Sho-Bud

1979 Sho-Bud Double 12
Country singer Hermann Lammers Meyer playing a Sho-Bud with the Emsland Hillbillies at the International Truck Grand Prix Country Festival 2013, Nürburgring, Germany

Sho-Bud is a brand name for a manufacturer of pedal steel guitars that was founded by Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons in 1955 in Madison, Tennessee.

History

In the early 1950s Shot installed string pullers with pedals on Fender, Rickenbacker, and other steel guitars. Shot approached steel guitarist Bud Isaacs to start the Sho-Bud company together, using the terms "Sho" named after Shot Jackson and "Bud" after Bud Isaacs. Bud Isaacs was an early partner in the endeavor, and was involved in designing the guitars[1][2] but later left, after which Shot approached steel guitarist Buddy Emmons. In 1955 Buddy Emmons joined Shot and the two continued the endeavor to create the brand and company.[a]

The brand was founded in a small garage in 1955 in Madison, Tennessee[4][5] by Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons,[6][7] both active steel players in the 1950s. The company later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 1963.[4][8][9]

In 1963 Emmons left the company, and Shot's sons, David and Harry, accompanied Shot in building Sho-Bud Steel Guitars.[8][10] Duane Marrs then joined the company. David Shot was involved in designing the first "all pull" mechanics of the company's steel pedal guitars, which allowed for more musical flexibility.[11] Later in 1963, Buddy Emmons left Sho-Bud to start his Emmons Guitar Company with Ron Lashley.[12][13]

In the 1970s they also expanded their line and offered acoustic guitars. They also made a line of dobro-style resonator guitars in conjunction with Gretsch under the name Sho-Bro, a play on the word "dobro".[7] The name is currently owned by Gretsch, which purchased the company in 1979,[12] and there are no models in production. In 2024, Shot Jackson's sons, David and Harry Jackson confirmed that Sho-Bud will start building steel guitars again, with the guitars being built by David and Harry

Pedal steel models

Models produced include the Permanent, Fingertip, Crossover, Maverick, Professional, Pro I, Pro II, Pro III, Super Pro and LDG (Lloyd Green).[14][15]

Notes

  1. ^ "In 1955, Buddy Emmons, who played a Bigsby's pedal steel with Little Jimmy Dickens's Country Boys, Joined Shot Jackson to build the first Sho-Bud pedal guitar"[3]

References

  1. ^ "Bud Isaacs". NAMM. April 20, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Carlin, R. (2005). Country. American Popular Music. Facts On File, Incorporated. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-8160-6977-4. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  3. ^ Kingsbury, P.; Country Music Foundation Staff; Garrard, L.; Cooper, D.C.; Foundation, T.C.T.C.M.; Rumble, J. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music. Oxford University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-19-511671-7. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Emmons & Jackson Team Again; Set Co. Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Gruhn, G.; Carter, W. (2010). Electric Guitars and Basses: A Photographic History. G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. Backbeat Books. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-87930-974-9. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Thanki, Juli; Tennessean, The (July 30, 2015). "Steel guitar legend Buddy Emmons dies at 78". Home. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Fry, R.W. (2017). Performing Nashville: Music Tourism and Country Music's Main Street. Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-137-50482-1. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hurt, Edd (July 30, 2015). "Remembering Steel Guitar Innovator Buddy Emmons". Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Kronenburg, R. (2019). This Must Be The Place: An Architectural History of Popular Music Performance Venues. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-5013-1930-3. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "History". Jackson Steel Guitar. August 25, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Stimeling, T.D. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Country Music. Oxford Handbooks. Oxford University Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-19-024818-5. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Bacon, T. (2012). The Ultimate Guitar Sourcebook. Race Point Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-61058-842-3. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Shot Jackson and the Sho-Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Company". Archived from the original on 2002-07-07.
  14. ^ Beat Instrumental & Songwriting & Recording. Beat Publications. 1979. p. 154-157. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  15. ^ Greenwood, A.; Hembree, G. (2009). The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide. Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide. Vintage Guitar Books. p. 490. ISBN 978-1-884883-21-7. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
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