|
Author
|
Topic: ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
|
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
|
posted 01 November 2005 07:16 PM
profile
Hey Ben, hope the BMI is OK for you.If you are curious about the real color of your old D-10, it's blue! I just took it apart to have it refinished and the parts of the body that were covered by the endplates were all blue. I'm going to restore to the original color.  Dave Z |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
|
posted 01 November 2005 09:06 PM
profile
BMI's good--even a dream after the trials of the ZB. (There was an odd rod, 6-8", bent at one end, stuck in the BMI's pedal bar that looks like it goes to a ZB. I'll scan or take a photo and send it to you, in case it's something you might need/want/be missing. My comment about 0248 to Chip was a guess that he was talking about "our" old S-10. Gray was a good way to describe it. And yes, I did discover the D-10 was blue. Took a few weeks, but one time when I was looking on the underside (perhaps prompted by a discussion here of how ZB colors faded), there it was. I'd assumed up till then that it was walnut like the S-10. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 09 November 2005 08:29 PM
profile
I now have ZB fret boards in both black and white available for sale. Also new style ZB decals. |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
|
posted 10 November 2005 07:05 AM
profile
hey Kevin- are these fretboards new old stock, exact reproductions or "improved" new in an old style? my original fretboards start getting wonky with the fret postioning about the 16th fret- unevenly spaced and inexact. I'd be intersested to know what you have. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 10 November 2005 02:42 PM
profile
Hello folks. Rarely, in life, do we get a chance to correct a truly stupid mistake that we have made. I have been given the opportunity to buy back the beautiful red sunburst ZB SD-10 that I stupidly sold a little over a year ago. The gentleman in MD who owned it bought a great p/p from Bobbe Seymour's and thoughtfully gave me the right of first refusal. It took me about two seconds to agree to the purchase. Thank you Andrew.
I have included a picture of this Billy Knowles masterpiece and will post a picture of it alongside the blue D-10, also a work of art, that Greg Jones refurbished on my back porch, ala Russ Tkac, as soon as it arrives.
Gentlemen, I honestly believe that this will be "the last one I'll ever need", barring back surgery.
Duncan  |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
|
posted 10 November 2005 02:57 PM
profile
Now that's a happy man! It don't get no better than that!  |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
|
posted 10 November 2005 03:07 PM
profile
Duncan,My back porch doesn't have the same view that yours has! Is that ZZBB's when you have two? Russ |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 10 November 2005 03:17 PM
profile
Yes, Howard, that is one happy man with his new/former ZB on the way. Russ, that is my old back porch, I'll post a picture on my new back porch as soon as the red one arrives.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 11 November 2005 at 03:10 PM.] |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 10 November 2005 06:16 PM
profile
Good Evening,
I just saw that Fred Justice has an SD-10 ZB for sale on his web site. The underside looks a little different than my ZBs, but mine are Bakersfield ZBs, not Scranton/Bakersfield made. Is this one original, or has it been altered?
In any event, here is a link to the ZB on Fred's site, http://www.fredjusticemusic.com/id15.html
I communicated with Fred about a different steel. He seems like a very pleasant man to do business with.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 10 November 2005 at 06:29 PM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 10 November 2005 06:39 PM
profile
Dave, I have new old style fret boards. Exact reproductions done with digital printing. The are gorgeous. They have the same fret spacing as the old ones. ZB fret board frets were sharp below the 10th fret and flat above the 15th. I believe it was done for parallex but have no proof. I much prefer them over mathmatically correct ones. I do have mathmatically correct ones also if you want them.
Duncan, that ZB on Fred Justice's sight was butchered by someone who didn't like ZB mechanics. It has a completely different changer. I doubt that it gets the ZB sound. What a shame. As far as ZB's go this one's not worth much.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 November 2005 at 06:42 PM.] [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 November 2005 at 07:35 PM.] |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
|
posted 10 November 2005 07:13 PM
profile
Hey Duncan:Congratulations on getting your SD-10 back. When you sold it, I thought to myself, "What is he thinking?" You look very content sitting behind the guitar. Same expression on my face when I sit behind mine... (: The ZB that Fred has for sale has definitely been altered - changer, mechanics, pickup. It's been modified, to be sure. But the wood sure is pretty! Kevin - awesome news about the fretboards. I agree 100% about the intonation and spacing, too. Zane was well ahead of his time with design and aesthetics, too, and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if he had the jump on parallax (sp?), too. All ZBest,
Larry[This message was edited by Larry Chung on 11 November 2005 at 08:40 AM.] |
Andrew Buhler
Member From: Maryland, USA
|
posted 11 November 2005 06:56 AM
profile
It belongs with you down in Florida, Duncan. |
ray qualls
Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas
|
posted 11 November 2005 08:20 AM
profile
Apology accepted. Tomorrows a new day.
