ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 7 Jun 2005 10:33 pm

I probably put the decal on that guitar.

John R.: Wow--cool! The bonus intelligence just keeps on comin'. As I've posted before, ol' #0131 and I were set to travel up to Bakesfield in January (to see Larry Petree about a setup) until an untimely smashup in the rain. I'm about to get another (older, funkier) Oldsmobile roadworthy (been driving an '86 Astro van with 180K miles in the meantime), so maybe I can resume the quest and you and 0131 can renew acquaintances.

Ben

(Am I post #700 yet?)[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 07 June 2005 at 11:34 PM.]

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 7 Jun 2005 10:43 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I hope they steal play good after all these years.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

John:

I won't rehash my many past frustrations here (abundantly detailed in past posts) about trying to get 0131 set up and playing (I've only had it about three years; can't answer for the previous 33), but suffice it to say, it needs knowledgeable TLC and might respond to a laying-on of hands from you.

Ben[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 07 June 2005 at 11:44 PM.]

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 7 Jun 2005 10:45 pm

Ben
Larry and I have known each other For years. John

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 7 Jun 2005 10:52 pm

ben
I don't work on them any more. I could probably fix it, But it has been a lot of years. John

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 7 Jun 2005 11:11 pm

John:

Wouldn't make you do any heavy lifting, but an inspection from "the birth father's" knowing eye would be valuable: what's been moved, monkeyed with or gone out of whack; how it was put together back in '69. (Imagine if I'd ever been able to get Leo Fender, Freddie Tavares or Forrest White to go over my '67 Tele or '54 Dual Professional!) I'm very excited to know of your historical connection and that you're out there so close by!

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 7 Jun 2005 11:30 pm

Ben
maybe in the near future we can meet and I might be able to look at your steel. larry use to do some work on them. Does he still. I haven"t seen Larry In years
John

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 8 Jun 2005 12:33 am

I have a double neck ZB with a pad on the back neck. You can take the pad off and see that there used to be another neck on it but there's no cut out on the endplate. Does anyone know if they made a double neck with the back neck not using pedals? Serial number 0005. Larry said probably made in Scranton and assembled in Bakersville in 1968 or 1969. I have a pic of it on KSGA website. www.kansassteelguitarassociation.com

------------------
Ray Qualls
President(KSGA)

Phillip Morgan · Post by **Phillip Morgan** » 8 Jun 2005 6:45 am

Hey Ray!
Cool looking Rig!Look and see if there is any other holes other than the ones that mount your pad.Alot companies use a double neck body and leave the hole for the back neck pickup.Also see if their is a impression of the key head on the finish.I converted my '66 to a SD like yours.Good Luck Bud!That's a nice one.
Phillip

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 8 Jun 2005 7:10 am

Hi Ray
I don't know wether or not I can help you, but that steel had to be put together by Zane himself befor I started working with him.He at that time was taking custom orders only.

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 8 Jun 2005 7:11 am

Hi Ray
I don't know wether or not I can help you, but that steel had to be put together by Zane himself befor I started working with him.He at that time was taking custom orders only.

I did't mean to double click[This message was edited by John Rutledge on 08 June 2005 at 08:16 AM.]

Mike Vallandigham · Post by **Mike Vallandigham** » 8 Jun 2005 8:01 am

John, it's so cool to hear from the guy who most likely made my guitar. Did Brumley own the company when it first moved to B-field? Or did Zane own it for a bit after the move?
It's nice to have someone who was there give us some details.

Bob Hamilton: I spoke with you about a year ago, and you sent me pics of that blue guitar. It is a looker. It's cool that our serial numbers are consecutive. How's that guitar doing for you?

Bob Hamilton · Post by **Bob Hamilton** » 8 Jun 2005 8:29 am

Mike, the ZB is my main guitar now, it beat out my Sho Bud Pro II with BL 705's, and that's going some for tone. I'm going to put some True Tone pickups on the Sho Bud in the near future to see if I can get more huevos from it. What a great predicament to be in. We should get all the California ZB folks together in Bakersfield sometime for a reunion, it would be fun to have all the ZB's side by side..

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 8 Jun 2005 8:45 am

Hi Mike

Tom bought ZB guitar co from Zane, And Zane agreed to come to Bakersfield and stay untill someone could Build the guitar. Tom was more of the office man, and I ran the shop. When Zane was shure I could build the guitars he went back to Ark.
John

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 8 Jun 2005 9:06 am

I guess I should explain a little bit. I worked for Mosrite Guitar Co for years. When they went bankrupt Al tom's bother who I use to work with at Mosrite found me and told me tom needed someone to build steel guitars. So I went to work for Tom.
John

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 8 Jun 2005 10:14 am

I second the motion for a ZBakersfield gathering. Somebody pick a date and time and I'll chug up the Grapevine. (Hope I'll have enough brake pads to stay under 120 heading down the other side with a ZB D-10 in back...)

