ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 8 Mar 2006 10:27 am

Maybe posters here should check the box .........Disable Smilies in This Post.

[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 08 March 2006 at 10:36 AM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 8 Mar 2006 10:34 am

I find the ZB Club to be the friendliest on the forum. No need to argue about which guitar is best, right? The camaraderie and mystique keeps me looking for an old example to play around with.

We may not be around at 10,000, but ZB's will be.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 8 Mar 2006 7:45 pm

Chris, I have tendencies as to being a "glue-finger" with guitar parts. One of the more interesting pickups is a ZB triple coil 8-string.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 9 Mar 2006 12:11 am

Hey, Henry (about 20 posts back):

The S-10 seems to be good, but as a mechanic, I'm not, so I'm leaving well enough alone beyond manipulating end screws and tuner buttons. (I keep this in a storage area at work where light isn't very good. I actually was lying on my back on a cold concrete floor late last night trying to make sense of the undercarriage workings--no case to put it in upside down yet.)

A&B pedals work (albeit mismatched heights and action) but C doesn't seem to be pulling the 5th. (I've gotten into trouble before poking at rods and turnbuckles.) KL (RKR--as opposed to RKL...to the extent I can employ the term "used to"...) is not where I'm used to it and whole guitar needs a lift for me, but tone is absolutely great. I wish my ears had had more experience and basis for comparison when I had the first S-10 (#0248) to know if it sounded this good. I never got to hear the D-10--just too many mechanical obstacles to getting it in tune.

Congratulations on your acquisition. Advisory to Forum at large: esoteric inside reference follows. (Are we still in the same karass or parallel ones now that we're both owners and not seekers?)

Hijack cleared; Thread hereby released to other ZB enthusiasts.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 9 Mar 2006 12:57 am

A karass is not subject to titles or caste. I'm glad your guitar functions. The thread on the end of the pedal rods should be #10x32. Get some threaded rod, nuts, nut couplers, and a hacksaw and you'll be uplifted in no time!If you need more technical advise, feel free to call someone smart. They mostly live in red states, somehow

.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 9 Mar 2006 4:27 am

I don't know what makes me want a new guitar
but I had decided to get something new. To do so I had to sell my Scranton D10. A customer came in that played very little and asked me to demo the ZB for him. I hadn't played the guitar in weeks. 2 minutes
back on this amazing late 60's, weights a ton vintage steel and I fell in love all over again. She is mine and not for sale so if any of you guys see me losing my mind trying to sell my ZB again, please feel free to smack me down.

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 9 Mar 2006 8:14 pm

Most of you will have noticed a recent thread looking for info about a ZB on e-bay. The guitar was serial number 0044. I was making enquiries to get more info on the condition of the guitar and it turns out the purchaser is Eugene Beck whose father was a cousin of Zane. He is also trying to gather information Zane's guitars. I have passed on Larry's e-mail and let him know of the existence of this thread and the forum. We may get to hear from him again.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 10 Mar 2006 1:13 pm

Hi Pat:

Thanks for the email. I'd love to meet or speak or correspond with Mr. Beck, the younger. I also wonder whatever happened to the webpage that Zane's daughter Carrie supplied some years (yikes!) ago. Carrie, if you're reading this, I'd still love to fly out and visit and hear more stories about your dad.

Does anyone know how I can reach her?

All ZBest,
Larry

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 10 Mar 2006 3:39 pm

Hey Chuck,
I was actually going to try and smack you around the head an shoulders to try and get you to sell that ZB to me. I was wondering why it disappeared from your website. That is one beautiful, "unmolested" as Bobbe Seymour stated, ZB. Yes, I have been monitoring its whereabouts, with full presidential warrantless approval I might add, since you bought it. I'm glad you are keeping it. You won't be sorry. I really can't handle another one as I'm trying to figure out how to keep both of mine happy and well played.
How are things going with the U-12?
Best Wishes, Duncan

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 10 Mar 2006 5:54 pm

ZB tip of the month: ZB's are notoriously prone to hysteris. That is, returning of the fourth string E sharp after pressing the lower knee lever. Take a tuning meter and check that your E lower returns to "0" on the meter exactly as the E raise. If it doesn't its most likely either a return spring adjustment. Back off your fourth string return spring until it returns flat on the meter and then turn it in one turn at a time until it just comes up to "O" on the meter. Check also that your E raise lever is not coming up FLAT. If it is, first put some 3&1 oil on the roller axle and make sure that the roller moves smoothly. This usually solves the problem. Nearly every ZB that I've seen have not had their fourth string lower spring adjusted properly. It can drive you crazy when that string comes back sharp. The good news is that it is usually adjustable through the lower return spring. Also use your ears as you make the adjustment to make sure that you hear the fourth string returning true in both directions. Make sure that you change your strings regularly also. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 March 2006 at 06:10 PM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 March 2006 at 06:11 PM.]