------------------
Ray Qualls
President(KSGA) www.rayqualls.com [This message was edited by ray qualls on 11 November 2005 at 09:09 AM.]
|
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
|
posted 11 November 2005 08:50 AM
profile
Dear Ray and Fred and Forumites:I owe you all an apology. I made a mistake by calling your ZB anything else than a modifed ZB, and for that I am sorry. This thread has been an amazing union of ZB owners and admirers from all walks of life, about all things ZB, and in whatever condition. So shame on me, and thank you for calling me on it. It was unfair and impolite of me to make any statements that would be taken for a "slam" - and especially, Fred, if it affects your business. I do believe, and hope you do, too, that people (especially consumers) have the right to know what they're getting, and I always endeavor to provide and disclose any information that I can that will help. Clearly, though, my characterization beyond this description was not helpful and not called for. I have edited my post above, and again offer my deepest apology. To my Forum friends, I would also say let this be a lesson to me and to all of us, that not everyone takes a person's sense of humor on a given day the same way, and it's probably best left off this fine Forum. All ZBest,
Larry Thank you, Ray, that means alot. I'm still learning and hope to keep learning... thank you for helping me learn a little bit more about myself.[This message was edited by Larry Chung on 11 November 2005 at 09:20 AM.] |
Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
|
posted 11 November 2005 11:17 AM
profile
Thank you Larry, now we can go forward  ------------------
Fred Justice,
Fred's Music www.fredjusticemusic.com
Rains Steel Guitars
|
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 11 November 2005 01:43 PM
profile
I too apologize if my question hurt Fred, or his business, in any way. I have not had much experience with Scranton ZBs and was just wondering if their original underside looked like the one in the picture.
I have had some dealings with Mr. Justice recently and found him to be a very helpful man and judging by his website, believes in selling a pedal steel at a fair price.
Again, NO harm was intended by my question. In fact, I was going to buy that Carter SD-10 from Fred, but someone beat me to the button.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 11 November 2005 at 01:54 PM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 11 November 2005 08:31 PM
profile
The facts are the facts. This is an OPEN discussion of ZB steel guitars. If the guitar doesn't have original mechanics in it, thats a fact! |
ray qualls
Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas
|
posted 11 November 2005 10:31 PM
profile
Kevin, I thought this was resolved but apparently not. The steel is mine and I figure its worth more than what you think.
Facts are facts: You've put a new fret board on yours so its not original any more. So I guess yours is not worth very much either. I know that fretboards are not mechanics but they are still a part of the steel, so I guess you've butchered yours too. I really try to get along with people, but some people just don't want to get along. Larry, I appreciate all the ZB posts and I'm sorry that some people just won't let it be. Facts are facts!------------------
Ray Qualls
President(KSGA) www.rayqualls.com |
jess dodson
Member From: marble falls, texas
|
posted 13 November 2005 02:53 AM
profile
Duncan when are you going to give me a chance to get my guitar back...... |
richard burton
Member From: Britain
|
posted 13 November 2005 03:38 AM
profile
Oo...er 
It might not win any prizes for being in mint condition, but these reversible mods sure make it nice'n'easy to play!! |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 13 November 2005 06:25 AM
profile
Well, Jess. Depending on how old you are, you might outlive me and we could work something out in my will. I can't figure out why I ever let it go in the first place, other than, as the English say, I had a "momentary lapse of reason". I was in some kind of pedal steel experimenting frenzy. That appears to have died down and I figured out the sound, and string spacing that I like and both just happen to be on the ZB. Providence has been kind enough to allow me to correct the stupid mistake I made in selling it, and Andrew Buhler was kind enough to remember my offer to buy it back. If I ever decide to sell it, Jess, and you want to buy it, I'll give you a holler.
Also, Kevin, could you send me an email with prices on the fretboards? Some white ones might look great on my blue D-10. Thanks.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 13 November 2005 at 06:50 AM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 13 November 2005 11:04 AM
profile
Ray, if you think putting new exact replacement fret boards on a steel is butchery your wrong. You obviously have an axe to grind here because your trying to unload a guitar thats been severely modified. Its no longer a ZB.
Thats what this forum exists for, to give people information so that they can make an informed choice. You're not going to silence anybody on here so don't try.
Duncan' I'll send you information the fret boards.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 13 November 2005 at 11:07 AM.] |
ray qualls
Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas
|
posted 13 November 2005 04:41 PM
profile
Kevin, I'm not trying unload my guitar on anyone, especially you. Your opinion doesn't mean squat to me. The guitar is a ZB with modifications on it. But its still a ZB. It plays good and the mechanics works good. So why don't you go back in your hidey hole and mind your own business, wherever you are from. Case closed!
Larry, I won't post anymore on your thread no matter what hideyhole says! Ray Qualls[This message was edited by ray qualls on 13 November 2005 at 04:46 PM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 13 November 2005 06:50 PM
profile
Ray, I'll mind what business I choose. Got it? Don't get on the forum if you can't accept people's opinions. Your position here is obvious to everyone. I'll be playing the Buffalo Music Awards this Thursday. Thats where I'm from pal. I'll be playing my ZB D-10. Its a real one.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 13 November 2005 at 07:31 PM.] |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 13 November 2005 07:16 PM
profile
Well, I believe that I received the answer to my question regarding the mechanics of the ZB in question. Since I have received my answer, I hope that we can move on in the spirit of this truly amazing post that has brought me so much information about the beautiful instrument whose tone first made me want to play the steel guitar. I have seen numerous steels for sale right here on the Forum that made me want to go running into the night screaming gibberish to the unholy forces that would allow such an abomination to exist. The picture would be followed by testimony from someone who said that it was the most beautiful souding instrument ever created. I hope that Ray's ZB is able to find that person who will love and treasure it and most of all make beautiful music with it.
