ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 3 Mar 2003 12:13 am

Hi Howard:

Thanks for the kind words. It's such a great feeling knowing that there is a group of folks out there who are so supportive of music and making music. It's a pleasure to keep this thread going and I'm delighted that so many folks out there have so many good things to say about each other and about ZB Pedal Steel Guitars (and Zane Beck).

I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Beck, but I can tell from his records and also from the great sounding and playing guitars that he left with us that he loved playing music and making pretty sounds.

I spent a couple of hours tonight playing my ZB D-10 (#1077), an older one from 1966, and was having so much fun just listening to that beautiful tone and the smoothness with which it plays. Sure, I've spent a few hours adjusting things here and there, but believe me, the tone is there and so is the love from Zane Beck. The least I can do is share the wealth with everyone else out there.

Greg - thanks to you again for being so helpful in so many ways. It's kinda funny being part of a virtual team like this online, but it's so rewarding and I'm thankful each time I log on. I'll look forward to getting the levers and getting my S-11 back into shape to play some more pretty stuff.

ZBest,
larry

Patrick Ickes · Post by **Patrick Ickes** » 3 Mar 2003 10:55 pm

Larry,
I'm worried about you, buddy. Please get help. Maybe you and Meagan can get married and have a few kids. That would get your mind off these damned ZB guitars. Maybe you'd have to sell or trade them for Jars of Gerber creamed carrots and prunes. That would snap you back into reallity!! We miss the old Larry. The Larry before the Zum, the MSA, and the Forum, and especially the dreaded ZB-itis Maximus. We Miss the Larry with the radius necked b@nj0 and the Santa Cruz guitar.
I could get you out of the city, dude. Let me help you. There's a job opening at the school in town. It's only part time, but imagine what fun it would be to teach trailer trash kids to play the fiddle. I'm sure Meagan would be the better teacher, but with her hands full of your own young-uns', how would she find the time?? Sunshine says we need to do an intervention, but I'm not so sure. I figure if you move up this way, we could have a Bluegrass jam at our house on Thursday nights. I promise I won't sing harmony in Japanese anymore.
God! I feel so guilty! I can't believe I never saw the signs of your sickness.(sigh!)
OK... I'll let you play my old '56 Stratocaster. I know how much you like that. But just for a little while each Thursday night. I hope you're coherent enough to understand what I'm sacrificing for you here.
We miss you two,
hope all is well,
Pat & Debbie

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 4 Mar 2003 12:01 pm

...And the thread was going so well... (sigh)

Hey Pat and Deb -
Miss you two, too. Too bad we don't get toogether too often. Heh heh.

The radius b@njo (the merrywang) and the Santa Cruz are gathering dust as we speak. So too are the mandolin, the fiddle, the tenor guitar, the didjeridu, and the accordian. Seriously. All for these crazy, zany Zane Beck git-tars. I always thought the b@njo was the heaviest instrument around... Silly me.

As far as the Gerber baby food - Megan tells me I'm 3 years old anyway, so it wouldn't be for my "kids" (the dreaded K word). Heck, I like creamed corn... Solid food is for suckers. (:

I might consider trading you that Strat for one of the ZBs, but then you'd be out one fantastic guitar, and I'd still have two - plus your Strat. I've got some extra-super duper white trash magic beans if you've got a '56 Fender Stratomilkcow. I'll trade 'ya straight across. I'll even throw in some free fertilizer. (:

I have to go stop Megan's laughing at me now...

Hope you two are well! Let's pick soon - we'll be in Twain Harte the weekend after next (14-15th).
larry

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 4 Mar 2003 12:04 pm

virtual team...

Team ZB!

we need hats! With Logo!!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 10 Mar 2003 6:23 am

and Tee Shirts!

after seeing the "this Bud's for me" Sho~Bud Shirts in Buy & Sell I am envious!!

Larry? Greg? Want to get together on this?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 11 Mar 2003 6:45 am

Larry? Greg?
hello?

