The Sho-Bud sound

Carson Leighton · Post by **Carson Leighton** » 4 Feb 2002 6:00 am

There are a lot of great steel guitar builders out there today, and I think it would be hard to buy a bad guitar with most brands. A few days ago I had a chance to play a Sho-Bud D-10 Professional. I think it was an early 70's model, a handsome guitar that belongs to my niece. I played it for about 4 hours with our band. It worked and sounded beautiful. I really don't know how to describe the tone, except to say that it had a sweetness that I can't seem to get out of either of my two steels. The highs on that guitar were crystal clear, with beautiful sounding low and mid-range tones. Not quite as deep as my Emmons on the lows, but enough for me. I would love to own that instrument. Can someone tell me what in the heck is in these old Sho-Buds that make them sound so good?.........Carson

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 4 Feb 2002 6:14 am

Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons and a great bunch of employees.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 4 Feb 2002 7:27 am

Bobbe is the one to answer this. These guitars had mass. They were made for tone. Many of the mass produced guitars today are made for lightness and profit. The guitars makers today have shortened cabinets, keyheads, cheapened the changer, and gone to very light aluminum for the sake of weight and profit. A real well built steel like used to be made should cost at least $4,000.00 (lacquer). It seems the builders are making light weight imitations because people don't want to pay the price or lug the weight. I'm sorry, but like you the old ZB's, Sho-Buds, and Emmons sound better to me than many of todays guitars.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 Feb 2002 8:42 am

Moved from 'Steel Players' to 'Pedal Steel'