***********My new Giles Zum body**************

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 16 Mar 2015 1:43 pm

At the Dallas Show last year, I approached Mark Giles to see if he would make me a replacement body for my D10 mica covered guitar. The mica was coming away and was warped in a few places. Mark very kindly agreed to make me a lacquer body, and we agreed that I would pick it up at this year's show. Well, I collected it from Mark over the weekend and I was stunned when I took it out of its packaging. It is simply sensational.

I have tried to take photos of it with my phone but it doesn't do justice to to his craftsmanship. However, Bruce Zumsteg wanted to take a look at it, and I know that he has a lurk on here from time to time, so here are a couple of shots of the cabinet on the bonnet (hood?) of my hire care outside my hotel today. Those are my original endplates that I brought to Dallas last year, and they are covered with masking tape to protect them.

The cabinet is in flamed maple with mother of pearl inlay.

I have to repackage the cabinet to the same standard that he did it before I opened it up. All I can say to Mark is - thanks my friend, you have exceeded my expectations that's for sure. The wait was well worth it.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 16 Mar 2015 1:55 pm

Wowie Zowzie that's pretty.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 16 Mar 2015 2:05 pm

Another picture - it shows off the MOP inlay better.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 16 Mar 2015 3:18 pm

WOAH!!

W. Van Horn · Post by **W. Van Horn** » 16 Mar 2015 3:56 pm

Dang!! Great shade of blue. Congrats!
If those are your end plates, does that mean the zum is currently disassembled?

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 16 Mar 2015 4:00 pm

I had to give the end plates to Mark to make sure that they fit the body snuggly. I had to take some pull rods out to get at the end plate screws, but most of the undercarriage on the old body is still in place.

Gianni Gori · Post by **Gianni Gori** » 17 Mar 2015 4:03 am

A real beauty!

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 17 Mar 2015 5:04 am

Beautiful deep blue.

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 17 Mar 2015 8:24 am

Mark is the best.
Do you have pics of the underside?

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 17 Mar 2015 8:31 am

That blue is a stunning color.

Ken, did Mark say what the name of that color is? Superb work. Play that Zum with enjoyment and pride. stevet

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 17 Mar 2015 9:46 am

It's beautiful, Ken!

But are you going to reassemble it? Definitely a task that would defeat me!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 17 Mar 2015 1:19 pm

Thanks for the very kind comments guys. My photos have captured about 10% of its beauty.

Dag
The cabinet is a replacement for a faux woodgrain mica cabinet that still has the original mechanism, necks and headstocks on it. They need to be swapped out into the new lacquer body. I am putting Telonics pickups in the new guitar.

Hi Roger
My good friend Dave Wheelhouse, who makes the splendid Sheffield pedal steel in the UK is going to give me a hand with the re-assembly. I am going to take my time with that I can tell you.

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 17 Mar 2015 2:02 pm

Only challenge I can see will be to get the holes drilled in the right place. I think most steel builders use a template to guide the holes. If you not get the holes in the right place things might get jammed.

It looks fantasticðŸ˜ƒ

Another good thing is that Mark Giles has built #1000 Zumsteel I belive.

Don Mogle · Post by **Don Mogle** » 17 Mar 2015 4:49 pm

Beautiful Ken! Can you post some pictures of the finished product once you get it back together? Thanks.

Don

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 17 Mar 2015 6:44 pm

Mark's working on his third re-finish for me, and I have a couple of MSA's he built the cabinets for. He does superb work. "You're not in a hurry are you?"

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 18 Mar 2015 2:02 am

Dag, I believe Ken told me that Mark used a Zum template,so holes should be there,but perhaps Ken can confirm.He will be recovering from his overnight flight right now but will perhaps see this later.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 18 Mar 2015 7:34 am

Mark built the cabinet for this Rains Spirit model steel. I bought it from a Canadian steeler.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 18 Mar 2015 8:15 am

Here is my MSA with "body by Mark".

JE:-)>

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 18 Mar 2015 8:54 am

Malcolm,
The template should do the trick ðŸ˜ƒ

Beautiful cabinets! ðŸ˜Ž

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 18 Mar 2015 2:57 pm

The rear apron is pre drilled to take the cross rod bushings. The rest of the guitar will be done with patience and extreme care.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 19 Mar 2015 1:41 am

Another one that Mark did.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 19 Mar 2015 2:20 am

Ken,that cabinet is gorgeous. If I ever buy another steel, it's going to have a Msrk Giles Blue Darlin' cabinet just like that.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 19 Mar 2015 2:34 am

Thanks Mike. I thought that my aging Zum would have new life breathed into it with a new cabinet. Now that Bruce is no longer making these legendary guitars, I want to keep mine in tip top condition. They should hold their value well.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 19 Mar 2015 2:37 am

Ken Byng wrote:My good friend Dave Wheelhouse, who makes the splendid Sheffield pedal steel in the UK is going to give me a hand with the re-assembly.

I would be overwhelmed, faced with this kind of reassembly project, but it looks like you'll be in very capable company. Your new Zum is gonna be awesome, congratulations.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 19 Mar 2015 4:53 am

I can't help but think a Wheelhoused Zum would feel like a brand new guitar.