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Author
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Topic: ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
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Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 18 January 2005 08:06 PM
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Webb 6-14E. Great combo with the ZB.DZ |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 18 January 2005 11:11 PM
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Hi Kevin and Dave:I usually play my ZBs through a Fender Tube Amp - Twin or lately an 80s Fender Concert. The reverb is really great on Fenders, eh? I also play through a couple of Peaveys, too. An early Session 400 with 2x12s or a more recent Session 400 Limited with a 15" speaker. Seems like whatever the amp, ZBs sound great. I find that I just need to tweak the EQ ever so slightly to get a great tone from just about any amp. All ZBest - keep the ZB info coming, too! Thanks to all of you for keeping the post going with great info and stories, too. Thanks, bOb for keeping it running, too. LC ------------------
Larry Chung
'67 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser. #1077)
'69 ZB S-10 3+4 (ser. #0124)
'70 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser.# 0215)
'71 ZB Custom S-11 4+4 (ser. #0252)
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Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 19 January 2005 09:40 AM
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Dave, I also play my ZB through a Webb 614-E.
Tremendous ZB tone. |
Brendan Mitchell
Member From: Melbourne Australia
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posted 19 January 2005 12:10 PM
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In reply to Webb Cline on the Linkon on ebay:
looks to me like this guitar has been built using ZB parts.The machine head end has 3 "horns" and the changer end is not finished like a ZB.Underneath is very similar apart from where the pull rods attach to the cross straps.Very interesting.
Brendan |
tom anderson
Member From: leawood, ks., usa
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posted 19 January 2005 12:56 PM
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I have noticed on several pictures of the underside of a ZB that the guitar appears to not have crossrods that are anchored on the front and back rails as do most modern all pull guitars, but have a cross plate that is anchored near the rear rail and pulled either left or right at the front of the guitar by the pedals (sort of a pivot system). Is that a correct reading of the mechanics of the ZB? |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 23 January 2005 01:58 PM
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Well, I finally got my 11/10 fired up this weekend. Having never heard a ZB before, I took this restoration project on with much anticipation. I really figured it would be a task to get it set up, but to my surprise, it was very close. The knees were right on, the B pedal was right on, A+C were only a bit flat. C pedal doesn't return without rubber band and little things like that. But, overall, I am pleasantly surprised. I didn't have enough strings at home to finish the C6 neck yet, so I don't know what to expect there, although everything is free on the changer. Now that I got it shined up, I can hardly stop staring at it. She's a real looker. But, the tone and power of those pickups are what really knocked me over. This baby is like tone on steroids! I'm already as happy as a pig in slop with my MCI Waco, but this ZB is an all together different animal. It's like I got a Custom Strat with my MCI and a Les Paul Custom with the ZB. What a fat, warm, yet silvery clear and clean sounding horn. I wish somebody else was here who could play so I could just sit back and listen to it. I feel like my playing distracts from the incredible tone. Now I know why this is the longest thread on b0b's forum. Fellas, I'm afraid I've got me a case of the ZBGB's! ------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 23 January 2005 04:49 PM
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I've had the 'ZB Jeebies™' since 1968, and back then I didn't even know what to call 'em...  Welcome to the Club!!!
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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 :: Vintage Fender 'Tube' Amplification www.dvanet.net :: zbcustom73@dvanet.net :: www.lasttrainhome.com
:: My Tribute to the Hot Club of America in Hi-Fi [This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 23 January 2005 at 04:51 PM.]
