What is Rusty blake’s Sho Bud Copedant?

[Ryan Forster]

Hoping someone knows what rusty blake’s copedant is on his D8 sho bud permanent that he plays with the Caleb & Reeb country band?

[Russ Blake]

Hey, I can answer this one!

Front neck is E9 minus the low two strings. Standard Emmons A, B, and C pedals and two levers: LKR lowers 8 to Eb, and RKR lowers 2 to D and also 8 a full step (couldn’t live without that low D).

Back neck is C6 with a high G with pedals 5, 6 and 7 and no levers.

Thanks for asking, Ryan.

[Ryan Forster]

Awesome thanks! Just curious is it easy enouph to alter an existing setup on these old sho bud permanents? And if one of the changes is a half step is it possible to alter it so it’s a full step, adjusted at the bridge it won’t raise high enouph so I would have to change something underneath I imagine? Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate your playing and tone on that old steel you using along with all the non pedal stuff you do.

Cheers
Ryan

[Russ Blake]

Ryan,

As you probably know, the bell cranks are welded to the cross shafts, thus the “permanent” nickname. But after all, is anything in this life really permanent? Changes to the setup are possible (within reason) but you may have to be a bit creative and also accept things like rods running to the changer at an angle and probably rubbing against other rods on the way there.

To your question about increasing travel from a half to a full step, a lot depends on the gauge of the string as well as the type (wound strings require longer travel than plain strings). You also may need to see whether you can get more travel by utilizing different holes on the cranks and/or fingers.

I’m curious, do you have one of these old guitars that you’re working on?

[Ryan Forster]

No unfortunately it’s not mine but I am borrowing it, hoping to find something similar as I really dig it. I am not a fan of the modern pedal steels having one myself and just prefer the simpler set up being a non pedal player. I won’t be doing the changes on this one but was curious as to wether it is possible as it does seem like this one was altered at some point being that rods are crossing eachother like you mentioned.

[Andy Beisel]

Rusty, you are the man. Just wanted to show some appreciation for your playing. I’d love to know the story on your old Fender 1000 with the red pickup if you have the time. No worries if not!

[Russ Blake]

That old Fender 1000… I suppose it seemed like a good idea at the time! Put so many hours into that project when I should have been practicing. In the end I guess it wasn’t what I hoped it would be so it sat in the case and later found its way to Chris Scruggs. He seems to think it’s useful so maybe it wasn’t a total waste. Of course, Chris could make any instrument sound like a million bucks. He gives a good description in this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=396806&highlight=rusty+blake+fender

[Dave Manion]

I just wanted to chime in with the loosely related fact that Russ Blake has made me love pedal steel again! I too have a modern steel, but am really hoping to go to a simpler, more distinctive Fender/Bud sound, if I can find one in good enough working order. I would gladly sacrifice a couple changes for that sweet tone! His current Shobud tone is the best though!
I think not having some changes even helps one make certain decisions about how to play stuff, and what to play, if that makes any sense.

[Russ Tkac]

I'm sitting here listing to Lowering the Bar. Wonderful Cd!