ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 9 Oct 2004 9:34 pm

Chuck, check your other post. Should be pretty close to the right date.

Greg

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 20 Oct 2004 7:48 pm

To you folks who still have your ZBs... never sell them. I did, and boy am I sorry.
Duncanthefoolish

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 20 Oct 2004 8:41 pm

I'm keeping mine!

I sold my Sho-Bud.

I bought a Kline.

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Dave Zirbel-
ZB Custom D-10 8 x 5, S-12U Kline 7 x6, Dobro Cyclops reissue, 1967 Fender Telecaster, Webb 6-14E, Fender Super Reverb
The Mother Truckers

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 20 Oct 2004 9:58 pm

ZB... hmmm... nope. Not gonna sell 'em.
(:

All ZBest,
lc

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Larry Chung
'67 ZB D-10 8+4
'71 ZB Custom S-11 4+4
'70 ZB D-10 8+2

[This message was edited by Larry Chung on 20 October 2004 at 10:59 PM.]

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 21 Oct 2004 2:35 am

I did a gig last Sat. nite with the D10 I posted about. What a sound and I tweaked it
once all night. I was amazed with the tone.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 21 Oct 2004 7:48 am

To you folks who still have your ZBs... never sell them. I did, and boy am I sorry.

Like a chump I sold my first '73 ZB S10 (That I bought new) back in '74 and kicked myself in the a$$ for almost 30 years til my current '73 D10 "fell into my lap."

Not sellin' it. Nope. No way. MINE!

A ZB Photo Gallery (I promise I'll update it soon...)

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"I've got the 'ZB Jeebies™' !"

"Pickin' it 'old school' on the Pedizzle Stizzle"
1998 Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: 1973 ZB Custom D-10 8&5 :: Vintage Fender 'Tube' Amplification

www.dvanet.net :: zbcustom73@dvanet.net :: www.lasttrainhome.com
:: My Tribute to the Hot Club of America in Hi-Fi

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Oct 2004 8:15 am

I gave up some of the best guitars in the world to play my ZB-D10. What a sound.

Post by **b0b** » 21 Oct 2004 12:54 pm

Received via email: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I happened to fall upon your site today and noticed some threads about ZB customs. My late grandfather owned and operated ZB customs from around 1986 until his death in 1992. He made many ZB steel guitars and I may have alot of information that some of your members may be interested in. I have no interest in steel guitars...this is why i'm not a member of your site...but would like to pass on information to anyone that requests it. Feel free to give them my email address...

Jimmy Funkhouser jf57@evansville.edu <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Andrew Buhler · Post by **Andrew Buhler** » 22 Oct 2004 5:36 am

I just spotted a ZB D10 for sale at Bobbe Seymour SGN's website.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 25 Oct 2004 12:41 am

Now I've gone and done it.My ZB Custom D10 is now in about a hundred pieces after I finally worked up the nerve to start restoring it.Been putting this off for 6 months or more since I got her.Partly because I loved playing it so much and partly I was scared to start.Now I've worked on push/pull guitars before but this thing really had me scratching my head.The under carriage is so dirty and full of oil/grease the only way to clean it properly is to take it apart.I must say though , once you started ,you begin to realise how it works and it becomes a lot easier.
The best part of the ZB ,apart from killer looks and tone,?--the changer,so simple ,so functional.The worst part ?--the pull rods and their adjustment soooooo????
Are these guitars supposed to be oily and dirty underneath ? what do you guys lubricate with ?
I'll keep you informed of my progress if anyone is interested.
Regards Brendan

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Oct 2004 6:45 pm

Its unfortunate that alot of the ZB's out there today have been poorly maintained and sometimes butchered. I am starting a D-10 restore next week. They play beautifully once the're balanced and adjusted.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 26 Oct 2004 3:14 am

How do the guitars Zane Beck built compare with others such as Tom Brumley ?Are they any better mechanically or tone wise ?Just curious is all.
Brendan

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 26 Oct 2004 6:15 pm

Kevin said: "They play beautifully once the're balanced and adjusted."

