ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 3 Oct 2013 3:15 pm

I guess that's my point. The changer is a key factor.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 23 Oct 2013 4:11 pm

CZB on ebay.

Early ZB

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Oct 2013 5:28 pm

Add at least another $650-750 for extra knees and a setup.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 23 Oct 2013 6:18 pm

Well ... # 1035 ... could use a bit more work. But it does have 6 KLS and is just a tad overpriced.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/msg/4100420379.html

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Oct 2013 6:48 pm

"hand made by the man who invented the pedal steel". Someones smoking their socks. This guitar was originally issued to Don Edwards in June 66. Because of the mutilation of the guitar (block in front) and the condition of the finish this guitar is in the $500 price range. A looooong way from the $3900 being asked. ZB's are THE most abused guitar that I've ever seen. It's really a shame what happens to them. Thank goodness a number of them have been restored.

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 24 Oct 2013 11:34 am

Kevin Hatton wrote:Add at least another $650-750 for extra knees and a setup.

Is it also missing a "C" pedal?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Oct 2013 2:40 pm

Looks like it.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 24 Oct 2013 4:46 pm

It never ceases to amaze me at the things that people can do to steel guitars and other instruments also. Wander what the block on front is for. Looks like a music holder.

We had a guy here in town paint a 66 Emmons D-10 mica guitar with a paint brush and painted it bright purple.

Matt Sutton · Post by **Matt Sutton** » 30 Nov 2013 10:52 am

Hi All,
I've been going through this thread and learning a great deal, all while playing #1008 daily and loving it.
I feel I've got a pretty good handle on the mechanics now, but I wanted to make sure I understood a couple things before I start bringing it up to spec. I've been studying the photo's of of everybody's changers and it looks like mine is significantly different:

It's way shorter than others posted here, and there's no means to adjust the spring tension. Then there's this:

This is what I've got instead of the spoke-ended rods. As pictured, the left side connects to the pull rod, the hook engages the changer, and the right side extends to the end-plate and the tuner.

Another possible difference is the thread size: mine seem to be at 6-32, while others here have written about 5-40 or 6-40.

Also, none of the turnbuckles (old or new) are actually turnbuckles.

So, I guess my question is whether this steel is just a much different design, and to work on it I'm going to have to figure out what Mr. Beck intended; or if this steel's just been lead astray, so to speak, in set-up and maintenance.

All ideas welcomed. It's an incredible instrument already, I just want to bring it closer to what it can be at its best.

Thanks,

Matt

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Nov 2013 3:30 pm

Yes Matt. Your guitar is significantly different. It looks like Mr. Beck was still experimenting on the 8th guitar.

Matt Sutton · Post by **Matt Sutton** » 30 Nov 2013 4:06 pm

Thanks Kevin. That what I was thinking, too. Little piece of history, with a lot of music to offer.
I've got a line on a local shop that should be able to fabricate some of those changer hooks ( there's a bunch of C6 pulls missing), and think I've found some hex material I can tap for turnbuckles. Lots to learn.
Does that 6-32 thread sound right to you?
Feel free to ask for photos, measurements, or anything else in the name of ZB scholarship.
Thanks,
Matt

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Nov 2013 10:36 pm

The later ones were 6-40 left/right hand threads. You have to get a left hand die. I would check the thread count. If you can get that guitar back up mechanicaly you have a piece of history. Tom Brumley's first ZB was even different from that one.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 11 Apr 2014 12:53 pm

Picked up a cute single 1969 blonde ZB today (thanks for dumping her b0b). She sounds a little different - a little better -than my redhead(early 70's). What were the design differnces that would cause this. The pickup on the red one has phillips head screws and the blonde has hex. Also maybe the blonde has stainless fingers and maybe the red has aluminum? Just curious!

John Sassano · Post by **John Sassano** » 14 Apr 2014 9:38 am

Beautiful Dave! If you ever let an S10 ZB go .. keep me in mind!
Here in Danville, CA
John

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 19 May 2014 9:38 am

What were the original tuners on early ZBs, are they Klusons? I've got Grovers on my and I want to swap them out.

thanks,
Joe

Bob Hamilton · Post by **Bob Hamilton** » 19 May 2014 9:52 am

#1060 and 1062 are Klusons.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 19 May 2014 1:34 pm

Joe, your guitar had Klusons on it originally. Somewhere in its lifetime, the Klusons were swapped out with Grovers. You cant go back to Klusons because the hole to mount the key in the headstock has been enlarged. You might have to go with another set of Grovers but check the shaft diameter.

Greg

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 20 May 2014 9:30 am

Thanks Greg.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 19 Jul 2014 3:16 pm

No personal interest in this, just throwing it out there for ZB fans and aspiring owners:

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/4576185911.html

(And to reactivate the giant ZB thread.)

Dale Kath · Post by **Dale Kath** » 27 Jul 2014 3:49 pm

Ben, I have a bid on that very same guitar. But I am having reservations as some players are warning me they are a bugger to set up correctly. Got 8 days to go and not sure if I should go for it or let it go. Any opines appreciated before the the final bid.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 1 Sep 2014 6:54 am

Where are the 12 string ZBs? I know where two are.

Zane must of had made more than that since he played his 12 string E6/9/13 tuning in the 60's...

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 15 Sep 2014 5:16 pm

Hi folks. I posted this in another thread but thought i would try here as well.

Has anyone tried or use a .021 plain for G# on their ZB guitar?

Curious how it compares to the .020 and .022 plain regarding the tone. I will most likely try it but welcome any comments and feedback.

My reason for wanting to try it is that I like the bigger sound of a .022 but since I play a ZB, it makes the pulls for the B pedal even trickier to balance than it already is with the .020. I don't want to use a wound 6th string because I prefer the shorter pedal throw with a plain (that would solve the balancing issue).

Thanks
Dave

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 21 Sep 2014 11:55 am

Scranton D-10 8/4 on eBay. No involvement on my part, but perhaps of interest to someone within driving distance of (or with relatives who owe them a favor in) Florida.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ZB-DOUB ... 23411638e3

Mike DiAlesandro · Post by **Mike DiAlesandro** » 30 Nov 2014 5:39 am

My good friend kindly sold this ZB back to me, 5-6 years after he had bought it from me. I am quite happy.

What year do you think it is?

Mike

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 30 Nov 2014 6:59 am

Between '65 and '68. Greg Jones and/or Kevin Hatton will be able to tell you its age to the day.

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ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

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