ZB Custom D10 Rebuild-DONE!!!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 30 Sep 2002 8:21 am

...no thanks to UPS...

(I had to partially re-rebuild it upon it's arrival)

I would like to thank Forumite B. Greg Jones of London Kentucky for his FANTASTIC JOB on rebuilding (and adding a verticle KL to) my basket case of an early 70's ZB Custom D10. (it was not refinished but finish repairs were also performed)

Thanks to Greg I now know the original finish was green (It has mellowed to a beautiful tobacco leaf golden brown - kind of like I've heard that some LDG's have) and that a prior owner who was careless with his cigarettes also apparently used epoxy to try and repair several burns in the finish. Oh well- I'll chalk those up to honky-tonk authenticity.

All the metal surfaces gleam like a newly minted coin.

Highly polished pedal rack, pedals repainted vintage black and new decals.

One would have to examine it very closely to see that it is not "showroom fresh"

The undercarriage was rebuilt thoroughly with many NOS or newly crafted original style cross straps and pull rods, and adapted to my (not too unusual) E9 and C6th copedants, with a verticle lever added on left side..

when shipped to Greg the E9th was barely playable on pedals A,B,C and the E lowers lever, and the C6th was a disaster of uncoupled /missing linkages. Many parts were unoriginal and maladjusted.

The pedal action is as smooth as one could possibly expect, especially from a vintage brand noted for being occaisionally mechanically cantankerous... it is not the modern all-pull action of my ZUM, but I do not expect it to be...that said, it is VERY VERY SMOOTH.

all that and he managed to leave the ZB Sound intact.

This particular guitar embodies the sound I fell in love with as a youth, and lives up to 30 years of idealized memory as to the tonal qualities I believed ZB's to possess.

Thank you Greg!!!

the check is in the mail, honest

Just don't cash it 'til after Payday

Pictures to come REAL SOON....

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"I AM Z-BOY!"

Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: ZB Custom D-10

:: Fender Tube Amplification
www.voicenet.com/~vanallen/ :: vanallen@voicenet.com :: www.lasttrainhome.com

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Sep 2002 11:24 am

So where are the pictures Dave? We can't wait to see it. I just bought one myself. Greg Jones is a tremendous resource for these old guitars. One very knowledgable person on ZB's.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 30 Sep 2002 11:59 am

Congratulations Dave. You're home.

But is the D-10 thing gonna be a quandary?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 30 Sep 2002 4:37 pm

UNFORTUNATELY THESE PIX HAVE APPRENTLY BEEN SO POPULAR THAT MY ISP HAS ISSUED ME A WEB USAGE WARNING... LINKS REMOVED FOR NOW

10.4.2002
10.12.2002
Sorry folks can't put the pix up for a while.
if you want to see it and haven't, email me

------------------

"I AM Z-BOY!"

Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: ZB Custom D-10

:: Fender Tube Amplification
www.voicenet.com/~vanallen/ :: vanallen@voicenet.com :: www.lasttrainhome.com

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 30 September 2002 at 06:53 PM.][This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 04 October 2002 at 05:59 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 10 October 2002 at 10:08 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 12 October 2002 at 07:31 PM.][This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 12 October 2002 at 07:32 PM.]

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 30 Sep 2002 4:41 pm

Hey Dave:

Congratulations! I'm sure the guitar looks great after Greg finished it. He's great and a great guy.

Long live the ZB guitar!

------------------
Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 30 Sep 2002 4:45 pm

By the way, Dave, what's the serial number on your ZB?

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 30 Sep 2002 4:49 pm

Yummy

Looks just like the one I let get away in '84

bob

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 30 Sep 2002 5:46 pm

Larry:

0458 is stamped into the changer endplate.

Greg guessed from mechanical features that it's early 70's ('72-'74)which was my gut feeling with no good reason to think so.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 30 Sep 2002 6:45 pm

They would have to be the coolest looking guitar ever built.imho.
Brendan

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Sep 2002 8:02 pm

Dave, now thats a REAL steel guitar! Wait I've got a better idea. Lets make em' outta plastic! Yeah thats it. That'll work. On second thought, nevermind.

Glenn Pezzillo · Post by **Glenn Pezzillo** » 1 Oct 2002 7:27 am

Hey Dave, Looks beautiful. It strangely resembles a ZB I once owned and tried to play. I'd come over to see it but I'm afraid it would run across your back yard to get away from me...or turn and attack me.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 1 Oct 2002 7:57 am

They sure don't come much nicer!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 1 Oct 2002 11:44 am

Glen, you may come visit anytime. We'll see if she pulls a Harry Potter on ya...

