Sho-bud Super Pro Project

[Bob Sehy]

Well, after numerous back and neck surgeries Im trying to get back into pedal steel again. So, I did what any logical person would do and got a heavy, sho-bud that needs a full teardown. What could go wrong LOL?! And, to complicate matters further, Ive never done it before.
That being said, here's a pic of it, a 1982 super-pro. It came to me really dirty, and everything is there but not functional. This is it after 3 days of trying to get the cabinet clean , with a lot of advice from Ricky Davis.
New knee lever brackets and tear drop levers are on the way from Barry Coker, and 2 Lawrence Wilde 710's are ordered as well.
Wish me luck (I'll need it)

[Dan Beller-McKenna]

Nice! Keep us posted.

[Bob Sehy]

getting there

[Bob Sehy]

Lawrence Wilde 710s installed and the C6 changer cleaned, oiled and back together.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Looking good Bob. That Super Pro is going to be a hoss, a jewel and the envy of many of us.

Having owned one of your resonator guitar builds, I can say your meticulous refurbishing appears to be on par with your craftsmanship expertise in building guitars.

[Bob Sehy]

Jerry, Thanks for the kind words. Im glad you enjoyed one of my resos. I built around 15 or so, and enjoyed doing it. Unfortunately, too many lower back problems, and subsequent surgeries put an end to my building. Im working on this old Sho-bud when the back allows, and having a good time while I "try" to do it.

[Larry Jamieson]

Bob, You are a real craftsman... making that old Bud look like a new guitar. Nice work! Good luck with the under carriage.

[Bob Sehy]

Starting to sort things out underneath, and polish, clean, polish! It's in great shape structurally but not cosmetically. In addition to dirt and grime, the entire cabinet has lacquer checking. On the other hand though, Gibson charges a premium to "relic" a guitar, so I guess Im ahead of the game.

[Dan Beller-McKenna]

Damn, Bob! Looking great! I showed these pics to my Super Pros,a nd now they're giving me the side-eye. "How come we never get polished like that?!?"

I'm gonna have to up my polishing technique!

[Bobby D. Jones]

Looking great, Takes a lot work making a guitar look pretty,
And setting up the pulls.

[Detlef Webert]

Hi Bob,
what kind of polish did you use to get the aluminum shiny again?

[Bob Sehy]

mothers mag aluminum polish

[Bob Sehy]

Ive cleaned and put the C6 changer back together with the original fingers (they had barely any wear), but the E9 changer is getting new aluminum fingers made by Barry Coker. I think that between the new aluminum fingers and the Lawrence Wilde 710 pick-ups this sho-bud will be a very different beast.

[George Madrid]

Hey Bob,
Very cool! I have a similar super pro that I am working on. I thought about switching to an aluminum changer but l’d never worked with rivets before. If you get a chance could you show the process of removing the original rivet that connects the changer to the raise and lower scissors and then installing the new changer?

All the best
George

[Bob Sehy]

Ive sent the fingers to Barry Coker and he's replacing the pot metal part with aluminum ones. He's removing the rivet etc. He'd be the guy to ask, he did explain the process to me, but I figured it'd be better to ask him to do it since he's familiar with the process.

[George Madrid]

Oh nice! That makes way more sense haha