The Steel Guitar Forum

Thanks for the kind words!

Yes, the ZB does sound great. I am amazed at how the old ZB pickups hold up over time. The coil selector switch was iffy, so I put a Fender strat 5 way switch in, and it works fine. the 2 out of phase positions aren't really useable as I figured.

I built the undercarriage as a hybrid, for lack of a better word. The 3 pedals are installed ZB style with bars and yokes pulling. The 4 knee levers are installed using the "Erv Niehaus" method of MSA pullers with the implementation of compression springs for timing ala an Emmons push/pull.

Eric, here are some photos of the undercarriage.

HI folks --newbie to the forum. I just bought a ZB D-10 serial number #1103. It's missing a finger tip -- the chrome part that the string rides on , on top of the finger. and
the pedal rods. It came with 2 pedal rods but they do not fit on the pedals well and fall off. Other than that it needs to be cleaned lubed and adjusted.
everything seems to work well except the right knee lever that is not connected at the moment, the connecting rods look too short for one.. but I'll figure that out.
I've been told that tri-flow is what I want to use to lubricate and I want to be careful with this not to screw any thing up. the decals are gone off the front
apron and "Ron Wynne" is painted on there. Also the front apron has been painted over with what looks like clear urethane paint. I would like to get this
steel back in shape, any help with the parts would be appreciated. I can post pics and give more info on the pickups later if that helps.

it's black with white faded to cream on the necks white fretboards and white pickup covers.

I'm a lap steel and console steel player, moving on up to pedal steel . My view is that my not start with the best I can get it?



Francis Pavy
Lafayette,La.


1938 Epiphone Electar
1954 fender Champion
1957 Rickenbacker D-8 console.

Mike,
Thanks for the pics! Very interesting food-for-thought!

It looks like RKR is lowering strings 2 & 9? How easy was it to adjust the pulls with those springs? Are there also turnbuckles on those?

How are you dealing with the separate raises on string 4 to F and F# ?

Francis,
I saw that ZB for sale... almost bought it. Definitely a worth project!
You might try contacting Billy Knowles about the missing changer cap piece.
http://www.steelguitareast.com/

Eric Dahlhoff wrote:Mike,
Thanks for the pics! Very interesting food-for-thought!

It looks like RKR is lowering strings 2 & 9? How easy was it to adjust the pulls with those springs? Are there also turnbuckles on those?

How are you dealing with the separate raises on string 4 to F and F# ?

Eric- It was relatively easy to set up RKR, just a spoke with compression springs, as space was at a minimum. I just adjusted the collars on the rods to give the best timing and the springs took care of the rest.

I did use turnbuckles on the other 3 levers, and used them to fine tune the pulls along with the springs and collars.

I had the "magic" F lever spoke welded to a second tuning rod that handle the secondary raise on string 4.

The lowers have a great feel to them. The raises tune fine, but don't have as "snappy" of a stop like the lowers. Still going to tweak a bit, but I am happy with the playability.

The pickup is great!

Mike D

Eric - I thought If i had to I would get one made, my nephew owns a
machine shop. But of course If i can find the correct part that's a
different story.

Thanks


FXP

1938 Ephiphone Electar Lap steel
1954 Fender Champion lap steel
1957 Rickenbacker D-8 console steel

Is there a special procedure to post photos? I can't seem to drag and drop from my computer.

Is there enough interest from owners of ZB steels to warrant my having replicas of ZB fretboards made? I think there might be enough interest for 10-stringers, but what about 12-stringers? Post your thoughts here or drop me a message if you're a ZB owner. ...Tom (tommybradshaw@gmail.com)

Tom,

I'll commit to two 10 string fret boards for my D-10 (white). As long as were discussing cosmetics, a new source of front apron and pedal board decals would be great, too. There's at least two variations...maybe more?

Tom Jordan

I have ZB decals.

Kevin, that is great to know!

Thank you,

Tom

Kevin Hatton wrote:I have ZB decals.