Bring the MSA with ya... I sorta miss it.
How's it treating you?

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 1 Oct 2002 12:47 pm

Beautiful axe, Dave. Rusty Young would be proud.

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 1 Oct 2002 7:16 pm

Hey folks, you're making me feel good allready as Greg has my ZB#0017 D-11, that I had built in 1968. It has served 2 one year tours in Vietnam, it has been bombed. And Dave, he was finishing up on yours when he started mine. This might be cute. I was in Hawaii when I ordered ole 0017 from Zane. I ordered 2 new ZBs at the same time. One for myself, and the other for Chris Crobaugh AKA
Chick Donner. We both still have them.
Jim[This message was edited by Jim Florence on 01 October 2002 at 08:18 PM.]

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 1 Oct 2002 10:08 pm

Congrats, it's beauttifull!

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud Pro III Custom; Sho-Bud LLG

Wayne Morgan · Post by **Wayne Morgan** » 2 Oct 2002 8:18 am

Hey Dave, That is one fine looking Steel, you got to credit Greg, he doesn't only put new finishes and parts, he puts a bit of his heart into the old ZB"s, and anything else he works on, but his love for the old ZB's is out of this world.
So Dave,,,Enjoy your new/old ZB, and when you play it, look up every now and then, and smile at Zane,,,,,,,,,

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Wayne Morgan
BMI D10 8x8, Nash 400,'63 Fender Super Reverbe,and '71 telecaster custom

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 2 Oct 2002 10:07 pm

Greg Jones, ZB guru! I'm glad this great old classic , wonderful sounding steel guitar has a growing following. Just like Bigsby, don't let this classic ever slip from the pages of history.
Built by a great guy and player.Zane Beck. I think Greg is doing us all a great service as a restorer and repairman.
All ZB fans have my respect and support!

Bobbe Seymour [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 02 October 2002 at 11:08 PM.]

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 3 Oct 2002 10:51 am

Hey Dave!

Yeeeah, that's a fine lookin' ZB. Thanks for the serial number info. I check my S-11 (serial # 0252) via the EIA codes on the volume/tone pots and it's early 70s, too, (36th week of 1970 is what the pots say).

Greg, you da man . . . Greg = ZB = Zee Best

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Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 3 Oct 2002 11:51 am

Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee

So Larry... are you implying that if Austin Powers played steel guitar he'd play a ZB Custom?

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 3 Oct 2002 12:02 pm

Hi Dave:

Hey, congrats on the guitar. My ZB D-10 just makes me smile everytime I look at it or play it. Really. I'm like a little schoolboy in the playground . . .

As far as your post, I have spoken with Mr. Powers and he fully endorses the ZB pedal steel guitar - "The ZB is the most groove-a-licious bar wanker out there, baby. I give it five Mojos!"

Have fun with it and make lots of pretty sounds.
Best,
lc

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 6 Oct 2002 4:22 pm

I would like to thank everyone for the nice comments concerning Dave's ZB. I try to do my best on these nice old guitars. It was Tom Brumley and the ZB sound that got me hooked years ago as a little boy. I am glad to see this guitar in the hands of a fine player and someone who appreciates these guitars for what they are. They do have a "sound" all their own!!! Dave was great to deal with and I will gladly rebuild his next ZB!!!

Larry, you are as nuts about ZB's as I am!!!!

I am in the process of trying to create a webpage that features some of my ZB rebuilds. I ain't no whiz on the puter though, and it seems rebuilding these guitars is easier!!!

Hopefully by the time I get Jim Florence's D-11 completed I will have a page to look at. This one is a rare bird, built in Bakersfield. I understand they were only there about a year.

Thanks again all!!!!

Greg

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 9 Oct 2002 10:59 pm

Dave,

Glad to hear that you're enjoying your ZB. I owned one back in the 80's and it did have sweet tone.

Does it have white fret boards? I sure do think the ones with white fretboards were exceptionally pretty.

Regards,
HH[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 10 October 2002 at 12:01 AM.]

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 10 Oct 2002 5:11 am

Harry' Are you sure the white fretboard
was on a ZB. Clark is allmost a ZB clone. Jim Clark was a friend of Zane's and had permission to copy parts of ZBs, pickups in particular.I have one now and it has a white fretboard. I thought all ZBs had a black fretboard with "X rated" symbols.
Jim

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 10 Oct 2002 9:05 am

earlier ZB's had white fretboards. Mine has black.

I like 'em just fine.