The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey ZB knowledgable folks,

I was changing the 3rd string on my ZB, and it flew off as I was tightening it up. When I looked, the string hadn't broke and the pin the ball end of the string fits over was bent up.

It looks like the ball end of the string was on the end of the post and it bent it up while I was tightening the string.

I wasn't able to get a good look at the changer. Is the pin angle something that can be adjusted? Should I bend the pin back down.

Right now it's playable, but the pin is parallel with the neck and probably putting more stress it than it's designed for. I'm guessing I don't want to leave it like that long term.

It's a ZB student model, but I understand it has the same changer as the pro ones.

any advice?


jrz

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Jaim, this also happened to me. Try slowly bending it back down with a screw driver. If it breaks you're out of luck and a new finger will have to be installed.

If you are going to bent it down is it possible to heat the metal 1st. Just a thought. Brian

I wanted to say bend not bent sorry.Brian

It is important to get the ball all the way
on the stud before putting tension on it. Don't you love your ZB.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 20 December 2004 at 01:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks for the help guys.

Now the big question, I wonder if it's riskier to bend the finger back down or keep it as it is? I don't have a backup if something breaks now, but I've got a new Williams D-10 on order that should be ready around March.

Yes, I do love my ZB. Sounds pretty good for a hunk of plastic.

Jaim,

I used to have a ZB student model, back in the early '70's. Mine was defective, and not very playable. I took it all apart and tried to fix it, and discovered that there was wood under the blue plastic cover. The plastic part was only about a 1/16th of an inch thick, and the wood looked to be a couple of pieces of 3/4 inch or better pine. The rest was brushed aluminum.

Les

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Strat,Tele
Dekley S-10