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Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 23 January 2005 07:34 PM
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Congratulations Webb. Thats the same reaction I did when I first got my ZB. Tremendous classic pedal steel tone. Zane Beck really knew what he was doing. |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 24 January 2005 03:24 AM
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Although I've cultivated something of a reputation of a curmudgeon about the endless hassles of getting my Chappaquiddick/Woodstock-era ZB D-10 up and running (and bemoaning the sale of the S-10 that financed this albatross), I decided that atop the list of '05 resolutions would be to get it set up, so learning could commence. I had a furnituremaker friend of mine build a case to replace the foolishly shallow keyboard enclosure it came more or less inside of. (Thought I was gonna barter some koa lumber, but we settled on $250 in cash instead. Oh well. Go find a used ZB D-10 case or even one for that one longer (36"+) Sho-Bud model--Professional?)I contacted a knowledgeable Forumite about working on it for me and arranged, for reasons of snow on the Interstate route, to drive the longer and lower way through the desert in the Biblical downpour we Southern California heathens enjoyed for our sins a couple of weeks back. I do a bluegrass radio show...every...Saturday... at...6...bloody...a..m... and enroute there the day of the intended ZB trip, I successfully braked, swerved and dodged a black and blacked-out pickup blocking three lanes of freeway--but not before getting rear-ended myself. Silver lining: I hadn't yet put the ZB in the car (big-ass Olds 98 Regency, totaled by a Honda--oh, the humiliation!). But the trip up north is indefinitely postponed while insurance red tape is sorted out and until I can get something more distanceworthy than an 86 Astro van I never intended for use for day-to-day driving. I'm convinced more than ever before that the bargain price I paid for the ZB included the Curse of the Monkey's Paw or Albatross's Talon. I'd sell it in a second or heave it off a precipitous height to a calamitous hard landing but, as I've said in the past, for all the rapturous praise these beasts are showered with in SGF. (This of course assumes the belief that a ZB like mine can be made into a functioning unit. As blind leaps go, that exceeds the faith in tax cuts to cure a wartime budget deficit; that the Red Sox will ever (wait--that actually happened); or that I can beat the 14,000,000-1 odds against winning the lottery...this week.) But a handful of you folks swear it's so, and I keep on hoping. There's always 2006--wait till next year. |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 24 January 2005 08:56 AM
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Well, look at it this way Ben; if in the end you conclude it wasn't worth it, you don't have to shoulder the responsibility yourself. You can blame this forum and particularly those of us with the ZBGBs for all of your maladies. You may have to enroll in anger management classes, but at least you won't have to resort to verbal and physical self-flagellence. The anger, of course, could be best resolved by sending the guitar to a needy family back east here in Pennsylvania. Dragging it behind the Astro with a log chain will not put an end to the internal conflict nearly as well as an act of selfless benevolence. Signed,
The head of a needy family in PA. ------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum |
Henry Nagle
Member From: Santa Rosa, California
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posted 24 January 2005 02:07 PM
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Hi Ben... You're going to take it to Tom Bradshaw?
Hope you have better luck on you're next journey. I'm sure that you'll be pleased with the guitar once it's up and running.
I sold your old S10 to Chip McConnell is San Francisco. I think he's pretty pleased with it. |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 24 January 2005 09:32 PM
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Although I've seen an example of Tom's wizardry, I was acutally headed a shorter distance (endless and seemingly unattainable anyway)--to my ZB's (# 0131) likely birthplace: Bakersfield (and Larry Petree)."sold your old S10 to Chip McConnell is San Francisco. I think he's pretty pleased with it..." If you find out he's not, someone let me know, OK? |
Chip McConnell
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 24 January 2005 10:20 PM
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Sorry Ben- I traded in my ShoBud Pro II for the ZB and I couldn't be happier. Great to know the lineage of the steel though. Best of luck with your new one-
Chip |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 25 January 2005 07:00 AM
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Got my C6 neck up and running last night. Considering that this guitar looked like it layed in a coal bin for 20 years, I can't believe how well it has stayed adjusted. I virtually made no adjustments to the pedals. It was spot on!But, I do have a problem. The copedent is not something I am familiar with. 6 and 7 do what they are supposed to, but 4 is setup like the BooWah pedal, 5 is something else and 8 is diconnected. Anybody know if it is hard to change to copenden on these guitars? ------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 25 January 2005 08:44 PM
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We did a tsunami releif aid concert this weekend. There are some pretty good shots of my green ZB D-10 if you to www.bbjack.com
Click on the "Scrapbook" tab and go to the first set of pictures. I love that guitar.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 25 January 2005 at 10:01 PM.] |
Andrew Buhler
Member From: Maryland, USA
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posted 26 January 2005 06:21 AM
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Beautiful instrument, Kevin. Are there any sound samples of the ZB/Webb combination on that website? |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 26 January 2005 09:50 AM
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Andrew the aren't, but I think that I'm going to post some here. I shoot for the Brumley/Buckaroo tone. I love it. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 26 January 2005 02:22 PM
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Hey guys. The blue/blonde ZB arrives from Kentucky tonight. What a great guy Greg Jones is to deal with. And Andrew...NO!!!, I'm not going to sell you this one too.