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 11 Mar 2003 8:35 am

Hey Dave! I'm putting new levers on my S-11 right now, so every spare moment has been going into...ZBs!

Shirts, caps, thongs ... all could work. I don't have the digital graphics, but maybe Greg does? It wouldn't be hard to do...

ZBest!
larry

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 12 Mar 2003 6:33 am

am working on a digital ZB Logo graphic...once I have it I'll share...

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 12 Mar 2003 7:12 am

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 18 Mar 2003 9:31 am

I just bought a ZB Custom from Canada

It`s a
D-10 8 foot 4 knee levers
Serial # 0063

Clear laquer with burgundy approns and necks.
E9th mechanics has been replaced with ShoBud style hardware, except changer.
C6th all original.

I would like to know when it`s built and if any of you have some more info about this steel I`ll appreciate it!

Thanks,
Dag[This message was edited by Dag Wolf on 18 March 2003 at 09:36 AM.]

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 23 Mar 2003 10:35 pm

ZBump.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 24 Mar 2003 11:07 pm

Dag, your guitar, 0063 is maybe late 68'to mid 69'. It was probably built in Bakkersfield, California. ZB was only there for a little over a year before they moved it back to Phoenix, Arizona. The SHo-Bud mechacics on the guitar may feel a bit mushy to you since the ZB changer is still being used. It would be very simple to put the correct undercarraige back in that guitar. The guitar would not only play better, but feel much more positive and stable.

But then again, you may like how it is when you get it. So, if it aint broke, don't fix it!!!

Welcome to the ZB family my friend!!!

Greg

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 2 Apr 2003 12:27 pm

Hey ZBers -

Just thought you might want to know that I'm selling all of my ZB gear; I no longer have any need for the tone, feel, and magic of ZB guitars.

In fact, I think I'll sell all of my gear, keep the plastic uke, maybe get into sewing or cooking...

nah, that would be silly.

April Fools! (on April 2nd!)

ZBump!

------------------
Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 2 Apr 2003 3:44 pm

Larry, I got "dibs" on the D-10!!!! Heh Heh.

I will trade you a real nice Flubenhacker guitar. D-10, 23 floor pedals and 72 knee levers. Even has 4 pickup per neck!!!

What do ya say? How about it?

Greg

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 2 Apr 2003 4:53 pm

Actually, Greg, the more "April Foolish" thing to say would have been:

"I'm thinking of replacing the changers and mechanics on my ZBs. I haven't decided whether to replace them with an Emmons push-pull changer or maybe a Maverick, maybe one on the C6 and the other on the E9. I'll also switch out the pickups for some brand new humbuckers, maybe even a piezo. A complete refinish, too, I like rainbow sparkles! I also want to drill holes for a Kahler-locking vibrato bar on the keyhead side. Oh yes, I've also decided that Crisco is a far better lubricant than oil. I mean, you can cook with it, too!"

Aren't you glad April 1st is only once a year?

Seriously, much love and praise for these beautiful playing and sounding guitars!
ZBest!
larry

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 3 Apr 2003 7:10 am

Hi Larry. I have a D-10, 8 x 3 "basket case" serial #0115 and this one one the way- http://www.duanesmusic.com/febzb01.html

Stop by the Great American Music Hall tonight and say "Hi". We're opening for the Derailers. Unfortunatly, I won't have the ZB for the show. Sorry!

DZ

Bob Mainwaring · Post by **Bob Mainwaring** » 5 Apr 2003 8:40 pm

Hey Richard - my SD10 is just one number before yours - 0649 ............will we ever get all these "goodies" documented???

On another tack, what material was used generally in the back neck place?? mine is a kind of padded brown suade stuff with white plastic piping surrounding it all.
All the cutouts are there in the wood for anytime a D10 might be thought of, I guess it was just a matter of what was going on in the shop on which particular day as to which config' was going to be assembled eh?

