ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

George Webb · Post by **George Webb** » 11 May 2016 4:57 pm

Hi Greg,
Sorry for the confusion. My guitar is # 1167 as in the title bar of my post to the thread.
I was assuming it was close to the production date of Sonny's # 1163 and was curious if there's any info on the original owner.
Thanks,
George

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 11 May 2016 6:49 pm

Ok, now I understand, just got my numbers mixed up!!!! #1167 was invoiced on Dec. 23rd 1968 to Garnet Scheel. Zane only turned out 4 more guitars after yours before Tom Brumley took ownership in 1969.

Greg

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 6 Jun 2016 12:12 pm

Iis there a link to the list of serial numbers for ZB 's ?

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 18 Jul 2016 4:49 pm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=304026

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 23 Jul 2016 8:56 pm

In the CL ad mentioned in the previous post, there's a pic of the case:

I have a Scranton S-10 with a very similar case--pink lining, the five latches like these and the fixed bolt-on handle. It was my impression that this was a "competent craftsman" item, but seeing this one also from the '60s, perhaps it's the real thing?

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 25 Jul 2016 10:34 am

I have a case just like it for my 1969 D-10 recently sold to a friend.

Andrew Buhler · Post by **Andrew Buhler** » 15 Aug 2016 6:35 am

I wanted to give a shout out to Kevin Hatton, who recently rewound the E9 pickup on my mid-70s D-10. I was initially having trouble locating someone to do the job (I learned that Jerry Wallace is no longer doing ZB pickup rewinds) and remembered that Kevin is now making his own ZB pickups. I contacted Kevin and inquired about potentially rewinding my pickup. I'm glad I did as Kevin's service was top notch and the pickup came out looking and sounding great. Thanks Kevin!

Michael Hutchison · Post by **Michael Hutchison** » 16 Aug 2016 1:18 pm

I have a couple of ZB questions, thought I'd post here in the huge ZB thread so the answers can help others.

I bought the Green ZB from a couple of pages ago from Andrew. He must have lubed it and played it some because it operates freely and silently.

Questions I have:

1) I need the F lever (LKL) moved over a few inches to the right. I've seen two different methods for mounting knee levers on ZBs. Both use a bracked screwed to the rear apron, but some lever shafts go into holes on the front apron, while others use a center rail like such:

B. Greg Jones wrote:
I had to make a new center rail, front rail, a ton of pull rods, all new cross shafts and mounts. The adjustable knee levers were made by Jerry Fessenden. All of the aluminum was sanded and polished. A bunch of hours were spent on this guitar along with a few choice words that I cannot write here on the forum!!! After me throwing several temper tantrums, a few more grey hairs, here is what we came up with. Dave and I have dubbed this guitar "Lazarus", since it has pretty much risen from the grave.

Greg seems to be the guru so I'm sure there's nothing wrong with this approach and it seems to me it would be in fact preferable in terms of flexible mounting locations. Am I right there?

2) Is there a tried and true approach to having knee levers to double duty (both necks)? As is the knees on this guitar strictly do E9 stuff. I would like to have the common C6 lever changes too. Will probably add some center left levers but the right will need to work both necks. I'm thinking that whichever neck has the shortest total pull(s) would need to have a spring in the linkage so that everything can bottom out at the changer. Like with a P/P Emmons.

3) Pull balancing. Somebody double check my thinking on this: If two strings aren't starting/stopping at the same time, it's because the slower one has a leverage advantage at the yoke. Moving the slow string's rod to a hole on the yoke closer to the yoke's pivot should correct this. Right?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 16 Oct 2016 4:07 pm

#0095 checking in-1969 D-10 8 x 5. Blue, faded to brown. Needs TLC!

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 17 Oct 2016 3:03 pm

Dave Zirbel wrote:#0095 checking in-1969 D-10 8 x 5. Blue, faded to brown. Needs TLC!

Dave, you're a ZB magnet.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 19 Oct 2016 5:25 am

Dave, you're a ZB magnet.

It's more like ZB Custom Rescue. This poor old guitar sat in a case for the last 20 years and someone needed to give it a good home! Just like my other ZBs!

I also rescue dogs!

Dave

Eric Dahlhoff · Post by **Eric Dahlhoff** » 19 Oct 2016 6:49 am

Looks like a fun project! Lovely wood on the front. Interesting double reverse linkage on the left - what's it do? Everything work?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 19 Oct 2016 7:56 am

Seems like everything works but some minor balancing will need to be done if a good cleaning of the changer doesn't fix it. One of the leg sockets is funky. At first it was very wobbly and I thought the threads were completely gone but if you switch the legs around it works. One of the sockets and legs must have more thread on it....

The double reverse linkage is making one lever pull on both necks.

Ross Shafer · Post by **Ross Shafer** » 19 Oct 2016 4:22 pm

that's a pretty rig Dave!

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 19 Oct 2016 4:36 pm

Thanks for hooking me up Ross!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 14 Mar 2017 8:37 pm

how you doin'

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 25 Mar 2017 11:30 pm

No financial interest in this, but this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Zane-Beck- ... SwCU1Y1x9a

just popped up on eBay. Presumably one of the first Bakersfield instruments (new serial number sequence), although it retains the Scranton AR decal and Zane Beck signature fretboards.

Oh--and it's [edit: two serial numbers] just before Jerry Garcia's.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Mar 2017 11:53 pm

I wouldn't touch that guitar without seeing clear photos of the underside.

Steve Sycamore · Post by **Steve Sycamore** » 27 Mar 2017 5:31 am

What is the serial number of Jerry's old ZB? I believe I have a rebuilt '69 that is probably close. I'll post some photos when I get a chance.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 27 Mar 2017 7:53 am

What is the serial number of Jerry's old ZB?

Must be 0009. I thought it was 0008, but a search seems to indicate that belongs to another Forumite. (Peter Grant owns Jerry's now; maybe he can confirm.)

[0009 confirmed: Brad Sarno's post on Grateful Dead forum:

http://www.rukind.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 1&start=15 ]

Steve Sycamore · Post by **Steve Sycamore** » 28 Mar 2017 6:17 am

Thanks! Mine is 0147. I took some pictures this morning but the all important texture of the wood wasn't visible. Before renovation it looked very similar to Dave's 0095.

Steve Sycamore · Post by **Steve Sycamore** » 28 Mar 2017 1:54 pm

Yes, the color choice for this renovation was inspired by Tommy White's superb guitar. ZB's are really wonderful guitars. The beautiful, organic tone is second to none in my opinion. Thanks so much to Jerry Fessenden.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 28 Mar 2017 5:37 pm

Very nice! I had one like yours that I sold to a friend.

Current ZB is a 67.

Steve Sycamore · Post by **Steve Sycamore** » 28 Mar 2017 11:39 pm

Beauties that have withstood the test of time...

Jason Duguay · Post by **Jason Duguay** » 21 Jun 2017 12:44 pm

Lucky # 0007 getting itself into trouble once again.

The Steel Guitar Forum

ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Good excuse for a bump

Is this an original ZB case (Scranton)?

Zb

Jerry-adjacent