Kevin, would you happen to have D10 keyheads that would fit a '69 ZB?

Tom Bradshaw wrote:Is there enough interest from owners of ZB steels to warrant my having replicas of ZB fretboards made? I think there might be enough interest for 10-stringers, but what about 12-stringers? Post your thoughts here or drop me a message if you're a ZB owner. ...Tom (tommybradshaw@gmail.com)

12-string ZB's seem pretty rare. (I only know of 2)
But there are a lot of 11-strings.
My 11-string is 3" wide at the nut and 3-1/2" at the other end.
How wide are the 10 strings?

I would definitely get at least one fretboard for an 11.

Eric,

The fretboards on my D-10 are the same as your 11 string; 3” at the nut and 3.5” at the top.

Tom

Thanks to Tom Jordan for loaning me one of his fretboards as a guide for making replicas. I believe I discovered a flaw in the board he sent, unless all ZB boards were supposed to be printed with the red color out of alignment with each and every image on the board (?). There are just two colors over the semi-white background color (on this white board he sent). The red is off its mark by about 1/8" in every printed image.

I plan to have these made, but it would seem that I should correct the mismatch of the printing unless owners prefer that the printing should be maintained with the mis-alignment of the red color.

Lastly, would anyone happen to have an extra WHITE-background board they will loan me? He will get new replacements of new boards if he will. ...Tom (tommybradshaw@gmail.com)

Tom,

Funny that you discovered that; I hadn’t noticed until you brought it up! I had a look and yes, the red is out of alignment on all markers.

My vote is to correct them.

Thank you for taking the effort to do these!

Tom

I need a ZB white fretboard to copy that has accurate fret images. If anyone will loan me one, I'll return it and also replace it with a new one once I get them made. ...Tom (tommybradshaw@gmail.com)

I'm working on my ZB D-10 and the only part I'm missing is the finger cap,
Picture enclosed. I've located all the other parts but need this.
Anybody have one of these for ZB?




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A crouple of shots of the ZB D-10 -- serial #1103, I'd appreciate
any info dates of manufacture place of manufacture, etc,,,,,

Francis, your guitar, #1103 was invoiced on Dec. 13th 1967 to a Ritchie Dell. The guitar would have built in Scranton, Arkansas.

Greg

Greg,

Those are interesting facts. Would you have an idea of the date/build location of my D-10, #0614? Pics are on the preceding page.

Thanks!

Tom

Greg Thanks for the Information!

I'm looking at Richie Dell's Obituary --It says He was an accomplished steel guitarist, touring with Charlie Pride, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens and many other country musicians.

also a body guard fr President Eisenhower.

Full Obituary here:

Richard E. ?Richie? Dell Sr., 77, of Midland, Texas, formerly of Youngwood, died Thursday, June 16, 2011, in Midland. He was born June 23, 1933, in New Stanton, a son of the late Homer and Pearl (Crosby) Dell. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War, where he served in Germany. He was also a bodyguard for President Eisenhower. He was an accomplished steel guitarist, touring with Charlie Pride, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens and many other country musicians. He is survived by his son, Richard E. Dell Jr. and wife, Frances Wright, of Monongahela; daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Dell, of West Elizabeth; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Betler, of Latrobe, and Kathleen Johnston, of Youngwood; and his companion, Cleo Jerrell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Michael Dell; and brother, Fremont Dell. Family and friends will be received from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the C. RICHARD McCAULEY FUNERAL HOME INC., 101 S. Fourth St., Youngwood. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Bruce Keen officiating. Interment will follow in Westmoreland County Memorial Park, where funeral rites will be accorded by the Armbrust Veterans Association

Francis,

That is a pretty interesting bit of history. Richard Dell Sr. sounds like he led a full life! Man, if these guitars could talk...

Tom

Hi ZB fans, here is a link to a web page I made to describe the 2 ZB's I just finished reworking.

https://www.steelguitarsohio.com/zbx2

Mike D