JB Frypans : ShoBud & Excel

[Rick Aiello]

I bought my Excel (Fuzzy) JB Frypan* new in 1987. The ShoBud was a gift from a good buddy. It's serial number is A087. Here's the signature on the engraved pan cover.



ShoBud on left , Excel on right



They are both "short scales" ... the ShoBud is 22.25" and the Excel is an even 22".

The bridge on the ShoBud is wider but the same height. The ShoBud has slots where you can adjust the pickup alittle . The Excel's headstock is wider . The mounting holes are exactly the same distance apart, but the pan is a tad larger on the ShoBud.

I dropped my new NIBtone pickups into both of them to hear if there is any difference.

I'm kinda leaning toward the ShoBud ...

Here is a tune I played of the ShoBud this morning ... I'll try a catch a good song on the Excel tomorrow morning

https://on.soundcloud.com/iwbXegmSB9b5x2zP9

* Excel has had newer, nicer models of the JB frypan available for some time now.

[Rick Aiello]

PS: Sorry about the ending of "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" ... I messed up the harmonic passage, well, it was beyond repair

[Rick Aiello]

Here is "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" on the Excel. Same setting on everything ...

https://on.soundcloud.com/8MegNAfHGAMregxv8

Can you tell a difference between the ShoBud and the Excel ?

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Lovely. Thanks for doing this. I've always wondered about head to head evaluations of these two guitars.

I have to work to justify saying 'I hear a difference'.
I'd easily believe them to be two passes of the same guitar with any variation being written off as human.

[Rick Aiello]

Jon, that's about how I hear it too.

You mention the human factor. Well, The Excel was my main guitar from '87 to '99 ... so I'm very use to it.

The ShoBud kind of messes with my mind. It's that 0.25" extra in scale length. The fretboards look identical but they are actually not and it throws off my palm harmonics ... muscle memory puts my hand where it should be on the Excel while playing the ShoBud.

No big deal though, it's like going between a short scale and a long scale ... it messes with my Palm harmonics. I have to play the same steel for a few days till my brain acclimates to the scale length.

[Jerry Overstreet]

What a wonderful sound. I don't know of anything that compares with the frying pans, either design.

[Rick Aiello]

Thank you sir ...

[Andrew Roblin]

Beautiful...both times. Byrd lives!

[Rick Aiello]

I get correspondence about playing with Parkinson's, vibrato and why I don't post many videos (who wants to see a shakey old man)

So here is a 3 song video that I made for HSGA's virtual series ... Just an iPhone recording :

Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani (I like SpongeBob)
Drowsy Waters
Blue Hawaiian Moonlight

https://youtu.be/WLt0Z0Idw_o?si=SkL57xh-L8qD6dW7

PS: A lot of reverse slants in Drowsy Waters ...

[Bill Groner]

I for one Rick love to see your videos and I'll bet I am not alone when I say that! I also bet you are not an old man. Pretty sure I have a few years on you and it's all about one's attitude. Age is just a number.

I know it's a lot more work making a video, but so much nicer than listening to a recording with a bar going across the screen showing the progress! Playing with your medical issues I'm sure has inspired more than just me!. So anytime you feel like posting a video, count me in on viewing it!

[Rick Aiello]

Thanks for the inspiring words

Too bad you retired (I did a year ago) ... I'd love to see this new pickup in one of your custom builds.

I'm trying hard not to "Spam" this pickup ... but this unit is pretty special ... turned a JB Frypan into a steel that challenges the "big dog " ... my Rickenbacher A25 in the above video.

[Stephen Cowell]

I thought the Jackson Excels had a different decal? S H O T JACKSON? Still rockin' that fauxShoe you made for me Rick!

[Rick Aiello]

Can of worms ... officially opened

From 2002 ...

https://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003323.html

[Chris Templeton]

Rick, that is a fantastic sound! Really "wet", glassy, and all the sound of a prewar RickenBacher.

Here's a chance to get a top pickup for your steel.

[Rick Aiello]

Mucho Mahalos

[Doug Beaumier]

Great post, Rick. I hear a little more clarity in the Sho-Bud. Both guitars sound excellent, but to my ear the Excel sounds slightly muted (less highs) compared to the Sho-Bud. But as always, tone is in the ears of the beholder.

And that can of worms... I don't think that was ever settled, and I was totally confused by it. Between Jerry Byrd, Bobbe Seymour, Jack Byrd, Scotty, the certificates of authenticity, and the two JB frypans with the same serial number that popped up on eBay, I don't know what to think. I don't think it matters anymore though... ancient history.

[Rick Aiello]

My ShoBud JB needs a new fretboard ... someone in the line of succession tried to use chemicals to clean it and wiped off a lot of the "Jerry Byrd" ...

I imagine finding another 22.25" JB frypan fretboard is going to be tough ...

I guess there is always :

[Garry Vanderlinde]

Rick, really enjoyed your demo of the 2 guitars. Thanks for doing that, now I'd like to hear what an original Fry Pan sounds like played on the same tune...
Why does the "Jerry Byrd" fretboard look like the lettering is upside down to me and the "Shot Jackson" is right. Is it just me?

[Rick Aiello]

"Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" is the first song on this HSGA video ... it's played on my best sounding Ricky , an A25 frypan ... same settings, etc

https://youtu.be/WLt0Z0Idw_o?si=SkL57xh-L8qD6dW7

And yes, I always thought it was upside down too

[Chris Templeton]

My new NIBtone pickup is here and I look forward to installing it in my Excel double neck, made by Mitsuo Fujii.
The pic is when It was a 12 string pedal neck and a six string lap (he didn't charge me for his work).
The pedal neck is now a 10 string and Duane Marrs made the lap an 8 string, which NIBtone will go into.
Thank you Rick!