Welcome to the House of Wood -- dedicated the beauty of lacquer-finished steel guitars. Do you have one that you love? Send us a picture!

Big Jim Murphy's Pro II

This beautiful Pro II was made for Doug Jernigan by Shot Jackson in 1971. It had teal blue aprons and necks with natural top all birdseye maple; but the blue kinda went to a teal blue/green which is even cooler.

Doug gave it back to Shot a year later as he got another Sho~Bud and Shot gave this guitar to Big Jim Murphy in 1972-73ish and this is the Sho~Bud that Murph played all those years with Carl Smith and Johnny Paycheck. Then he put it up as Dick Miller finished Murph a beautiful Pro II Custom in all Blue and so this original Pro II sat for years and years….

Then Murph brings it to me in the most awful shape….and I took 2 months of work into it and waaa laaa; she’s brand new again…and yes count ’um -- 10 pedals and 8 knee levers.

John Davis -- two lacquer Emmons

Wow, they don't come any prettier than these!

Tom Campbell 's Lamar U12

I recently had Lamar Colvin build an all lacquer, U12 keyless, steel for me. So...I'm going to be presumptuous here and send you (attached) some photos of my new addition. The specs are as follows:

• Finish is all nitrocellulose lacquer

• Front and back aprons are rosewood

• Deck is hard rock maple

• Neck is 25" rose wood, with mother of pearl inlay fret markers and frets

• Wood rope inlay on front and back

• Single coil pickup with coil tap at 18,500/9,500

• Pedals and knee levers are 8/5, with a total of 30 pulls

• I have a rather unusual open string setup, strings 1 through 12 are:

 C#,G#,F#,E,B,G#,F#,E,B,G#,E,B

 The lever and pedal pulls are a mix of traditional and my off-the-wall variety.

 The photos were taken out doors and indoors. One set is with a digital camera and the other with film. Hope they transfer OK. 

Best Regards,

Tom Campbell
Houston, TX

Jan Jonsson's Sho~Bud Pro II Custom

This is a Sho~bud Pro~II Custom bought by Jan Jonsson from Sweden from Al Brisco in Canada and sent to me in Texas to refurbish and add changes and set up.

 A front and Back picture and then a picture of me playing it on a hot Texas afternoon…yeee haaaa.

 Ricky

Joe Henry’s Sho~Bud Professional and Sho~Bud Pro II

Scott Denniston' Sho-Bud Professional, refinished and retrofitted by Duane Marrs and Jeff Surratt

Per Berner's AVM

Bet you haven't seen one of these before. It's a Swedish-built AVM Eagle S-10 3+6 from 1979 - in fact the very first Eagle series prototype, bought as a demo guitar by me in 1980 directly from the builder, Arne W Holmedal. It is a professional quality all-pull design with two vertical knee levers (which really is one too many), triple raise and triple lower, with a maple body supported by an aluminum subframe. It is finished in transparent black laquer with contrasting wood (natural color maple) marquetry inlays. The color has faded a bit over the years, and it wears a fake pearl fretboard for a bit of added flash. It has great sustain and tuning stability, with no noticeable cabinet drop, but still I have just replaced it with a black mica double neck Emmons, which hopefully will be joined by a Sho-Bud LDG (or something similar) next year. 

The AVM guitars were successors to the AWH brand, a similar design by the same builder from the early seventies. They were quite common over here in Scandinavia ("common" being very much a relative word in this case, I guess maybe a couple hundred were built in all). I believe he stopped building them in the mid-eighties.

Blake Matthies' New Desert Rose

That's a very cool looking new axe.  Send us more pix when you can and tell us a little about these new steels.  Check out Hal Rugg behind the wheel.

Ricky Davis' LDG Beauty!

This is a first year 1973 Sho~Bud LDG with single raise/single lower, barrel tuning system; and it was the next year that Sho~Bud went with nylon tuning system, so that makes this a fairly rare LDG.

Orginal White background fretboard and Original Coil tap Sho~Bud pickup.

Glenn's 1977 Emmons

Yowsuh!!!!

Nick Reed's Sho-Bud re-done by Jeff Peterson

Redeye's New Fulawka

Jim Ives' Sho-Bud Pro II, a la Ricky Davis

Bill Terry's LDG

First year LDG Model Sho Bud. It is a single raise/Single lower changer with barrel tuners behind two hole pullers....and that dates it 1973-74.

