Sho Bud S10

[Ken Byng]

Pot metal is a term that isn't used in this Country. The components are known as Die Cast. (just something that winds me up - not having a go at anyone) There are various alloys used for this as well as different systems of casting.
The mains reason for failure of the Sho-Bud bits is that as with most die casting they tend to use the absolute minimum of material to save money. If they can scoop out an aperture somewhere or design it with as many hollows as possible, then it's a saving.
There's a good chance that if they were to have cast all those parts as solid, there would have been far less trouble, especially if they used an alloy with a high aluminium content.
Sho-Bud obviously preferred pastry. Someone should have told them the old saying, "don’t spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar"

Of course not being in the know, there might have been another reason for doing this.

Well Tony - the Yanks call it Monkey Metal too. Thanks for the clarification. Sho~Bud definitely had an agenda of maximising output of parts for as little cost as possible. I think that the damage caused to the company by the unreliability of the materials played a major part in the demise of Sho~Bud.

[jonshack]

I've also seen the term 'white metal', anyway we all agree it's inferior material and not used underneath this guitar and probably not used in the changer fingers. Michael Yahl, who kindly dated my LDG from his serial number database, told me there was 'no pot metal on that guitar' and that would imply the same for this one, a couple of weeks older.

However there does seem to be a transitional period circa 1976 with many guitars having chromed zinc fingers but with the non die cast metal parts underneath - possibly they were using up a large stockpile of the old parts? A player who owned five or six such Sho~Buds informed me "By '76 all changers were pot metal, and by the next year all metal was pot."

This grey area is one reason why I think it's important to get the dates of guitars correct and to get as much accurate information out there as possible. If anyone knows how you tell a die cast finger from looking at a picture I'd like to know for future reference. Eg It's possible they went to die cast at the same time they changed the string attachment system from pegs to slots but that's just a guess on my part and doesn't necessarily chime with Mr Yahl's comment or Ken's info above. Curious minds want to know.

Looking forward to hearing how she sounds John! Someone's going to end up with a really nice guitar.

Jonathan

[bob adams]

Easily identified Jonathan, check out the dimples, pic two shows the other side and the classic problem, in saying that it would never put me off buying one they are great guitars and worn parts are easily rectified.

Sorry Roy your for sale post has been machine gunned a tad. all with good intent I'm sure but it really is best best if technicalities are kept to the [Pedal Steel] tab.. and [For Sale] left for the seller & potential buyers..

(all the same ground can be comprehensively covered but not on a sellers post!)

[jonshack]

My fault Bob, I really just wanted to point out that the advertised year was in error and why I think it's important to be accurate, for the seller's sake as much as the buyer. My apologies to Roy for hijacking the thread.

Thanks for the pictures. One final question in good faith, can you tell from the photos in the ad what metal we're looking at regarding the fingers on this guitar?

Jonathan

[Tony Smart]

Sorry Bob, my fault as well for digressing on this.

[Dave Wiggins]

Hello Everybody !
If this still has the same pickup on it, I rewound it for Spencer Cullum and put two taps on the coil and a three way switch.
This was to give him a change of tone during the set; can't remember who he was touring with. It might have been George Thorogood and the Dead string Bros'.? But that last coil was a real window mover! I made and installed a knee lever too. This is a real nice guitar! Talking about the changes to the metal parts, Tony and Ken are right, and I don't like the term "pot metal", either! it is as said, aluminium/Zinc alloy DIE castings. With the order book bulging, anybody would look to speed up the building of guitars, without raising the cost.
Gene Hough has told the steel world; that he had three girls building all the Bud' models; so ease means, SPEED! Get rid of milling the flat on cross shafts, use hex stock! Mould the bell cranks, you can mould in, the cross shaft hex hole; once plated, tap the fixing hole. All the builder has to do is to thread the parts onto the shaft and screw it down. The problem is not all weak metal, but poor design as well. If the cut-outs and inside corners have been rounded, then it would have eliminated the stress raisers. But it is amazing that so many are still out there and working well!
Replacements are usually from wrought aluminium/magnesium alloy, a combination of machining and hand work.

[Tony Smart]

Nice to see you on the Forum Dave, make it more often.

I remember years ago if Dave was at a gig his greeting would be, "Hello Tone, can I have a look under your steel."
I knew he was always trying to look up my trouser leg......

He's a real nice bloke though and Dave, you should contribute more often.
Regards

[Donny Johnston]

The Professor on the forum at last, brilliant man, refurbished my Blanton a few years back, woodwork,metal work, engineering, and erstwhile kitchen fitter. Poor Brenda.

[Dave Wiggins]

Hi Donny, She is getting fed up with me after all these year with me making guitar parts. Had a guy come in and re-vamp the bathroom, returns soon to finish the kitchen. NO patience some people!27 year is not long!Very best to you all!