3:38 pm

John, Gene Haugh only gave us the data from his records and they began in 1971.

If you are referring to #1030, that would be in the March of 1971 timeframe. If you are the original owner and purchased it new in '67, then I cannot explain that one. I understand that they would build whatever a customer wanted if they had the parts. This is born out by many guitars in configurations that technically should be within a certain time frame.

"There are no rules with a Sho~Bud."

Jon, yours is already logged in but I added the additional info, THX BOD calculated as 1/30/75.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 1 Feb 2015 3:42 pm

MY,
I am not the original owner. I found it in a second hand shop over 30 years ago. $150. It's obviously from the crossover era, with the sand cast rack mounts. Coop told me it was a '67, and I have no reason to doubt his info.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 1 Feb 2015 3:57 pm

Thanks Michael---I'm only just going back and browsing this thread and realizing that what I thought was a contribution to a general knowledge base is way, way already covered in spades.

Lawson White · Post by **Lawson White** » 28 Apr 2015 8:34 am

Gene,

Any chance you could help me identify and trace back the history of this one? I would really appreciate it!

Serial # on the instrument is 4753.The case has a sticker inside that includes the same serial #, and says the model number is 6140.

It has 4 pedals and 2 knee levers. The gentleman I bought it from said that he thought it was a Pro I, but that it might have been set up as a C6 and converted to an E9, with one of the pedals being changed to a lever.

Any help is grately appreciated!!

Thanks so much,

Lawson

Michael Yahl · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 28 Apr 2015 9:23 am

Lawson, you are correct. The 6140 model was built as a C6th instrument. The knee levers appear to be home made items and judging by the bare spots at the 6th pedal position and the space in the pedal bar, 1 pedal was removed (they were standard with 6 for the 6140) and moved to the knee lever.

Approximate date that this guitar was built is 12/28/1973.
I had no prior listing for this guitar and it has now been entered into the database.

This is the predecessor to the Pro I. When they changed the pulling mechanism to the 2 hole pulls w/barrels, that's when the Pro I was born and they began placing the Pro I decal on them.

Lawson White · Post by **Lawson White** » 28 Apr 2015 9:41 am

Michael,

Thank you so much!! This is so helpful!!

Do you know what type of wood it's made of?

Would it be possible to add the 5th and 6th pedals and keep these knee levers, and possibly even add other knee levers?

Yes, the knee levers, especially the left one, is home made, and needs a better connection. It's connected by one screw, which keeps slipping and so I have to reset it daily!

Does adding these sorts of things increase or decrease the value of the instrument?

Thank you so much!!

Lawson

Dick Green · Post by **Dick Green** » 28 Apr 2015 10:06 am

Gene Haugh,

I have a Sho-Bud model # 6153, S/N 5216, that I had refurbished by James Morehead in 2014. Can you give me some factory information this serial number. Thanks allot in advance. Dick Green

Gene Haugh · Post by **Gene Haugh** » 30 Apr 2015 7:56 am

Lawson,
This Steel was built 12/31/73 by D.M. checked by D.M.
shipped to Gretsch 12/31/73.
This is all I have.
Have a good day
Gene Haugh

Gene Haugh · Post by **Gene Haugh** » 30 Apr 2015 8:02 am

Dick Green,
This Steel Mod. # 6153 was built 3/22/74 by Micheal H.?
Checked by Yasu Kameya, Shipped to Gretsch 3/25/74.
All I have
Have a good day
Gene Haugh

The Steel Guitar Forum

Sho-Bud Serial Numbers

Sho-Bud Professional SN 1014 info

0538

Sho~Bud production

Ser. # 4753

Ser. #5216