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 20 Mar 2006 6:12 pm

Kevin,
I was just wondering; did you have a post a while ago saying that you had a split case for ZBs? I thought that you had made such a post, but my search, and I am notoriously inattentive to detail, did not find any such post. I only ask because I just put the blue D-10 in the closet for a while and took out the red SD-10. I noticed just how heavy the D-10 was and thought "how much longer am I going to be able to carry this thing". As I am no spring chicken anymore, I thought of a split case, then I thought of your real, or imagined, post. I am not ready for a GFI, Williams, or any other of the "lighter" steels. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those fine steels. I personally feel that Williams makes a very beautiful steel and I have played a GFI and it sounded fine. But, I thought that a split case for a ZB might be the answer.
Duncan

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 20 Mar 2006 6:21 pm

Yes Duncan, I make split plush velour lined cases for ZB's, push pulls and Sho-Buds. They have wheels on one end a spring handle on the other. Covered in genuine black tough tolex. I just did a set in genuine Fender blond Tweed. They look stunning. Premium hardware. The price is $295.00 for the set in tolex, $395.00 for the tweed. Makes transporting a breeze. Takes ten pounds off the body case. I'll email you some pictures. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 20 March 2006 at 06:25 PM.]

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 20 Mar 2006 7:44 pm

Thanks Kevin,
Youe just answered all my questions that I asked in my email to you. I should have checked the Forum before my email. let me see if I have enough cash for the deal. I have been 100% happy with the fretboards that I bought from you and believe that where ZBs are concerned your devotion to quality is unquestionable.
Duncan

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 21 Mar 2006 4:07 am

Hey Duncan. Been away from my computer. I am
sure glad the customer didn't take the D10.
She is a beauty.If I ever lose it and put the Scranton up again Duncan I will email you first. Kevin it's strange you should comment on the 4th string thing cause
I am having that very problem. Thanks for the heads up on the fix bud. The never ending saga of the ZB Uni. I will let you know.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Mar 2006 9:05 am

Chuck, follow the return spring adjustment that I outlined. Email me if you need help. It can be corrected. Return spring adjustment is critical.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 21 Mar 2006 10:27 am

Hey Duncan, Kevin, and Chuck and ZBFolk:

What Kevin said is true, true, true. Make sure you change your strings, oil and lube, and then check the return spring, in that order (IMO), to get the best performance from your lower lever and an in-tune return.

I'm always astounded at how much maintenance can be avoided on ZBs by just changing the strings and oiling up.

Still looking for contact info for the Beck clan, too.

All ZBest,
LC

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 30 Mar 2006 2:33 pm

ZBers.

I am now a ZB Custom owner. Found one about 15 miles from my house. It is the one that was on Ebay a few days ago. Got down to the last day or so and the owner decided to pull it off and we agreed on a price and I bought it home. It is a D10 8/2 that once was blue but has faded. Beautiful maple. All original and in very nice shape with the original case. Pot date code is 1968 but the serial number is a bit odd according to LC. 00781. We are not sure about the number 1 on the end. Definatly a Bakersfield guitar.

Anyway, I will be tweaking and cleaning and adjusting on it and will report later on the results. Just wanted to let you guys know that these do pop up every now and then when you least expect it.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Mar 2006 3:25 pm

Congratulations Bill. If you need any help let us know.

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 2 Apr 2006 7:15 pm

I dug out my D 11-10 ZB (sn 0013) and played it at a jam today for the 1st time in about 3 or 4 years `. . . forgot what tremendous tone it's got, and THAT with 10 year old strings!!

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 16 Apr 2006 6:29 pm

Hello Folks,
In case anyone was looking for, what appears to me to be, a great ZB D-10, contact Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County. Unfotunately, it is so close to the ZB D-10 that I currently have, or I would be very interested. DISCLAIMER...I have no connections to the organization that is selling this beautiful instrument.
Hope that it finds a good home.
Duncan

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 17 Apr 2006 3:51 am

Duncan,

I saw you checking out David's Sho~Bud! Shame on you....looked good!

Russ

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 17 Apr 2006 3:30 pm

Hey Russ,
Greg Jones is restoring a Sho~Bud, at least I think that I thought that I might have heard that before I had that thought that I thought I had, so I guess I'm in good company, unless I'm included which makes the company not so good...I think.
I hope this clears a few things up.
Duncan

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 17 Apr 2006 3:49 pm

Duncan,
Truth be told, I had a great Sho~Bud D10 Professional from 1970. It was a great guitar but I'm happy with my ZB.

See ya,
Russ

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 17 Apr 2006 7:43 pm

Thats interesting Russ. I too sold a mint condition Professional to get into ZB's. A friend of mine here in Buffalo just bought that D-10 off ebay because he heard mine and is now a believer. Once you hear that sound its hard to deny it. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 17 April 2006 at 10:32 PM.]

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 17 Apr 2006 8:39 pm

Hey Kevin, Russ and Duncan:

All I gotta say is... "Testify!"

Been playing my D-10 lately and compared it to the sound of my S-10 and S-11. It's the same tone!!!

All ZBest to you all -

LC