Bob Mainwaring.Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 9 Apr 2003 8:40 am

ZBump - Just wanted to see consecutive ZB posts on this part of the Forum.

Troublemaker, here!

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 13 Apr 2003 11:39 am

Hi Larry. ZB Custom S-10 3 x 4 #0248 present and acounted for! It was set up by Billy Knowles. It sounds sweet. I got the ZB Fever and there ain't no cure. Now I gotta get the D-10 working.

Dave Z[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 14 April 2003 at 07:40 AM.]

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 13 Apr 2003 3:07 pm

hey larry, just thought you would want to know about the zb posted for sale on ebay. it is an sd-11 with built in effects, pretty weird i know, but from the way it is worded, maybe it came that way, i am not sure, but it looks like a nice one, so i just thought you would want to know so maybe you could get the serial number. hope things are good with you as i haven't talked to you in a while. I'm currently bidding on a twin w/jbl's as i have decided upon the old tube sound over the processed modern stuff. wish me luck in the auction. take it easy.....

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 18 Apr 2003 6:42 am

Thanks, Chris, and the rest of the gang, too.

ZBump and Happy Easter!

Matt Dawson · Post by **Matt Dawson** » 19 Apr 2003 2:33 pm

I just got the ZB Custom on ebay (the SD11 with built in fuzz and phaser) I will forward details when I get them. Incidently the fuzz was made by Mosrite for ZB in the mid seventies, Mosrite shared a building with ZB.
See link below.
http://electroharmonix.ronsound.com/articles/axis.html
Cheers
Matt

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 23 Apr 2003 3:55 pm

Hi Matt:

Thanks for the info on the fuzzzzzzzb. Didn't realize about the companies being in the same space. Kinda makes you wonder about the origin of peanut butter cups, eh? Maybe the chocolate factory and the peanut butter factory were .... naaah.

A fuzzy bee? Let me know the serial number as well - welcome to the ZBClan.

ZBest!
larry

Donnie Blassl · Post by **Donnie Blassl** » 27 Apr 2003 7:21 pm

I have a beautiful ZB, Red & Blond that Zane Beck built for me in 1966. I had heard of his fine work and decided I wanted one. When I called Zane, He told me that he was building one for Tom Brumley and was going to build two of them. He told me if I wanted the second one I could have (buy)it. It is a double 11 with 8 pedals and 2 knee levers. It has the white triple wound pickups that are the best I have ever heard. In fact Zane wanted to buy the pickups back from me when I met him in person at Scotties Steel convention many years ago. Naturally I wasn't about to sell them back to him or any one else.
I am now 74 years old and don't do much playing any more but the ole ZB is still set up in my livingroom and I sit down to it every day.
Most remarkable is that I still have the original sales receipt and shipping receipt. The sales receipt is dated July 19, 1966 and is receipt no. 42. The guitar serial number is 1042. It was mailed to me on July 21, 1966 (Still have the envelope it was mailed in too.) I had sent him a three hundred dollar deposit. The selling price was $1395 less a 400 dollar discount making the final price of $995.00. The steel was shipped to me on July 29, 1966 by air. When it got here and I opened the case I couldn't believe my eyes, it was beautiful. I have some pictures of the steel but don't know how to send them on the internet.
I had to quit playing a couple years ago because of my health but still have it set up in my living room and play it a little each day. I hope this will be of some help to you in your endeavor to write the history of the most wonderful guitar ever built.
Sorry I rambled on for so long. Let me know if there is anything else I can tell you about it.
Donnie Blassl (Donnie B)
donnieb01@aol.com[This message was edited by Donnie Blassl on 28 April 2003 at 03:15 PM.][This message was edited by Donnie Blassl on 28 April 2003 at 05:20 PM.]

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 27 Apr 2003 7:52 pm

what a great story, thanks for telling it to us. i'd sure like to see the guitar. keep on picking!