What is the difference between a pedal steel and regular guitar?

First there's the look. (We're guessing you all know what a 'regular' guitar looks like.) A pedal steel guitar is attached to four legs and is typically played while sitting down, using finger picks on the thumb, index and middle fingers of one hand and a weighted "tone" bar in the other. The horizontal body of a pedal steel guitar is often referred to as a "cabinet". It houses all the components (and there are a lot!) that give a pedal steel its unique "crying" sound.

Foot pedals and knee levers are attached to a system of rods and pullers that run underneath the cabinet. The end pullers connect through the top of the guitar to the strings. The strings run the length of the fret board on top of the cabinet and connect to tuners. When a pedal or lever is pushed and/or released, it either increases or decreases the tension in each string it is attached to, causing the note(s) being played to raise or lower in pitch.

Players use combinations of finger picking, tone bar slides, foot action and knee action to achieve chords and licks.

Is a pedal steel guitar difficult to learn to play?

While there is obviously quite a bit going on, there is a method to the madness. The most common tuning is an open E9. You can achieve multiple chords with one bar position. There are instruction manuals available and instructors just dying to share their knowledge with you. Also, there is a steel guitar forum that can almost play your guitar for you. Just ask…(www.steelguitarforum.net)

What is your connection to Sho-Bud?

Shot Jackson was the co-founder of Sho-Bud, along with Buddy Emmons. Buddy was involved with Sho-Bud for a short period of time prior to going on and exploring his own push-pull ideas with his Emmons line.

David and Harry are both Shot's sons, who worked in not only the building of Sho-Buds but also heavily in the design. It is, in fact, David who held the patent on the pulling mechanism incorporated in all of the models from the late 60's on. Harry worked closely with Shot in the Broadway shop on custom jobs while David ran the manufacturing company (Music City Manufacturing Co.). This is where the majority of Sho-Bud guitars were built from the 70's until the company was sold to Gretsch-Baldwin in the mid-eighties. Dawn is David's daughter.

What improvements have you added to the old Sho-Bud design and what do they accomplish?

We have major technological advances today like CNC machines that have enabled us to make more precise parts. The new Jackson Steels are much easier to play and have a greater precision in tuning.

However, the main improvement we made is where we re-visited the 60's design of the Sho-Bud Permanent model's pulling mechanism. The diameter of that mechanism was smaller than the Professional series and later models that followed. In order to accommodate more demanding pedal set-ups, we were forced to increase the diameter of the string pullers. This is because there simply wasn't enough travel distance with the smaller diameter to achieve the appropriate pitch changes. In other words, we knowingly sacrificed tone for greater functionality. We patented the new design but once the patents ran out, most manufacturers began using (and still use) the same or similar pulling mechanism.

Today, because of our Dual Pulling Head System (patents applied for) on the Shot Jackson Commemorative and Xtreme models and the Split-Finger Pulling System (patents applied for) on the BlackJack, we were able to decrease the radius to the same size the Permanent model had, while increasing the raise and lowering capabilities of each string puller. The result is a guitar with a tone like the Permanent model and functionality beyond any of the other Sho-Bud models.

I'm just starting to learn to play. Is the BlackJack something that will accommodate me as I improve and start wanting to record and/or gig?

Yes. Although our BlackJack is our lowest priced model, it is still a professional guitar. Many pros are buying it to have as an extra guitar for carrying around to gigs and recording sessions due to its light weight and sound. Many players that are starting to learn are buying it for this reason: as they improve, it is not a guitar they will grow or learn out of.

What is the difference in the BlackJack and other starter/student model guitars?

The BlackJack is not a "student" or "starter" model guitar - it is a professional grade instrument. The BlackJack is lightweight (24 lbs.) yet very sturdy so it won't move around when you play. It's pedal set-up can be changed, whereas most starter guitars cannot (what you get is what you're stuck with). Each string is capable of two raises and one lower. The pedal action can be adjusted to your liking (quick or long)…by you. The BlackJack has a newly designed yet simple pulling mechanism with individual pulling fingers. And it has that Sho-Bud tone. We believe it is the best pedal steel guitar for the money on the planet. Maybe even the universe, but we haven't had any extra-terrestrial comparisons yet.

Does the BlackJack have the same dual pulling heads system as the Shot Jackson Commemorative and Xtreme models?

No. The BlackJack has its own newly-designed pulling system. All raises and lowers are pulled from the tail plate end with individual "split-system" pulling fingers. What this means is that each pulling finger is designed so it can raise and/or lower.

Why did you stop offering the self-installed knee pedal kit as an option on the BlackJack?

There was too much confusion on the self-installation of the knee kits. We were trying to save the customers some money by offering this option but realized in the long run it will cost more for many people, due to the fact they would have to send the guitar back to the factory to get the knee kits installed if they were unsuccessful. We could not insure that the self-installations were done correctly.

Can I get a Fifth Knee Lever (up) on the BlackJack?

No, we do not offer a fifth knee lever on the BlackJack. The Xtreme model comes standard with a fifth knee lever and we can add one to the Shot Jackson Commemorative model for an additional $150.

What is the difference between the BlackJack and the BlackJack Custom?

The BlackJack Custom is a new model which comes with a charcoal black lacquer finish over instrument-grade hard maple, as opposed to the laminate finish on the original. It’s color allows a slight bit of the wood grain to show through. It has the red and white arched cluster of the heart, spade, diamond and club front and center to match the old-style Sho-Bud fret board. The Custom and Original models have the same components.

Does the Xtreme still come in a brushed aluminum finish?

No. Ted Beard is the owner of the only brushed aluminum Xtremes ever built. We are now outfitting the Xtreme with a lacquer finish over instrument-grade hard maple. The standard color is natural maple but it is available in custom colors. This model comes with two pickups, three foot pedals and five knee levers.