History of the 1st string half step raise to G instead of G#

[Bill McCloskey]

Ever had one of those guitars you wish you never would have sold? I did. When I first started playing a few years ago, one of my first pedal steels was a Sho-bud Pro III Custom. Always thought it sounded the best out any of the guitars I've owned, and I today I got the opportunity to get it back. Now that I have more experience, I see that the copedent is set up with a first half step raise on strings 1 and 7 F# to G, instead of the full tone raise on strings 1 and half on 2. and full tone raise on 7.

Was it common for the old shobuds to only raise a half step on the First string?

[Bill McCloskey]

Welcome home:

[Rick Grieco]

Glad you got it home again, Bill. It's usually a rare opportunity to get one back that we regretted selling...enjoy it in good health!

[Bill McCloskey]

Thanks Rick. this was originally late forum member Leon Roberts. He made much of the undercarriage and refinished it 3 times. It was built in Feb 1975 the month I turned 21. 8x8! if you can imagine. One of the best shobuds and one of the first Pro III customs, according to an old forum post by Leon. Serial Number #8336.

It is good to have it back. I couldn't believe it when it came up for sale on the forum last week.

[John Larson]

Was it common for the old shobuds to only raise a half step on the First string?

According to Steel Guitar Forum historian C Dixon Lloyd Green originally added that change from F# to G. I believe Paul Franklin was one of the first to alter this to the more common modern change of F# to G#. Keep in mind Paul also raises the 2nd string D# to E with the same knee lever.

[Bill McCloskey]

Thanks for the link John

[Richard Sinkler]

When I started playing in 1970, the almost "standard" 4th knee lever was to raise the F# strings to G. I had it on a vertical on my first psg in 1971, and still have it there to this day. I also now have a lever that raises 1 to G#, 2 to E, and 6 to F#.

[Bob Carlucci]

Back then a lot of steels raised the first and seventh a half tone.. Never quite understood that, and took mine up a full tone on every guitar I ever owned, starting way back in the 70's.. That being said, in the decades since, I do use the half tone raise on string one a lot, but always do it "half pedaled".. At times in the past I had put a half step feel stop in, and hated it.. After a while it just became natural to hear the half tone as opposed to feeling for it. I imagine there are guys today that have both a half tone raise on one lever and a full tone raise on another that also raises string 2 up a full tone, but I dunno, seems to be more than I would ever need.

[Bill McCloskey]

this begs the question: can I just crank it up to a full tone without overtuning?

[Tommy Mc]

this begs the question: can I just crank it up to a full tone without overtuning?

No harm in trying. I've done it on both my instruments. Worst case, you'll have to move the pull rod to a different hole, but I didn't need to do that on my old MSA or Derby. FWIW, I've gone back to the half-step pull because it's what I learned on. When I want a G# on the 1st string, I combine the lever with a bar slant.

[Jack Hanson]

When I want a G# on the 1st string, I combine the lever with a bar slant.

When I want a G# on the 1st string, I pull the string up a half-step behind the bar with my third finger in combination with the F# to G knee lever.

[Bill Erchul]

Interesting discussion. My '77 Pro III had F# to G on strings 1 & 7 on LKR and I really liked it. When I got an Emmons LeGrande in the early 90s, though, I moved toward the F# to G# change with the string 6 split to get the G. Never really warmed up to it so just last year I returned to the half step raise F# to G on RKL. Also, inspired by Randy Beavers' copedent, string 9 is now also lowered to C# on RKL to get a cool Em6maj7 chord (avoiding strings 3 & 6).

[D Schubert]

My first pedal steel (a Dekeley from Scotty's, around 1980) was set up to raise F#-G on first and seventh string. As it was explained to me, this was to move from a 6th chord to a 7th chord with AB pedals engaged.

[scott murray]

it also gives you a minor triad on 8,7,5 as opposed to the major on 8,6,5… no pedals

[Richard Alderson]

My first 10 string guitar came with F# to G# and D# to E unison raise on strings 1,2 & 7. Only later did I become aware of the F# to G raise and its history of having been standard for awhile 1970 - 80, until that magical unison raise came along. I try and get the best of both worlds by having my unison raise timed so that there is a half stop "feel" on the F# to G# lever, right in the middle as the pull reaches G on its way up to G#. The lever does not enage the D# to E until after the F# is raised past G. Its on my single neck guitars so I can experiment with it, but I have not tried to use it a lot probably because its not reflected in tablature and instructional literature. But I want it there so I can use it if needed and when I am inclined to do so.

[Richard Alderson]

PS Bill - Congratulations on recovering your old guitar. That's a heart warming story for many I'm sure. Not to mention a nice looking Bud !

[Henry Matthews]

If I’m not mistaken, Weldon tuned his first string to a G and lowered it to an F#.