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Topic: ZB 11 String Rebuild |
Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 4:20 pm |
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Last year I bought this ZB #0456 as a project. It had been torn apart and not put back correctly - didn't really function. It was built with 5 pedals and 2 knees, so maybe it was originally a C6 or a Uni. But mostly it was parts in bags. 
It sat around until lock-down and I suddenly had lots of "spare" time. I had to tear all the guts out anyway, so at that point I thought I would try a refinish job too (I hope nobody is offended)
You can see that the original color was bright green.
Well... it's got a whole new color combo now! And I've set it up with 4 pedals & 4 knees. It sounds great & plays smooth like it should. I even splurged on a new set of light-weight legs. 
If I ever get to go play somewhere again it will be a joy to haul it around.
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Brandon Schafer
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 4:26 pm
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| That is outstanding!!! |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 7:37 pm
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| Very, very nice. Always wished I had one of those... |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 8:01 pm
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Do you mind if I ask what technique you used to get the sharp lines between the blue stained and natural areas or inlay?
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Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 10:40 pm Details
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Thanks guys 
I used 3M automotive masking tape. First I used amber shellac on the inlay to give it a gold color, and seal against the stain. Then I swapped the masking tape and applied blue aniline dye. I used Watco oil on the natural parts to bring out the birdseye.
The combo of tape & shellac allows the fine line.
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 10 Aug 2020 11:47 pm
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Awesome!!
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2020 10:11 am
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Love the color combo! Bet it sounds like a zillion bucks, at least I hope so.
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Frank Freniere
From:
The First Coast
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Posted 11 Aug 2020 11:08 am
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WOW - love the color combo!
Last edited by Frank Freniere on 12 Aug 2020 12:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 11 Aug 2020 10:12 pm Zb
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| John McClung wrote: |
| Bet it sounds like a zillion bucks, at least I hope so. |
Yep - it's my new favorite 
Sure wish I could play it in public somewhere... 
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Ken Mizell
From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2020 2:11 pm
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Absolutely beautiful. It would be cool if you could find a ZB Custom decal. They probably don’t exist anymore though.
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Steeless. |
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Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
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Posted 15 Aug 2020 3:42 am
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| Ken Mizell wrote: |
| Absolutely beautiful. It would be cool if you could find a ZB Custom decal. They probably don’t exist anymore though. |
I think Greg Jones still has decals |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2020 10:03 am
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| Very nice good job for sure!!! |
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Dennis Montgomery
From:
Western Washington
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Dustin Rhodes
From:
Owasso OK
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Posted 15 Aug 2020 11:52 am
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| That turned out really nice. |
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John Goux
From:
California, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2020 7:49 pm
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Sweet. Nothing sounds like a ZB. And 11 strings would be fun.
John |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 15 Aug 2020 9:28 pm
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Yeah, it would be, John. I've played a couple 11 stringers lately, and that low string is big fun.
All those years I played in 4 piece bands, I sure could've used that low E string.
Beats me why I never got one back then... |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 16 Aug 2020 7:29 am
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| Eric, email me your address. I'll send you a decal for that guitar. |
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Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Aug 2020 9:35 am
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Eric
Beautiful work and craftmanship.
I am sure it sounds as good as it looks. |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 16 Aug 2020 10:10 am Zb
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Thanks you all for the compliments
I am really enjoying playing it. It sound great & I've got all the knees just where I want them.
Kevin, thanks for your offer, I sent you a PM.
For what it's worth, here is how I set up my 11 strings. It's extended E9 with E-G#-B-E on the bottom. The F lever drops low E to C#.
So A pedal + F lever at 3rd fret gives E-B-E-G#-B-E on strings 11-10-9-8-6-5 same intervals as guitar E/D tuning.
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Andrew Goulet
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Posted 23 Aug 2020 5:40 pm
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| Wow! Great job! Also, nice taping skills. If I tried that I'd have a big ball of green tape and a lot of curses. |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 24 Aug 2020 11:27 am
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| Andrew Goulet wrote: |
| Wow! Great job! Also, nice taping skills. If I tried that I'd have a big ball of green tape and a lot of curses. |
Well... I do have to wear my reading glasses.
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"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Billy Knowles
From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
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Posted 26 Aug 2020 7:51 pm Zb
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Beautiful job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Billy Knowles
STEEL GUITAR EAST
Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician
my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 1 Sep 2020 10:04 am
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| Eric Awesome job! Zane Beck would be proud of You Sir! Beautiful Steel Guitar! |
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 2 Sep 2020 9:15 pm ZB decal
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Thanks Kevin Hatton for the decal
I hope I get to play this in public some day!
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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