ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 24 Aug 2007 6:10 pm

Billy, I love that orange one. It was up for sale on eBay a while ago. I wish I had bought it. I wish I know who got it, in case I ever actually run into money again. Thanks for putting up the pictures of that beautiful orange ZB.
Duncan

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 28 Aug 2007 9:54 pm

I agree... That orange guitar is a sight! I like the inlays too.

Tom Ensink · Post by **Tom Ensink** » 31 Aug 2007 3:51 pm

Hi guys,

Just happened to bump into this great thread, and I attached the only picture that I have of the ZB mentioned in Peer's mail.

Peer, I am not sure that the guitar shown on this picture is the ZB you owned, as it looks not as green as in your picture.

This guitar is (unfortunately) not built by Tom Brumley. I showed it to him back in 98 when I met him at Ronny's steel guitar show in Hot Springs, and he did not recognize it as being his.

Anyway, I will get the instrument later and see if I can find a serial number. I have not played on it for some time.

Best regards and greetings from Holland.

Tom

PS
Anyone from Austin area, me and a good pal of mine are coming over to Austin from 12 October to 20 October, so any suggestions for great gigs in the neighbourhood

are very much appreciated!!!

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 3 Sep 2007 10:41 am

Well I have finally finished my ZB.. switching the levers around and adding the E to F stops.
What a chore, but it works like a reg 3-4 with my copedant This is S# 308

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Sep 2007 3:01 pm

This is a ZB built in Texas and is the guitar that Tom recorded "I sang Dixie" with.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Sep 2007 3:04 pm

This is 0510, think it is a Bakersfield guitar.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Sep 2007 3:05 pm

This is 1096, Pheonix guitar. This is before Greg Jones worked his magic on it. Those that have seen a photo of it after Greg finished it know just great a job that Greg does on a

guitar.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 6 Sep 2007 4:12 pm

Thanks again Billy, the pictures are beautiful. I'm filling up my hard drive with those great ZB pictures that you keep posting. By the way, of you ever find yourself running out of space in your place, on account of having too many ZBs lying around, you can send some to beautiful, sunny Florida and I promise to keep them safe and play them regularly.
Duncan

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Sep 2007 4:42 pm

This is a Texas but do not have serial number.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Sep 2007 5:09 pm

Duncan
I have only 2 left and one of them is apart but I am working on it. I have 1054 and 1058. Yours is really pretty. Alan did a really great job on the paint on yours and it sounds great also.
Thanks
Billy

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 7 Sep 2007 5:01 am

This is 0248, don't have any idea where it is:

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 7 Sep 2007 9:21 am

Mmmmm...there is something sweet about the white ZB fretboards, doncha think?

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 7 Sep 2007 10:19 am

Hey Billy! 0248 used to be my guitar. Chip McConnell now owns it.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 7 Sep 2007 12:45 pm

Billy, thanks again on the great job on the red ZB. It does really sound the best. I'm fixin' to put a new set of strings on it this weekend and put the Fulawka away for a while.
I was just offering extra storage space if you ever found yourself "hip deep" in ZBs and didn't know whoat to do. Please keep the pictures coming...I could look at them all day.
Duncan

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 8 Sep 2007 6:44 am

Billy I have d10 1067 that looks very much like the
d10 1096 but mine is in a little better shape. I have
a real problem finding any guitar to compete with it.

Peer Desmense · Post by **Peer Desmense** » 10 Sep 2007 8:28 am

I promised to insert some pictures of the undercarriage of the zb I used to own.

Hope you like these and hope that someone is able to make out who the actual builder was.

Peer

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 10 Sep 2007 8:42 am

I was watching this one # 0814 3 X 4 But the auction ended early.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 10 Sep 2007 3:55 pm

Russ
Wonder what happened to it? I was watching it also.
thanks
BIlly

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 10 Sep 2007 5:07 pm

Someone might have bought it locally. You don't see many SD-11s

That was in your neck of the woods Billy.

Russ

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 10 Sep 2007 5:49 pm

Russ
Don't know where it was at. I think I was interested but not sure about the strange undercarriage. I wonder how it played?
Thanks
Billy

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 10 Sep 2007 6:31 pm

Billy, it was in Georgia. Yes, the undercarriage looks a bit different, espessially with mine being #0822 and standard ZB.

Oh well, we can hope the owner chimes in.

Russ

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 20 Sep 2007 6:31 am

This is 0270. Have no idea where it is at.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 20 Sep 2007 8:35 am

That one is a beaut!

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 20 Sep 2007 8:42 am

0478
Comments from Ed Shoemaker, present owner:
Serial number 0478 was constructed in Phoeniz. Bill Sims had the steel build for Gene ONeal(see photo). Gene played with Charlie Pride in 1973-74. The picture of Gene was taken when he came to pick up the steel at the Phoenix factory. Mr. Sims told me that a year later he attended a Charlie Pride concert in 1974 and observed 2 pedal steels on the stage. The ZB and a Sho Bud. After the show Mr. Sims went back stage and packed up the ZB and took it back to the factory. I visited the factory, about 200 miles from where I lived at the time, and saw this work of art sitting in the office. It had jeweled finish on most of the metal parts. I have never seen another steel with a finish like that before or since. I made a deal with Mr. Sims to pay $1,200 with no interest and no deadline. I had it customized to my liking and even had Gene's name removed. Under the plate was a blemish, so my name plate went on to hide the blemish.
During the next 10 yrs I wore off a lot of the jewel work by polishing it. This steel has been in every bar and dance hall in southern AZ. The group played for Susan Raye as her AZ band. Next was a 12 year period in NC where I met a good friend Billy Knowles. He restored old 0478 to a like new condition in 2002. In NC I played with the Other Dave Mathews Band. Then in 2004 moved to Kentucky and back to my place of origin. I played with a southern gospel trio for a while. This steel plays as good as it did in 1974. The tone is as close to what I like as possible. It will never be perfect as we all keep searching for that better tone.
Edwin Shoemaker
Sept 17, 2007

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 20 Sep 2007 2:42 pm

This is 1140. Has an Emmons changer and naturally has an all pull set up underside. This was done in 2000. The guitar is presently in New Mexico.

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