Duncan |
John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 28 January 2005 10:33 AM
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I dug out my steel, cleaned it off, its been sitting there for 15 years, hope it still plays[This message was edited by John Rutledge on 28 January 2005 at 10:37 AM.] [This message was edited by John Rutledge on 28 January 2005 at 02:16 PM.] [This message was edited by John Rutledge on 28 January 2005 at 02:17 PM.] |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 28 January 2005 11:07 AM
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I've sure enjoyed getting to know my dads 68 D10 ZB that I got from Jody Sanders. Thanks Jody for selling me a great guitar. It sounds awesome to my ear.Rick |
Bobby Bowman
Member From: Cypress, Texas, USA
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posted 28 January 2005 11:14 AM
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Well,
I ain't nuttin' to say,,,just wanted to be # 500.  !
BB |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 28 January 2005 01:49 PM
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Well, ya turn your head for a couple of minutes, and this is what happens... Bobby Bowman, ya beat me to the draw on #500. And I couldn't be happier. Thanks to all of you for all of the wonderful stories and photos and serial numbers, too! Keep 'em coming.The ZB book is still in the works - planning on a trip out east sometime in the first half of the year to finally put some names and faces together. Greg Jones, Billy Knowles, Kevin Hatton, Dave Van Allen - get ready to join forces... (: All ZBest to you all.
LC |
jerry harkins
Member From: Horseshoe Bay, TX
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posted 28 January 2005 06:44 PM
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There's a ZB Custom 11 brown birds eye maple sd10 3&4 out there somewhere with Buddy Emmons signiture on the end plate.
It was built by Tom Brumley around 84.
I attended Newmans school in Hermatige Tnn
and Buddy was there. After a class he signed his name on some of our guitars.Mine was one of them. Later in years I sold it.
Kind of stupid but these things happen.
Anyway I thought I would bring it up just in case someone comes accross it they would know a little about it. It was a great sounding Guitar. I MISS IT.
Thanks Jerry
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Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 29 January 2005 04:41 AM
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Duncan I bet you can't wait. She is a real
beauty and we know how she sounds. I need to
get Greg to set up my D10 and send me the pull rods for the 12string. I have been playing my ShoBud and it's great but am missing my ZB. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 29 January 2005 07:24 AM
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Chuck, the ZB arrived yesterday and my God it is beautiful. The tone is crystal clear and deep, it also sustains for hours. Greg does the most incredible work ever. I'll get some pictures of it around the house. The ones that Greg send are OK, but they don't begin to capture how fantastic it looks. I guess I'm gonna have to put the Marlen up for sale as I'm reaally hooked on the ZB. BTW, for Larry it is serial number 0127 and thanks for starting this fantastic thread.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 29 January 2005 at 07:26 AM.] |
Andrew Buhler
Member From: Maryland, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 05:30 AM
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Someone snap her up!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=3779709408&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
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Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 09:32 AM
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I have a ZB Custom D10 made in 1969 Ser number 0154 that I bought new in the fall of 1969. It is blue birds eye maple with 8 floor and 2 factory knee levers and a home made one out of stainless that a friend of mine made me. I will try to get a picture when I become digital proficient and other pertinant facts for you. I play through a 15 Inch Black Widow driven by a Peavy Nashville 400 Session Head. More power than I can ever use for the first time in my career.------------------
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Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 31 January 2005 10:28 AM
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Looks Like pali1 (Jim Palenscar? is that you?) is the lucky winner!!! |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 31 January 2005 10:45 AM
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Looks like somebody stole that one.------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum |
John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 11:48 AM
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Hey Lyle, the D-10 Ser. #0154 sounds like one I work on. I started with ZB Steel Guitar Co. in March of 69. Zane taught me himself to make all the parts on the steel. When he was sure I could do this he went home to Scranton Ark. Tom Brumley was President of ZB Guitar Co. at this time. I moved to Phoenix Az. with ZB Guitar in Feb. of 1971. Then in Jan or Feb of 1972 I moved back to Bakersfield to run Mosrite of California.