John and Larry P.: even before then, I may arrange a time and place we can all get together and head up on my own. Being a perpetually beginning player and making no headway in getting the ZB in playing condition, I put it away and borrowed an old Sho-Bud Professional S-10 3+1. (Not exactly state-of-the-art, but the price is right.) Although I got a lot of (sensible) advice to find something else to learn on, I still decided not to get rid of the ZB: its day will come. And it appears that it has. (Looking at the pic either at the top of p.14 or in the more recent post above about decal styles, would you know that mine was originally blue?)

Mike Vallandigham · Post by **Mike Vallandigham** » 9 Jun 2005 8:04 am

John, thanks for the info.

Hey Guys, I need some tips: My A pedal is kinda stiff, especially when it nears the end of it's travel. Are there any things I can check to make this pedal work a bit easier? I'm gonna try Larry's tip of using a .016 instead of a .017, I'll see if that helps. It's all lubed and everything, it's just stiff. I think it's a balance problem of that pull, but who knows.
Any help would be appreciated.

Bob Hamilton · Post by **Bob Hamilton** » 9 Jun 2005 12:47 pm

Mika and Larry, what am I missing? I use an .018 on that pull, and don't have any problems. Is there something to gain by using the smaller diameter string? BH

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 9 Jun 2005 1:11 pm

Hey Mike;

You're over in Concord, which is closeby! C'mon over sometime this summer and I'll be happy to have a look at your setup. The .016 tip is actually more for the even and smooth pull on the C pedal. If you are concerned about the stiffness of your A pedal, you may want to check out how close or far your string tree, cross bar, pedal rod connector, and changer pulls are from the center of leverage. The closer you set these to the fulcrum, the smoother the travel, but the more distance (or pedal throw) you will have. If this is all Greek, just contact me.

ZBest,
Larry

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 9 Jun 2005 1:12 pm

Mike, you should be using an .018 ideally although a .017 will work. Most likely your A pedal is out of balance and needs adjustment. Strings 5 and 10 tuners should be stopping on the endplate at the same time.

Mike Vallandigham · Post by **Mike Vallandigham** » 9 Jun 2005 2:00 pm

Thanks for the help guys.

What's up Larry, I haven't talked to you in many months. I think you already have info on my guitar. I made a mistake above, the serial is #0102, not 0107...

Anyway. Last night, I checked the screws like you suggested earlier in this monster thread, and found that most were loose. Unfortunately, I fould a 2 that were stripped(not tightening, not a stripped head). Oh well, they're not critical, there are others to hold the parts on. I SWEAR it sounded alot better after just snugging up the loose screws. Good Tip!

As for the A pedal, I have one more inward slot that I can move the shackle to, but I've looked at doing this before, and it looks like the pull rods will interfere with some other pulls. I'll take a look tonight. Maybe I just have to move them around.

Kevin, I'm almost sure they dont stop at the same time, I'll work on that.

Also, how do you guys get to the fingers to apply some blue loctite to the tunung screw threads. My 10th string raise tuning screw is hecka loose, I have to tune it up every few songs. I've put a little dot of white-out on it, so i can visually line it up to where it needs to be with my fingers. So it's not too much of a hassle...

To be honest, I dont play this axe much anymore, I just got it out a few days ago, to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. LOL HAHAHA! So that's why it's out now... Here's a little secret, I've got a spanking new Black Mullen RP D-10, and it's just fantastic. I play that mostly, but the ZB sure has a great sound, but plays like a tank, comparatively.

No Larry or Duncan, it's not for sale.

Later guys, and Larry, we should meet up someday and check out each others guitars.

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 9 Jun 2005 7:36 pm

Ben
I think I might Be able to help you. The only thing is we would have to meet, And maybe go to a park and work on it, Because I have two very large guard dogs, and one of them don't like people. But I have Battery Tools so that would'n really be a problem. When we get through you will sale the sho-bud S 10. No charge...

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 10 Jun 2005 3:22 pm

hi Bud

sorry guys for talking on this page when it could be done on email O K Bud I'll email you shortly John.

John Rutledge · Post by **John Rutledge** » 10 Jun 2005 3:46 pm

Boy when you get old sometimes you even forget names. ben check your email sorry John.

Tom Bradshaw · Post by **Tom Bradshaw** » 16 Jun 2005 2:46 pm

Is there a source for purchasing ZB fretboards (new or used)?

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 16 Jun 2005 3:16 pm

I'd be interested in white ones for my ZB.

Russ