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Topic: ZB and BMI |
Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2006 7:51 pm |
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| I've had no experience with either of these brands, both of which were produced by Zane Beck, if I'm not mistaken. I gather from the Forum that there is a devoted group of ZB players. It seems ZBs have particular mechanical issues. Could someone who's familiar with these two brands of guitars shed some light on the similarities and/or differences between them? |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 11 Jun 2006 8:53 pm
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I claim no particular expertise, but I own two Zane Beck made BMIs, a U12 from '75 and an S10 from the early 80s. I have looked at couple of ZBs to purchase, and decided they needed too much work for the money they wanted. This active thread gives a link to an early ZB:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/012864.html
Looks like rectangular cross shafts, not so radically different than my BMIs.
I really like the BMIs I own. The 75 U12 (according to records I found on the net, the second universal BMI made) has a 3-way white ZB-style pickup, and a birdseye maple front and top. It is very warm-sounding, not so unlike the ZBs I tried. The pedal and lever action is fairly stiff, but I have quite a few changes on several of them. The 80s S10 is a bit more "steely" sounding, has a Lawrence 705 pickup, and is a great sounding and playing guitar, to my tastes. Of course, it's not as loaded up as the U12, so the action is light and overall feels a bit more "modern".
One nice thing about these BMIs is that they are pretty straightforward to work on - the S10 was my first "project" guitar, and I needed something simple. Rods are connected to stamped bellcranks via small cotter pins, and the changer is pretty simple and direct. The guitars have a bit of a "hand-hewn" feel. Pedals and levers have a "directly connected to the changer" type of feel, which I like - not spongy at all. The best thing is that they can be had reasonably - there's one in the For Sale section right now for nice money. If I didn't have the S10 already, I'd be all over it.
Some day, I'm sure I'll find the right ZB. In the meantime, I imagine the ZB folks will be all over this in due course.  [This message was edited by Dave Mudgett on 11 June 2006 at 09:57 PM.] |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2006 6:43 am
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| Other than having Zane involved, there really are no other similarities. The ZB has a nice lacquer body but a rather primitive changer (compared to what is on the market these days) and the pull rods are hooked up to cross shafts with no bell cranks that pivot from one point rather than turn on an axis. The BMI, on the other hand, has a wooden cabinet sandwiched in mica, a fairly typical changer with pull rods going to cross shafts (really are flat bars) that rotate on an axis. Both sound great. Go figure. |
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Pat Burns
From:
Branchville, N.J. USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 5:57 pm
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| I have a BMI D-10 that I bought for a practice guitar or to leave set up in a rehearsal room. I keep telling my wife I'm going to sell to cover some other purchases but somehow I just can't bring myself to sell it. It sounds good, plays good....and I'm an Emmons Push-Pull guy. |
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Duncan Hodge
From:
DeLand, FL USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 8:03 pm
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Hello Brint,
How are you doing? I'm originally from Northern VA and my family has a long history from the Whitehall/Hereford, MD area. I've never played a BMI, but own a couple of ZBs. I do like the looks of the BMIs that they are producing these days, at least from their website. If I ever play one and I like it I might even sell my ZBs to get one.
The thing that I know about ZBs is that they even sound good through a crappy amp. With my Fessenden and Marlen I was always fiddling around with my crappy amps, trying to find "that sound" With a ZB, the sound is just there when I plug in. No disrespect to Fessenden, or Marlen intended, just my limited opinion.
I would love to hear from someone who owns one of the new BMIs, though.
Duncan |
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Pat Burns
From:
Branchville, N.J. USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2006 4:52 am
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| ..off topic, but Duncan, I lived in Parkton, just north of Hereford/Whitehall for a while when I worked in Hunt Valley....gorgeous area. Sometimes I had to stop to let the horses and hounds pass. At the time, Jim McCay was one of the more reknowned area residents. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 8:57 am
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| Duncan, if you haven't already met Dave Peddicord, at Deland Music, be sure to look him up. He's an old friend and a great player. |
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Duncan Hodge
From:
DeLand, FL USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 2:40 pm
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Hello Donny, not to further hijack this thread, I have met Dave. He is a really nice man and runs a great business. I buy from him whenever I can.
Duncan |
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Lyle Clary
From:
Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB
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Posted 21 Jun 2006 3:21 pm
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Dear Brint, I have one of each. A D10 ZB and a S10 BMI both of early vintage. 1969 and late 70's. They both sound terrific.
One of my farvorite steel players is from your state. Ron Elliott is from Salisbery???
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1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure
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