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History of the Sho-Bud
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The Steel Guitar Forum
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History of the Sho-Bud
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: History of the Sho-Bud |
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Nick Reed Member Posts: 2713 |
posted 13 March 2000 06:49 PM
Duane Marrs & Paul Franklin Sr. were 2 of Sho-Buds key people when the company operated here in Nashville. Both of these gentlemen to this day build fine quality Steel Guitars under their own names. Does anyone know the year dates that these guys worked at Sho-Bud and any designs or innovations they were credited with. Nick |
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Smiley Roberts Member Posts: 4424 |
posted 14 March 2000 01:09 AM
I can't remember what year it was,but one day,Duane Marrs called me,on the phone,& asked me to come over his house. He wanted to show me something.I went over,& he showed me something that he got an idea from his wife's sewing seat. It was a "box' looking-affair,that had a foam pad seat,covered in naugahyde,& "foldable" aluminium legs,& a handle on it. You could open it up & store your strings,foot volume,& tools.I think he called it a "Steel-Stool". He asked me if I thought steelers would go for something like that. I told him that I don't know but,I sure wanted one. I asked him how much would one cost? He told me that he would have to have,at least,what he had in it,& that was $35.00 In case you haven't guessed it by now,Duane invented what we call today,the "Pak-a seat". The "cryin'-shame" of it all is,Duane didn't patent it.If he did,he'd probably be a "millionaire",(well,at least,a thousandaire"),today. I'm proud to say that,I,still,have that original seat. I guess that's my only "claim to fame" in Nashville. I was the first steeler to own a "Steel-Stool"!! Maybe,some day,someone will start a "Steel Guitar Museum",& I might donate it to them. ------------------ |
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Dan Tyack Member Posts: 3552 |
posted 14 March 2000 01:41 AM
I don't know which innovations that Paul Franklin Sr. was involved in, but I do know two things: almost every name player who played a ShoBud in those days asked for him by name to build his steel. And I know he had to have been saving up innovations, because the first Franklin I owned (built maybe 6 months after Paul Sr. left Sho Bud) was 10,000% better than any Sho Bud I had played in terms of tone, workmanship, and playability. ------------------ |
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Sleepy John unregistered Posts: 3552 |
posted 14 March 2000 03:14 AM
Paul & Duane were working for ShoBud in 1974-75 when I worked there. I don't know how long they had been there or how long they stayed. Paul, I think worked in the final assembly area and did the final setups. Leslie Elliot could probably clear this up better than anybody. BTW [This message was edited by Sleepy John on 14 March 2000 at 03:14 AM.] |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 14 March 2000 04:25 AM
I bought my old ShoBud in '77. It was a new guitar but I don't know just how long it'd been in stock. It had a tag underneath signed by P. Franklin. ------------------ |
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Frank Venters Member Posts: 182 |
posted 14 March 2000 04:33 AM
I just cranked up my memory chips this morning, so here goes. Back in 1973 or 1974 a friend of mine, Ralph Pierce who built the Pierce Custom Steel guitars out of Winchester, Indiana sent me a picture of a Sho-Bud that he was building, a proto type keyless guitar. It never went into production and I beleive it was the only one built.Does any one remember this guitar or seen a picture of it? |
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Terry Wood Member Posts: 1205 |
posted 14 March 2000 04:47 AM
It would be very intersting to know the names of a lot of the others who worked (had their finger in the pie) concerning the design and manufacturing, etc. of the SHO-BUD steels. Can anyone list ALL their names? Terry Wood |
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John Lacey Member Posts: 1843 |
posted 14 March 2000 05:17 AM
Dan, what year were the first Franklin's built? |
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danamurphy Member Posts: 92 |
posted 14 March 2000 06:45 AM
Have a shobud Model 6164. ser no 9415 with D. marrs on it. was in nashville about 1972 seen buddy working on a shobud keyless in the shobud store on broadway. never heard no more about it. Dana |
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Duane Becker Member Posts: 382 |
posted 14 March 2000 07:30 AM
Nick, to your original guestion that you posted, Duane Marrs worked for Sho~Bud from 1964-1965 and again from 1968-1979. Paul Franklin worked at Sho~Bud from 1972-1979. I am putting together a history of Sho~Bud, and Marrs gave me his employment dates during an interview at his house. Franklin Sr. gave me his from a telephone interview. Duane Becker |
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Duane Becker Member Posts: 382 |
posted 14 March 2000 07:37 AM
And I forgot to mention that Duane Marrs and Paul Franklin Sr. worked on the prototype for the Super Pro as well as many other great things. Two brilliant men who haven't got enough credit for their achievements. |
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Kenny Davis Member Posts: 779 |
posted 14 March 2000 11:45 AM
Frank: The keyless prototype was a D-10, and was brown or "tobacco" in color, and had Big "E" inlaid on the front. I've got a picture of it somewhere taken in 1973 at the shop on Broadway. I think Ed Naylor owned the guitar at one time. He would know something about it. |
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Theresa Galbraith Member Posts: 2369 |
posted 14 March 2000 02:53 PM
Thanks Duane, My dad worked for ShoBud from 1972-1978. He did build the first 2 Super Pro guitars. He offically started the Franklin Company in 1979! Theresa |