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 12:37 PM
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Hi John:Thank you so much for your post - this is valuable information for all of us ZB fans - the company moved from Bakersfield to Pheonix in Feb. 1971. Greg Jones, are you taking notes? Probably already knows... (: Great info for all of us interested in finding out where our guitars were made! ZBest,
Larry ------------------
Larry Chung
'67 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser. #1077)
'69 ZB S-10 3+4 (ser. #0124)
'70 ZB D-10 8+4 (ser.# 0215)
'71 ZB Custom S-11 4+4 (ser. #0252)
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John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 03:51 PM
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Hi Larry,
I don't have any dates on Ser#'s , But I do have literature on ZB's and equipment from that time period. I have a camera coming fri. maybe then I can send pit's. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 31 January 2005 08:24 PM
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Hi John:I'd love to see anything that you have and can easily send over (digital photos, etc.). If you want to send anything to me, I can scan it and send it right back to you. Please let me know - and also, I'm not sure how, but if you can post to this thread or the Forum, so much the better for all of us ZB fanatics... (: Best wishes,
Larry Chung |
John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 10:16 AM
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Larry I will do what I can to post my photos to this thread of the Forum. Boy I sure do love The Steel Guitar Forum,it brings back a lot of memories. I have had the pleasure of listening to Zane Beck when he was practicing, I loved It. If I remember right Zane played a 12 string. It sounded more in the line of Jazz. It was way over my head, But what a sound. The same of Tom Brumley. He could only play what Buck would let him play. Buck had his hands tied I heard Tom practicing a lot of times and he didn't know I was listening. That guy was something else. P.S. Love The Forum John. , |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 12:07 PM
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Thanks so much, John - we'll all be looking forward to Z-informtion from ya. I never met Zane Beck, but have only heard the best about him from musicians and non-musicians, and his guitars speak for themselves... beautifully.ZBest,
Larry |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 04:40 PM
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Dear John Rutledge, Thanks for the info on ser0154. Nice to know some of the history of that steel. I am the original owner of the guitar although a Springfield Illinois steel player changed some of the knee lever pulls for the dealer I bought it from. Hey have you relation in the Springfield area. I will try to supply Chuck with some additional info on the steel. With some prodding I might even tell you who that Springfield steeler is. Thanks |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 04:53 PM
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Larry Chung Sorry I called you Chuck.Its so hard when you get old (65 last week) I want to tell you a story about Zane I met him at one of Scotty's early doings, about 1973 or 4. I told Zane that I had lost a slotted roller disk off my E9th neck after breaking a string. You know when you grab your steel and turn it over to put in the case in a dark tavern after playing 4 sets you are not paying much attention to the roller which fell off in the dark. I never noticed it till I played the next time and robbed one off the C6th. Zane at no expense sent me one that very next week and I called him in Arkansas to thank him. Thats the kind of guy he was and he never told me that he was not the maker of that steel.------------------
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 05:13 PM
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Hi Lyle:No problems... I've been called alot worse! And Chuck is better than "Chump" anytime. Especially with my last name... Thank you for your lovely story about Zane Beck.
LC[This message was edited by Larry Chung on 01 February 2005 at 05:14 PM.] |
John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 01 February 2005 07:52 PM
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Dear Lyle I don't know if I have relations in that area or not. My dad had relatives all over, but I didn't know them. 65 isn't old I'm right behind you at 62. I was looking at my steel, and the birds eye maple is realy beautiful. They sure have beautiful wood in them. mine is brown. Back to cleaning. John
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Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 02 February 2005 09:50 AM
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Dear John R., As you worked at ZB could you comment on the stains they used at the time. I read on one of the earlier threads that they might have used food coloring and it seems to fade over time. I think mine is definitly lighter blue than when I purchased it. Also I read on Winnie Winston's webb site that he used food coloring when he built "The Steel". Thanks Lyle------------------
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