Ricky Davis' "Sweet Leilani"

This is the most Wonderful sounding/playing/looking Hawaiian Steel ever.

After I strung it (and went with my D13+9 and A6th..ha)…and plugged her in; my World just LIT up -- the most beautiful sound came out of her with all the clarity and Richness anyone can ever ask for.

And I noticed something as I was playing…..I heard a very familiar voice coming out of her and took me a bit to figure out what I was hearing….and do you know what it is???

This Georgeboard sounds Very close to the same texture of voice as my SS HAWAIIAN……>I mean they are truly similar like family members are…..It’s really amazing…..and I figured how and why….seeing that they are differently designed but there is something that is the same.

My SS HAWAIIAN is a very exotic wood of course as my Sweet Leilani Georgeboard is…..>but my strings are attached to Brass plate with stainless steel bridges; resonating on the wood. The strings on the georgboard are on Brass bridges, resonating on the wood……and THAT is the similar voice I hear from the two different Hawaiian steels and I LOVE IT…….

I have played every Hawaiian steel on the planet and is why I wanted to build my own; as I know what makes a steel come alive and the material and design is sooooo important and how they are made…..and I did build the best sounding steel I’ve ever heard> UNTIL Now…..and I’ll have to say that my Georgeboard is equally superb in every way, as my SS HAWAIIAN; but uniquely in a league of it’s own and I believe the SS HAWAIIAN and my Sweet Leilani Georgeboard; are truly Family members, sent from the Heavens of the great Hawai’I spirit.

Keith Clemens' Custom Job

Buck Nosaka's Sho-Buds

One is Crossover Custom with 8 pedals and 5 knee levers. The other one is Professional with 8 pedals and 5 knees. As everybody knows, Crossover model has 6pedals for both necks and the changer system of those 60's Sho-Bud was single raise and single lower.  However, these two have double raise double lower on strings 3 and 4 on E9th neck and 3, 4 and 5 on C6th neck. 

Originally, both of them had rack and barrel changers, however, they were converted to more advanced crank system. They were converted by Mr. Al Brisco of Steel Guitar Canada. (Thank you Al). Recently I changed the pickups to Jerry Wallace's True Tone. They are mighty fine. I love both of them. They are heavy, but they have the tone which light weight modern PSGs don't have.

Eddie Gabbard's Speedy West Marlen

Here's a brief history of Eddie Gabbard. As he was on his way to be a legend of the Steel guitar world but his death in the later 70’s prevented that.  His family sent me this Marlen, which was in the closet for 25 years, to bring back to life.

-- Ricky Davis

Clarence Edward “Eddie” Gabbard Born:  July 11, 1930 Died: October 8, 1979 Eddie was born in Dardanelle AR. He started playing a Fender Dual 8 steel guitar in his early teens. He grew up in San Joaquin Valley during the hey days of California Western Swing scene. He played with Jack Thornhill and The Royal Texans and sat in with Spade Cooley, Billy Jack and Bob Wills’ bands. In 1951 Eddie chose a career in the Army as a helicopter pilot over his music. He was stationed in Germany twice and served two tours in Vietnam but never gave up the love and dedication for the Pedal Steel Guitar. During this time he played with several bands, Benny Kubiak and The Blue River Playboys, Jim Brisco and The Rainbow Valley Boys. He also entertained his service buddies though out his years in active service. He retired from the Army in 1976 with rank of CW4. After the death of Paul Bigsby, Eddie was in search of a builder that could build him a second Pedal Steel with the expert workmanship that he had found in his Bigsby. He contacted Leonard Stadler in the early 70's and together they designed this 1971 Marlen Speedy West with the custom tunings and pedal changes that Eddie used.  Although Eddie, Leonard and Paul are no longer with us, their Custom Pedal Steel tones and craftsmanship will live on forever.  Thanks  The Gabbard’s

Marty Engel's Sho-Bud Triple Neck Hawaiian Steel!

Greetings from Holland and keep on steelin - Arnold Smit

Eric West's Sho-Bud Professional

These are the "before" pictures.  Eric is sending this puppy to Duane and Jeff to be restored.  I'll post the "after" pictures when it's done.

Neal Yeagley's Sho~bud Professional

Body refinished by Ray Walker, restoration of all parts and setup by Ricky.

Tony Rankin's LDG and ZUMs

Here are some pics of the LDG and my two Zum's.