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Smiley Roberts Member Posts: 4424 |
posted 14 March 2000 07:27 PM
I knew,when I posted,that I could depend on,either,Joe Casey or S.J. to get in my s__t on that term.S.J.,thanks for not lettin' me down!  ------------------ |
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Al Udeen Member Posts: 1164 |
posted 14 March 2000 07:29 PM
The only Sho-Bud Keyless that I know of, was a Black Single neck that Hal Rugg played on several TV Shows, I believe one of those Shows was called "Good Old Nashville Music?" Hal would know as much as anyone about that Guitar! Al Udeen |
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Michael Douchette Member Posts: 675 |
posted 14 March 2000 09:22 PM
John, I own the third Franklin that Paul built. He built the prototype, Paul Jr's first guitar, then mine. I bought it from Paul Sr. in May of 1980, and he said he built it in 1978. I guess he didn't officially start the company until he had a couple under his belt, since Teresa said he started it in 1979. Regards, ------------------ |
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Dan Tyack Member Posts: 3552 |
posted 15 March 2000 06:13 AM
I bought my first Franklin (#6 or #7) in '79, and my second in '80. How many other forumites worked at Sho Bud? I know about Buddy, and let's not forget our other forumite Theresa Galbraith, who also worked at Sho Bud for a number of years. ------------------ |
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Theresa Galbraith Member Posts: 2369 |
posted 15 March 2000 11:27 AM
Dan, I worked at ShoBud from 1974-1977. I loved meeting all the players and working with dad of course. Duane innovated the pack a seat before working at ShoBud! I love Duane, he was a joy to work with and he actually wrote a song for me. I went to him often asking, is this right?  Dad introduced the nylon tuner and got my hair untangled from the drill press. Many worked in other positions such as Jimmy Campbell and Leslie Elliot. Thanks, Theresa I'll always cherish those days! One more thing, Shot introduced me to boiled peanuts!!! Wow! Yummy! [This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 15 March 2000 at 11:31 AM.] |
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Joe Finley Member Posts: 53 |
posted 15 March 2000 03:48 PM
Dan, I worked for ShoBud in the early 80s at the plant in Conway AR. I was with them on two seperate occasions. The second time I was the only one in the plant at Conway. The rest of the plant was in DeQeen. This was right before Gretch bought them out. |
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Leslie Elliott Member Posts: 168 |
posted 16 March 2000 03:57 AM
I worked at Sho-Bud/Music City Mfg. Co. from 1966-closing! I was Shot's secretary at the store downtown til 1969 when I moved to the factory on Dickerson Road. During this time we moved the factory twice before Baldwin bought it and took it to Arkansas. The first cross-over models were built at the Broadway store and later David opened the factory on Dickerson Road. Then in 1970 we moved the factory to 9th Avenue. In 1972 we moved to 2nd Avenue for more space as we were also building Fender steels. Then in 1980 Baldwin bought the factory from Shot/David/Harry and moved it to Arkansas. The store remained open for several more years. During this time I had the pleasure and privilege to meet and become friends with many musicians and artists and value their friendship very highly. Working with Shot Jackson was an "experience" that will always be very special to me. Musically yours, 'Lacy' (my nickname given to me by Shot). |
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Joe Casey Member Posts: 3402 |
posted 16 March 2000 04:36 AM
One thing Duane Marrs forgot to put on "Smiley's"Steel stool was a place to hang the toilet paper.Talking to Tommy Overstreet he mentioned that seat belts should have been added also. There are times when old Smiles found it hard staying on the seat.(if you know what I mean)Humor aside,There is no one who respects his peers and the Sho~Bud history more than the man of many smiles. ------------------ [This message was edited by Joe Casey on 16 March 2000 at 04:37 AM.] |
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Ed Naylor Member Posts: 1827 |
posted 16 March 2000 06:08 AM
Al- I have the Black "keyless" Guitar that Hal played. It was actually a shortened Maverick body. Some day I may get time to restore it. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works 1-800-749-3363 |
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Smiley Roberts Member Posts: 4424 |
posted 16 March 2000 08:31 AM
Geez Joe,I don't know whether to slap ya or thank ya. Hmmm,think I'll just do both. (whack!!) Thanks,I needed that. ------------------ |
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Buddy Emmons Member Posts: 1403 |
posted 16 March 2000 09:10 AM
While working with Roger Miller, (68/74) I lived in Los Angeles and traveled back and forth to Nashville to work on a keyless Sho~Bud guitar with Shot's son, David. After a few trips, we had a terrific sounding guitar, but I didn't care for their method of putting strings on. I told them if they were serious about making the keyless guitar a success, it had to be at least as easy or easier to change strings as the conventional method. They never found an easier way so we dropped it. Some time later, Johnny Cox had the guitar but that's the last I heard about it. |
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Garryharris Member Posts: 156 |
posted 16 March 2000 02:37 PM
It is reported that Don Davis in 1955 joined with Hank Garland and Shot Jackson designed and built ten custom pedal steel guitars. Later Shot and Buddy began their company. Check "Alabama Music Hall of Fame" 1997 Life Award for Non-Performing Achievement Don Davis. He was inducted the same year as Kelso Herston, an old Air Force buddy. The biggie though was Sam Phillips inducted in 1987. |
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