ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 18 Apr 2006 7:34 pm

Hello Folks,
Just got a lead on yet another ZB, not the one that I posted the picture of a few posts ago. The only problem is that I may have to part with my SD-10 in order to afford it. That's it...I'm gonna go right down to that support group ZBNA. I have already taken the first step and have admitted that "I am powerless over the allure of a ZB and that my desire to own more ZBs has become unmanageable".
What's a poor boy to do?
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 18 April 2006 at 08:35 PM.]

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 19 Apr 2006 3:08 am

Duncan. You've escaped that river in Egypt and well on the road to buying another ZB. I think some addictions are necessary to take our feeble minds else where. Now repeat
after me. Hi. I'm (insert your name)a ZB -forum-aholic. Please Sir may I have another?[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 20 April 2006 at 03:38 AM.]

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 19 Apr 2006 9:46 am

duncan, could you post some info on the zb lead you have? thanks

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 19 Apr 2006 1:00 pm

the signature says it all:

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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 :: '69 Thinline Tele RI :: Vintage Fender 'Tube' Amplification

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

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 20 Apr 2006 4:07 pm

Hey Chris, I'm still waiting on some pictures at the present time. I'd like to take a look at it first. If I decide to pass on it I'll ask the owner if I can show some of the pictures around.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 20 April 2006 at 05:07 PM.]

Jon Knudtson · Post by **Jon Knudtson** » 22 Apr 2006 1:34 pm

Kevin Hatton just made me a set of split cases for my long body ZB D10. Great fit, great construction, saves several very significant pounds. Gotta love those wheels.
I would certainly recommend them to all of us that wince when we even think about that first part of the lift.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Apr 2006 12:51 pm

The spilt cases I am making take an average of 15 lbs. off the weight of the body case. Also, I mount external wheels on the body case with a spring handle at the other end for easy transport. It pretty much settles the weight issue. They have hand lind plush interiors and are in the presentation class as far as cases go. Premium hardware only. The cases are light but strong. Reinforced at all stress points. I have to say that I am proud of these cases. They are really nice. Standard covering is black durable chip resistent Tolex, but I can do them in Fender Tweed, Red, Python, or some other colors for an extra charge. Interiors in black, blue, red, green, zebra, or leapord. You can email me for pictures.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 23 April 2006 at 01:54 PM.]

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 23 Apr 2006 5:52 pm

Hello Chris, and the rest of you folks,
I have received some information on, in my opinion, a very beautiful and resonably priced ZB D-11 8x4 that is for sale. I just cannot afford it without selling one of mine. I don't know the owner, other than exchanging a few emails, and have no financial interest in this ZB. I would love to have a D-11, and if I had the dough I might be all over it. I have explained the expected donation to the owner if it happens to be sold through the SGF. I have many more pictures if you would like to see them.
For Larry, it is serial number 0543.
Duncan

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 23 Apr 2006 8:44 pm

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

You realize, of course, how unusual this is. My experience has been that 6-string guitars sound better than 8-string guitars, sound better than 10-stringers, sound better than 12-stringers. And double necks sound better than single necks. Although, I used to play a triple neck 10-string guitar and each neck sounded diffferent. So I tried swapping the pickups and that wasn't it. I wrote it off to voodoo.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 23 Apr 2006 10:04 pm

Hey Chas:

I didn't mean for what I wrote to be interpreted as "one guitar sounds better than another". What I meant to say was that they all share the same tone - in the same way as a '54 Tele sounds alot like a '55 Tele, and so forth.

To be sure, I have my favorite ZB on any given day, but whether it's an S-10, S-11 or D-10 (I have at least one of each these days...), they all have that unmistakeable ZB-ness to them. Incidentally, the overall tone, sustain, string definition, and voice is pretty amazing on my '67 D-10, but the '69 S-10 is heads and shoulders above my other 70s D-10.

I don't know if I can make the statement about body size and "better sound" - I just haven't found that to be the case all of the time.

But I hope this will not keep any of you away from your ZBs. (;

LC

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 23 Apr 2006 10:30 pm

Duncan, Do you expect the guy to list the ZB on the Forum? Do you intend to field enquiries or is there a contact for the seller? Love to see any pics you may have, especially underneath.

Regards Pat.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 24 Apr 2006 7:07 am

Thanks for the pictures and info Duncan.

Russ

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 24 Apr 2006 7:59 am

What is the "reasonable price" on the ZB?

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 24 Apr 2006 2:00 pm

Hey guys, I am just the in between. I am asking the owner, as I write, if I can either post it outright for her, yes it is a her, or send the inquiries to her. Hopefully, more tonight. At present time the asking price is "around" $1,300.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 24 April 2006 at 05:45 PM.]

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 24 Apr 2006 2:33 pm

I don't mean to divert focus from this very cool D-11, but the pictures bring up a couple of questions.

I've seen black (with and without holes on the edges) and white (with holes on the edges) pickup tops. Is there any timeline that these suggest? Any reason for the holes? Were black and white used interchangeably?

Was the ZB decal/sticker on the pedal bar a later (later than Bakersfield, let's say) addition?

Is the patterning seen here on on the endplates and metal parts a factory or after-factory touch?[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 24 April 2006 at 06:35 PM.]

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 24 Apr 2006 5:16 pm

As I recall, the patterning, also know as "pearling" and "engine turning", is original.

Larry, I suppose that it's not a hard and fast rule. I have some same-model lap steels in both 6-string and 10-string, and the 6-string guitars sound noticably better than the 10 stringers. By the same token, I have a D-12 guitar, that I've done a lot of work to and it doesn't sound anywhere near as good as it should, but then, I built a close-tolerance single neck 9-string pedal guitar, where the neck and the console were machined as a single unit. It sounded better than I thought it should have.[This message was edited by chas smith on 24 April 2006 at 06:28 PM.]

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Apr 2006 8:01 pm

I just got serial # 085 in for restoration. Its a typical neglected ZB mess. It breaks my heart to see these old ZB's in this shape. Corroded. I will post photos of the before and after. I'm going to make this one sing. Its going to shine like a fire engine.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 26 Apr 2006 8:49 am

Its interesting. Everyone that hears my ZB rig gets turned on to the ZB sound. My friend here in Buffalo had the same experience I had when I first heard a ZB. Now he is a believer.

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 26 Apr 2006 10:25 am

Went to a steel guitar show in Benton Illinois over the weekend. Besides my D10 serial # 0154 which everyone enjoyed hearing, there was one D10 for sale serial# 0062 for $1800. Another steel player had one at home with serial # 0066. Let me know if anyone is interested in the one for sale and I can get you in touch with the owner.

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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 26 Apr 2006 8:14 pm

Well, concerning the red ZB custom that Duncan posted above. This morning I got an e-mail from the owner that she was going to sell it to someone else. That was close.

I would have like to have gotten it, but I'm looking at the experience as a "parity". Last year I "snagged" a guitar out the "back door" of a pawn shop, and there were some unhappy people. ZB has restored the balance of the universe.

I need to change my meds.....

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 27 Apr 2006 6:18 am

Chas, Glad we haven't met. yet. hidiho

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 27 Apr 2006 7:25 am

if anyone knows where an s-10 zb is located for sale, i am interested. i think it would be nice to lighten the load a bit. keep me in mind when you hear about one, does anyone know why it seems so hard to find an s-10 zb?

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 27 Apr 2006 8:01 am

Because everyone is trying to lighten the load.

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 27 Apr 2006 10:19 am

right right...

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 27 Apr 2006 1:45 pm

Pat, if that was you who got it, that's a nice looking guitar. Congratulations.
cheers
chas