That is an understatement. It took me a few weeks, maybe months to get my ZB to where it was mechanically balanced and tweaked. Once dialed in at the changer and the pedals and the equalizers, it really plays like a dream. Very smooth, very solid, very precise. Honestly feels tight and precise like some of the newer expensive guitars. It's really an amazing and simple design. If you've pretty much settled on a basic copedent and aren't into adding and messing with changes all the time, then the ZB is for you. It's a very rock solid machine. And what a tone!

Brad Sarno

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 28 Oct 2004 1:13 pm

The D10 on Ebay is missing most of the e9th
pull rods and all of the C6th. I had the pawn
shop send me pics of the underside to see how
many levers it had. It states there are some
missing but even though the pics are dark it
looks to me to pretty empty. If anyone wants
pics let me know.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 8 Nov 2004 10:47 am

I said in an earlier reply that I had dismantled my D10 and took lots of pix on the way.To cut it short the pix were deleted.Now I'm fine with most of the mechanics but the wiring has me stumped.does anyone have a wiring diagram ? Please ?
Regards Brendan

John McConnell · Post by **John McConnell** » 10 Nov 2004 1:56 pm

Back in the mid seventies I had a double 10 ZB that I sold to Ned Self in San Francisco. He was playing with a singer named Robin Pearl and also wrote a colum in the Pedal Steel Guyitar magazine of that era. I often wondered what happend to Ned an that grand old ZB. Ned was playing a SHOBud Rustler at the time and I loaned him the ZB for a week knowing that he could never go back to the rustler after having that ZB for a week. I was right. John McConnell, Yuba City, CA

ShoBud Professional D10- Fessenden S13- Peavey Nashville 1000

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 10 Nov 2004 6:57 pm

Hey Guys! I'm coming back to the club, never to leave again. I stupidly sold my beautiful ZB SD-10 to Brian in NJ, who sold it to Andrew in Va (my original home)and I was left stupidly ZBless. I am hopefully about to buy another ZB that has that sound, only we can hear, and play it until I die. Gentlemen...please excuse my momentary lack of reason. Duncan

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 10 Nov 2004 9:35 pm

Duncan:

OK, maybe a bit premature, but welcome back and all ZBest!

A born-again ZBer! Love it!
LC

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Larry Chung
'67 ZB D-10 8+4
'71 ZB Custom S-11 4+4
'70 ZB D-10 8+2

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Nov 2004 8:44 am

Welcome back Duncan. I've played them all. For me, there's just nothing like that ZB sound and look.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 11 November 2004 at 10:05 PM.]

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 13 Nov 2004 3:13 am

Thought I would give Larry a "bump". If things go well I'm about to become a new member of the ZB family. I'm going to buy my dad's red and natural top ZB D10. Serial number 1124 bought in May of 68. I think he must have played this one at the Long Horn Ballroom in Dallas. I've got a picture somewhere of him behind this very guitar. Its exactly like Dave Zerbil's guitar pictured in the ZB photo gallery. Now if I can find myself a wheel ease case to save a hernea, I'll be in business.

Rick

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 13 Nov 2004 10:38 am

Rick, the solution is to get a split set of cases from Thomas case company and put external wheels on the body case with a spring handle on the other end. Wade Thomas makes beautiful plush interior split ZB cases. Totally solves the weight problem. If you ever need external wheels let me know. They make them here in Buffalo. I wouldn't carry a fully loaded ZB case.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 13 November 2004 at 10:44 AM.]

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 13 Nov 2004 10:51 am

Great idea Kevin. Thanks for the tip. Two cases with half as much weight each. That'll work!

Rick

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 13 Nov 2004 10:55 am

Hey man where do I find Wade Thomas cases? I did a search but came up with nothing. Also can you email me the source for wheels to fit? Thanks

Rick

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 14 Nov 2004 1:23 am

Wade Thomas 336-226-6811.
Wheels- TCH in Buffalo 716-892-8852. call and ask for a catalog. If you can't get let me know.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 21 Nov 2004 8:12 pm

Does anyone have any close up pix of the underside ofa D10 ? Mine is in pieces and I'm having trouble putting it back together
Regards Brendan