Duncan |
ray qualls
Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas
|
posted 13 November 2005 07:40 PM
profile
Hey Pal, what part of Arkansas is Buffalo in? I'd like to go to the awards show and listen to you play your D-10 ZB.Duncan, thanks for your post and your ZB is very nice looking. You sound like a gentleman. Good luck! Ray Qualls |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 13 November 2005 09:33 PM
profile
Beam me up Scotty. |
Michael Boyer
New Member From: Illinois, USA
|
posted 15 November 2005 12:17 PM
profile
Hi Larry, I,m new to the forum.I to play a ZB Custum,#0660 and its been a good one, Iv,e had it from 1988 till now. I think its a nightmare to work on, but the sound makes up for it! Its blue birdseye 8+4 white fretboards, which I need to replace! The ends have a swirl design. Thanks for this thread,its very helpful.Michael Boyer |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
|
posted 15 November 2005 03:39 PM
profile
Welcome Michael. kevin Hatton who's post immediately before yours has fret boards. Send him a mail.PK
|
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 15 November 2005 04:30 PM
profile
Greetings Michael. Kevin does indeed have the fretboards. I just ordered two for my ZB D-10. Oh by the way Kevin, since I haven't told you yet, the check's in the mail for two of your white, mathematically corrected fretboards. Ive really been wanting some white ones on that beautiful blue body.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 15 November 2005 at 06:32 PM.] |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
|
posted 16 November 2005 08:04 AM
profile
So are all the fretboards on all ZBs ever built incorrect?DZ |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
|
posted 16 November 2005 02:59 PM
profile
Mathmaticlly they are not a correct 24 inch scale. I only discovered this when a dobro builder friend of mine laid out a 24 inch scale to me and it was different from what ZB had on their fret boards. ZB fret boards are mathmaticly sharp below the tenth fret and just a tinge flat above the nineteenth. You'll also notice that the 20th fret on a ZB is 1/16th wider than the 19th. I think this was to acomodate the symbol on the 20th fret. Still, I prefer the original fret boards above mathmaticly correct ones because by being sharp below the tenth fret you can see the fret positions much better when you are correctly intonated. If someone can prove me wrong on this I'd be happy, but this is what I've observed. The ones that I sell are exact original replacements. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 18 November 2005 09:38 AM
profile
Hello fellow ZB enthusiasts. I have received my old red, sunburst ZB SD-10, serial #0098 yesterday. Thank you Andrew, I owe you one, big time. You took excellent care of it. It sounds even better than I remember. Here are a couple of pictures of my ZB "family". I feel like I'm in "ZB heaven". With the new addition I believe that I have "the last one I'll ever need".
Duncan 
[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 18 November 2005 at 09:41 AM.] |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 18 November 2005 09:42 AM
profile
Here's the other one. For some reason it didn't show up in the last post.
Duncan
 |
Andrew Buhler
Member From: Maryland, USA
|
posted 18 November 2005 10:03 AM
profile
What a sight. I am glad we could make it happen, Duncan. I particularly love the sight of two ZBs against that Florda jungle background--makes me miss home and the ZB. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 18 November 2005 10:41 AM
profile
Andrew,
Your/my SD-10 is, and I don't know any other way to describe it, is the sweetest and clearest sounding steel I have ever played. It just rings out. Now, I'm going to put some white fretboards on the blue one and change the setup. Be prepared to call the men with the white coats for me.
Duncan |
Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
|
posted 19 November 2005 07:01 AM
profile
Duncan you dawg. Two sweet sweet ZBs. How does it feel brother? The 12 is coming along
nicely. Should be ready before gas prices go
down. |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
|
posted 19 November 2005 10:22 AM
profile
Concerning fret spacing on steel guitars, they are there for reference only. If you do not have a good ear you need to pick another instrument, maybe not a fiddle or upright bass or dobro.------------------
1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure
|
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
|
posted 19 November 2005 03:50 PM
profile
Chuck, It feels beautiful beyond compare. I am a very lucky and thankful man that the powers that be gave me the opportunity to purchase this fantastic sounding piece of beautiful wood and incomprehensible mechanics that I stupidly sold in a minute of sheer stupidity. For the record, your U-12 and Steve Takacs's D-11 ZB are safe and I will never bother either of you again about buying them, ever again. I have all the beautiful ZBs that a man could want, or reasonably deserve.
I have to tell you that the birdseye maple on the SD-10 is the most beautiful that I have ever seen. I am one lucky man.
Take care my brother, Duncan |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
|
posted 19 November 2005 05:02 PM
profile
Duncan,You must be a happy guy. Two great ZB's and a lawn you don't need to cut! Russ |
The Steel Guitar Forum
