ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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- Location: California Central Coast
Zb
Dave, did you have any trouble balancing the pulls with the Kline setup?
- Dave Zirbel
- Posts: 4170
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- Location: Sebastopol, CA USA
No trouble, it's a lot easier to dial in the balanced pulls but still takes a few trys to get it. You simply loosen the hex screw and adjust the rods, basically guessing/hit and miss. I found the turnbuckles near the changer really made it tricky to make adjustments. Next time I come down to the central cost to visit family I will give you a shout and bring it along (if time allows). Maybe I'll bring the Kline too so you can see.
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
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- Posts: 411
- Joined: 25 Nov 2002 1:01 am
- Location: California Central Coast
Kline
That would be cool. I noticed Michael Yawl over at PSG parts has hex cross shafts available on his website. Have you looked at any of the stuff that is already available?
- Henry Matthews
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- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
Here are some pics of the finished ZB conversion. I used the yolk type on E9th and the spring P/P type on the C6th. The reason I used the Kline type yolk on E9th is because how low the pulls are on changer in cabinet. I also turned the bell cranks upside down on the pedals to get a straighter pull which made the pedals feel really good. Guitar sounds awesome and plays and stays in tune really good. Tuning on C6th is a little tricky but not that hard and also was a little tricky getting E9th pulls timed but the yolks work perfect. Guitar has no cabinet drop that you can see on a tuner. I put pedal stops on C6th and plan to put them on E9th even thought the pedals feel great, I think stops would make them more positive. The guitar isn't hard to change setups and I think is a big improvment over the old ZB crossbar undercarriage.
This was a major job in that some was trial and error but think I found a working solution that will be a lot easier to do if there is a next time. I also moved the pedals over one to left as ZB pedals were sorta in center. I also replaced the aluminum bars on front and back of guitar. The cross bars are pinned in the end with a spring so easy to remove or change. Just remove piece of formica on rear apron and you have access.
This was a major job in that some was trial and error but think I found a working solution that will be a lot easier to do if there is a next time. I also moved the pedals over one to left as ZB pedals were sorta in center. I also replaced the aluminum bars on front and back of guitar. The cross bars are pinned in the end with a spring so easy to remove or change. Just remove piece of formica on rear apron and you have access.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
- Jamie Olson
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 12 Jan 2013 9:06 am
- Location: Colorado, USA
Help....
I own a ZB D10. I'll send you the serial # ,info and pics shortly. Thanks JDS
GFI D10 Ultra 8/5; Sho-Bud D10 8/4; Remington SD10 3/3; ZB D10 8/5; Regal Dobro
- Henry Matthews
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
Played my ZB (in pics above)out Friday and Saturday night and really surprized me at how well it played and sounded. It stayed in tune all night and the tone to me is really bright compared to my P/P. I had to take some highs off amp. Tone was chrystal clear. My RNR is a little stiff so going to work on that. It does have pedal noise coming thru pickups but not noticable when playing with band.Over all played great.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
- Josh Rossow
- Posts: 177
- Joined: 29 Jul 2012 6:38 pm
- Location: Mchenry, Illinois
Hey Guys got a question for you about the E9 neck on my ZB. When I raise my E (4th String) using either the C pedal or knee lever it returns sharp. Now if I lower the E afterwards with the other lever it returns to correct pitch. It seems like the changer or a rod is getting hung up. Any of you guys run into this?
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- Josh Rossow
- Posts: 177
- Joined: 29 Jul 2012 6:38 pm
- Location: Mchenry, Illinois
- richard burton
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- Location: Britain
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- Henry Matthews
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
Since I did the conversion on my ZB, everything comes back as true as can be. My ZB undecarraige may be a little crude in a few aspects but works very well. If I had to do another, I could do it slick as a button now after doing one. As I said above, a lot of trial and error.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
- Eric Dahlhoff
- Posts: 836
- Joined: 25 Jan 2010 1:04 pm
- Location: Point Arena, California
Very early ZB?
There is an interesting ZB for sale here on the forum.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 04#2051004
The changer & underside are really different. Can anyone shed some light on it's history?
Eric
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 04#2051004
The changer & underside are really different. Can anyone shed some light on it's history?
Eric
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)
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That guitar was built sometime in 1965. The changer is original for that guitar, I have seen others like it including Tom Brumley's 1st ZB. Everything on the guitar appears to be original with the exception of at least one or possibly two of the knee levers. They are ZB levers but from a later era in the 60's. This is kinda a rare bird and would make a great project for somebody at that price.
Greg
Greg
- Eric Dahlhoff
- Posts: 836
- Joined: 25 Jan 2010 1:04 pm
- Location: Point Arena, California
no turnbuckles?
There doesn't appear to be any turnbuckles, so it looks like you would have to disconnect each rod & screw it in or out of the changer, and then re-attach it. No bike spokes needed.
It's fun to see the evolution of various designs of PSG.
It's fun to see the evolution of various designs of PSG.
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)
- Chuck McGill
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- Josh Rossow
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- Location: Mchenry, Illinois
Hey guys, I found out what was hanging up. It turned out to be the tuning nut that was getting hung up as it went through the end plate holes. The tapped hole in the tuning nut wasn't perfectly straight and the inside threads were wearing through to the outside of the nut. I ended up replacing it with a nut from the C6 neck that wasn't being used. Thanks for all the info everyone.
- Henry Matthews
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
If those tuning nuts are in a bind and rubbing the sides of endplate, they can cause tuning issues and the answer isn't more oil. The little screw end that holds the tuning nuts can be carefully bent while in place to make tuning nuts pull straight in to eliminate the problem. Be careful, they can break.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Tuning 2nd string half stpo?
My 2nd string half stop is a little sharp. Where do I tune this?
thanks,
Joe
thanks,
Joe
- Henry Matthews
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
Do you have a half stop adjustment or just using 9th string lower as half stop? Some have half stop adjustments sorta looks like a SHo-Bud barrel. If it is 9th string then thats another can of worms.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
- Henry Matthews
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Texarkana, Ark USA
I would just make sure your whole tone lower is tuned and then adjust your half stop for the half tone lower.
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
- Richard Sinkler
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- Joined: 15 Aug 1998 12:01 am
- Location: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana