ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 28 Apr 2003 2:33 pm

Hi Donnie!

Thank you very much for your wonderful story and for all the details, too!

I'm looking at my ZB database and it looks like Tom Brumley's ZB (or at least one of them) is serial number 1039, which is only a few numbers off of yours.

It sounds like a marvelous guitar and I hope that, when I get on in my years, that I am able to sit down at my ZB and play "Together Again" every day, too!

I would offer to scan the photos you have and return them to you right away, but I also respect whatever your wishes might be.

My ZB D-10 is #1077 and the pickups really sound great. Makes me not want to play either of my single neck ZBs...

Best wishes,
larry chung

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

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 28 Apr 2003 7:01 pm

well, Larry, if you ain't gonna play 'em sell 'em to someone who will!

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 28 Apr 2003 7:10 pm

Help me, Dave. I really want to sell them but my girlfriend won't let me. She keeps saying that my living room will never be the same.

I just want some plants and a new bookshelf... (:

My place looks just better with a ZB in every room. Just think of all the eggs, onions and bread I can slice with 'em. Beats a Cuisinart anyday. Greg, wouldn't you agree?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 29 Apr 2003 12:15 pm

My place looks just better with a ZB in every room.

Now there's something to strive for... and I mean EVERY room!

Just think how much practice you could get done while sittin' on the john...

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 29 Apr 2003 12:31 pm

Yeah, I know, that C pedal would take some doing... maybe better with a single neck, less reaching...

heh heh
lc

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 1 May 2003 5:16 pm

hi Greg Jones , i met you at renfro valley a year or so back and you played a ''ZB'' and it looked great and you showed me one that you had back stage and it looked great also and then you had a mullen in cols. at the jam for greg zimmer ( by the way are you going to be at the jam in cols. this june ??) thanks,,Gary.

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 1 May 2003 5:24 pm

HI, GREG JONES , I MET YOU AT RENFRO VALLEY A YEAR OR SO AND I TALKED TO YOU AT THE END OF THE SHOW AND YOU PLAYED A ''ZB'' THAT NIGHT AND YOU SHOWED ME ONE YOU HAD BACK STAGE THEY LOOKED GREAT..ARE YOU COMING TO GREG ZIMMERS SHOW IN JUNE ? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE GREAT..THANKS ..G.P.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 1 May 2003 8:53 pm

Hey Gary!! I think I was playing my 65' D-10 ZB that night. The one I had backstage was probably the S-11 that was formerly owned by Tom Brumley. I try to keep a steady rotation between the ZB and Mullen guitars on the shows here at Renfro Valley. I just used the S-11 ZB on a session last Sunday. It really goes to tape well, such a wonderful sounding guitar.

As far as Greg Zimmer's show this year, I will not be able to attend. I would love to be there and see my old friends, but the paycheck is here at Renfro!!!

Good hearin' from ya!!!

Greg

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 2 May 2003 5:45 am

Just to let Greg know, I took my ZB out for a weekend romp at our club date in virginia this past weekend... man what a treat for the ears, as well as the eyes.

It behaved itself admirably, stayed in tune, felt great to play. Sounded so darn good...

I felt almost 22 again

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 5 May 2003 11:24 am

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

ZBump.

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » 6 May 2003 7:49 am

Hello fellow ZB Enthusiasts,Greetings from the Tarheel State. During the 19 years that I lived in Arizona, I ran into Bill Sims in Phoenix and paid a vist to his ZB shop. He had built a D10 8/8? ZB Custom Steel Guitar for the late Gene O'Neal. Gene was playing for Charlie Pride in 1973. Gene and Bill had a little disagreement on how many promotional guitars one should display and the guitar ended up back in the shop in Phoenix in 1974. It was the first thing I saw when I entered the door. All flat metal was jeweled. The body is black laquer with fake mother of pearl inlay. Bill let me have it for $1200 on a pay as you can basis. I gave him $100 a month and no interest. (Great Guy).
I am still the proud owner of ZB Custom Serial #0478 D10 8/5. It is the only factory made steel guitar I have ever owned. Until recently, I played it almost every weekend. Mr. Billy Knowles, Kenansville, NC has completed a restoration on the black beauty. You can see a picture of this ZB at [URL=http://www.masga.org/zbcustom/page3.html]Billy has a few ZB's that he has restored. He is an avid ZB enthusiast. I am proud as punch of this new 1973 ZB.
Great thread, Larry.

------------------
Edwin G. Shoemaker
ZB Custom D10 8/5
'75 Session 400 w/JBL Session 500 w/BW

[This message was edited by Shoe on 15 May 2003 at 05:14 AM.][This message was edited by Shoe on 16 July 2003 at 09:11 AM.][This message was edited by Shoe on 16 July 2003 at 09:23 AM.]

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 6 May 2003 10:50 am

Thanks, Edwin, for your ZB info and stories. You and the rest of the ZB crew out there are keeping this thread and these great guitars alive and well.

Please send us all some on-line photos when the guitar is done.

A great big specialy HOWDY and THANKS to you all.

ZBest,
lc

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 12 May 2003 12:57 pm

More ZB news on the way from Merry Olde England!

ZBump!
lc

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 12 May 2003 2:43 pm

I think this thread needs its own forum!

I recently bought a ZB S10 3&4 from Steel Guitar Nashville. I'll provide you with the serial# when it arrives.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 12 May 2003 4:19 pm

Hi Howard:

Congratulations. I saw the S-10 3+4 on Bobbe Seymour's website and it was (is) very puuuuurdy.

I'll look forward to getting the lowdown and serial number on this one.

Best,
larry

ps - I think it's wonderful that so many people have so much good stuff to say about ZBs - like me!!! There maybe a website in the not-to-distant future with lots of pictures and info, too!

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 18 May 2003 7:21 am

ZBump!

I have information on nearly 60 ZB guitars right now. Keep the good stuff coming!

If you have any questions about your ZB, please let me know and I'll do whatever I can. Except sell you one mine... (;

zbguitarinfo@yahoo.com or just post here!

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 18 May 2003 8:12 am

Wow has this thread grown! I still have a '67 model, D-11-10, (11 strings on top)at my mothers house. Red and natural birdseye. I had a '66 model that I played for 20 years. It had been in a flood also. You could still see a film of mud underneath but it played fine. That guitar was all natural birdseye. Zane Beck was a big part of my life. I first met him when I was 10 years old. That's when I got the '66 model. After I was old enough to drive I would go to Zane's, 2 1/2 hours away, and spend the weekend with him and Faye. Nobody has ever done more to encourage young players than Zane. If he would have been in a location that wasn't as far out of the way as Scranton AR, his impact would have been alot larger.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 22 May 2003 12:12 pm

Thanks, Randy, for the information and the stories about Zane and Faye. I never had the pleasure of meeting either of them, but have heard Zane on a couple of amazing albums. He was a great player and a great craftsman, designer, and a great guy, too!

I'm impressed at the simplicity and ingenuity of the ZB design, the elegance and beauty of the asthetic, and the TONE!!!

Please keep the stories, serial numbers and memories coming!

I have 60 serial numbers and info on 80 guitars so far. And, for those of you at Strawberry Music Festival this weekend, I'll have my ZB student S-10 3+1 for some pickin' under the stars in the Sierras!

Let the good times roll!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
larry

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

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 29 May 2003 2:20 pm

ZBump!

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 3 Jun 2003 9:07 am

Where have all the ZBs gone,
Longtime passing,
Where have all the ZBs gone,
Longtime ago,

Where have all the ZBs gone,
Sitting in the closet, everyone,
When will they ever learn,
When will they ever learn.

(;

ZBestBump.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 3 Jun 2003 11:12 am

gee Larry... I thought I was depressed because it's rained almost every day for two months here... and now I have to contemplate all the poor lost ZB's, so far from those who could love them...

sorry; I saw "Finding Nemo" this weekend... I'm kind of verklempt....[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 03 June 2003 at 12:13 PM.]

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 3 Jun 2003 6:56 pm

While in the Navy in 1972 I contacted Sonny Curtis and asked him about buying a steel and if the ZB's were the way to go, he said yes. I ordered one from a musical warehouse in Texas, it was a blue single neck. I played it for about 2 years and then got a double from a guy in Eugene Oregon.

Greg Lasser from SF turned me on to them as he did many others at that time. They were everywhere on the west coast.

Harley James in Portland has gone back to a single neck for some "Buck Owens" vintage sounds with his band Buckles. He sure has that sound. I don't feel any other guitar sounds like a ZB.

Danny Shields (of MSA fame) helped design the pickups. He told me that if you take the bottom plate off of the pickup and float the pickup on a couple of large drops of silicone you can get rid of most of the pedal noise. I did this and it worked great. The plate on the bottom was meant to increase the magnetic power of the pickup, boy does it ever.

Larry Behm
503-722-7562

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Jun 2003 7:35 am

Does anyone remember about two or three years ago, there was a small scale (12" in length)ZB that was on ebay?

The link was posted on this forum and it was the most curious thing anybody had ever seen. No one knew anything about it. It was actually a working model. I remember the end plates were upside down.

And the best was Jim Cohen's post with regard to this miniture...."Yeah, I play a little steel"...

You should be in the Hall of Fame for that line alone.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 11 Jun 2003 7:13 am

ZBump.

Bob Mainwaring · Post by **Bob Mainwaring** » 16 Jun 2003 1:59 pm