Steve Takacs' ZB D-11

Jimmy Broussard’s 1969 Sho~Bud Professional

Peter Madsen’s 1968 Marlen D-10.

This is Mike Taylor's "ShoBud Pro II Custom"....and she is Sweeeeeeeet.

Tony Rankin's Zum

Yowsuh!

Joe Camacho's "Speedy West Custom" built by Marlen

It's a 1971single finger pull-release and I would venture to say that it is a one of a kind as I've never seen one this color before.

Jordan Shapiro's ShoBud S-10

Look at her shine!  Another job well-done by Ricky Davis.

Noel's Anapeg

These pictures are of Noel's guitar, that took him eight years waiting in line for this updated guitar. The body is made of Golden Gidgee and the neck is Ringed Gidgee.

Rick McDuffie's Marlen

"just finished another Marlen...and I might say....SHE'S AWESOME!!

It is a 1970 SD-10 with pad....3 peds 4 knees that belongs to Rick McDuffie; and I did the pad work as this guitar at one time was a Double neck but stripped of the mechanics and now she's a Marlen Single neck on double frame with pad.
She is a dream mechanically....and the sound of this old single finger pull-release mechanism is PRICELESS..."

        -- Ricky Davis

Stephen "Red Eye" O'Brien's Sho-Bud Professional restored by Duane Marrs and Jeff Surratt

Clive Swindell's ShoBud Professional

Another great ShoBud that got "The Treatment" at Spa de la Ricky!  The ShoBud God's must be very happy.

Renn Carson's 1977 ShoBud LDG 

Jerry Roller's 1977 Emmons Fatback

Dana Flood's 2002 Derby 

Dave Osborne's Pro II

(with Ricky Davis treatment)

Carter Custom

Basic features:

• Clear lacquer body and inlays by Mark Giles (who makes all of our bodies)
• Curly flame maple top and back decks
• Quilted maple front apron
• Abalone inlayed trim strips
• Maple necks with inlayed guitar binding for the frets
• Ebony shield fret markers with inlayed Mother of Pearl (MOP) dots
• Wallace TrueTone pickups
   

LDG a al Ricky for Jess Dodson

Ricky's Latest Restoration Project

This is the finest guitar that Leonard Stadler ever made....and I just restored it to the best work of Art that I've ever done.....to date.  I spent countless hours on this as my tribute the the late great Leonard Stadler....as he was a tremendous man and friend...and he made some great guitars and he made some ok guitars.....but this one is truly his finest hour......and I restored this one knowing he is looking down on me and seeing that I want to carry on his great tradition and keep him living through his pieces of history.....and when you see this you will know...that kid gloves were on the whole time....to preserve this Marlen and for Leonard to see it as he looks down....and smiles a big one for us.

-- Ricky Davis

Ricky Davis

Ricky's Blue Darlin'

The SS Hawaiian - designed and built by me, Ricky Davis, and my good friend Archie Cox.

 

1969 Sho Bud Pro 1, setup and polished all parts by Ricky Davis

Matt Martin's late 60's ShoBud Pro 1 with a wood neck wraparound, refinished and setup by Ricky Davis

Red-Eye

Beautiful Sho-Bud Pro II

1960's Electrotone

Nick's Guitars

Corey Butler

Sho-Bud after the Ricky Davis treatment.

James Moorehead

Marlen S10 after the Ricky Davis treatment

Ollie Strong

Ollie's Fulawka - It's so beautiful, it hurts.

Mike Harmon

Another beautiful Fulawka

Jay Ganz

Larry Beck

Bill Henderson

Dave Van Allen 

Circa 1972 ZB Custom.    Finish was originally GREEN but dyes mellowed to this walnut color.  Metal polished by B.Greg Jones.

Thanks, Dave, sure is a beauty.  Aren't you glad YOUR steel is made of wood?

From A Pittsburgh Steeler

Frank Parish

71 Emmons

This is a 1970 Sho-Bud Pro-II refinished by A J Nelson

Early 60's rack+barrel s12 mullen

Nice Emmons

Terry Edwards' Fessenden

Darvin Willhoite

Dowd Guitars

The Dowd's are in the process of setting up production for what looks to be a great steel guitar.  Very pretty, indeed.

Miscellaneous Beauties

1971 Emmons Push Pull (Wooden Necks) formerly owned by Red Eye

1976 Emmons Push Pull (Bobbe Seymour Special - Birdseye Maple over Brazilian Mahogany) formerly owned by Red Eye