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Author
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Topic: ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
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Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 10 May 2006 10:21 PM
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I've got serial # 85 here for restoration. I'll post some before and after photos. |
Bob Hamilton
Member From: Atascadero, California, USA
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posted 11 May 2006 11:57 AM
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Interesting Kevin, I just bought 0084 and brought it home. D-10 8x4 blue and blonde, white fretboards and black pickups. Pretty clean, considering its age, but the C6 was pretty messed up. I have completely changed the setup and oiled and massaged the undercarriage and it plays great now. Weird though, when I first got the guitar, it had a bad case of cabinet drop, which is not usually the case for ZB's. After a couple of hours under the hood, I noticed that the screws that attach the aluminum bars (that most of the mechanics are attached to) had been over waxed during initial construction, and some had become very loose. I carefully installed longer (#10 x 5/8") screws, and presto, the cabinet drop was gone. This is just a heads up for you fellow ZBers. If you have any cabinet drop at all, this is a good place to start. There's a valid reason for those beefy aluminum strips under there. I wonder how long this guitar was played that way.... |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 11 May 2006 09:30 PM
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Very good Bob. #85 was originally brown mahogony and natural tops. ZB's typicaly need alot of going over, but when they are done right they play just fine. Thanks for the info. Email me a picture if you have it. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 12 May 2006 at 07:58 AM.] |
Bob Hamilton
Member From: Atascadero, California, USA
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posted 11 May 2006 10:17 PM
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Will do Kevin, I'd like to get my other ZB set up next to it for photos anyway, it's number 0108, same colors but it's 9 x 6. There are some subtle differences. 0108 is all chrome underneath, for starters. I'll try to get that done this weekend. Regards, BH |
tom anderson
Member From: leawood, ks., usa
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posted 15 May 2006 05:07 PM
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I just got a DVD of a Steve Stills-Manassas recording from the 1970's featuring Al Perkins on his ZB Custom pedal steel, & I recommend it to all of you who love ZB's. There are tons of close-ups of Al playing & his tone is fantastic. He plays it straight & uses a fuzz-tone. Country rock at it's finest. I found it from Amazon cheap. If only there was a Rick Nelson/Tom Brumley DVD from the same era. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 31 May 2006 07:28 AM
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Greetings, ZBers. I was recently contacted off the Forum by a longtime ZB owner - a Scranton-built ZB about a dozen serial numbers away from my '67 - and the pictures he sent confirmed that a few ZBs from that period were built with white necks and fretboards. The rest of the guitar was stained wood and trim. My #1077 is this way, and I've always wondered if there were more of 'em. There are...Seems like I've seen some Sho-Buds that were done the same way from around the same era. Didn't Zane Beck work for Sho-Bud for a little while? Is there a chance this is where he got the idea, or perhaps it was his idea? A few things to ponder... All ZBest,
LC[This message was edited by Larry Chung on 31 May 2006 at 07:29 AM.] [This message was edited by Larry Chung on 31 May 2006 at 09:14 AM.] [This message was edited by Larry Chung on 31 May 2006 at 09:15 AM.] |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 31 May 2006 08:13 PM
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Come Larry, you know the drill. Post the pics man! |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 31 May 2006 08:41 PM
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quote:
If only there was a Rick Nelson/Tom Brumley DVD from the same era.
I'd give my left... er, my left knee left to see that |
John Rutledge
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 05 June 2006 07:25 PM
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When I started working for Tom Brumley, I think it was 69 or 70 Tom cut a L P with Rick Nelson called Garden Party. He signed it and gave me a copy. I don't know of any others L P's, but there could be more. I don't know.
John[This message was edited by John Rutledge on 05 June 2006 at 07:31 PM.] |
Brint Hannay
Member From: Maryland, USA
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posted 05 June 2006 08:07 PM
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I've got an LP called "Rick Nelson in Concert--The Troubador, 1969" with Tom Brumley. The liner notes say it was recorded two years before "Garden Party", on Dec. 13, 1969. My copy is a reissue LP. I'll have to dust off the old turntable and give it a listen! |
Smiley Roberts
Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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posted 05 June 2006 09:20 PM
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Well,this makes 1090 posts,but then again,who's really counting?
(just tryin' to help it along.)  ------------------
~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 05 June 2006 at 09:22 PM.]
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Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 06 June 2006 05:36 PM
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I have a little problem with first pedal. As I apply pressure at the bottom of the pedal it pops. I have looked for something to bind but it only does it upright. Still haven't found anything.HELP. I doesn't effect the pull but bugs me! |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 06 June 2006 09:25 PM
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Ah, the classic "only when its vertical ZB pop". Chuck, take a thin piece of packing foam about six inches in length and wrap your two "A" pedal connecting rods where you see them touching your "B" or "C" pedal rods.
You can wrap a small piece of cut duct tape around the foam. You have to do this from under guitar to see just where to do it because the rod binding will only reveal itself when the guitar is vertical (because the rods flap). Go under there with a flash light and press the "A" pedal and trace the rods back. You should see it where the rods are touching. I've had two ZB's that I had to do this to. Usually from rods not being snugged up enough in their turnbuckles. Its a quick fix without re-rodding and adjusting the "A" pedal rods. Hope this helps. |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 06 June 2006 11:24 PM
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Every time this thread bumps up (nearly) I learn something. Thanks to Russ, Kevin, Larry, DVA etc.Smiley, I reckon this thread didn't need extra faux posts. These guys can manage on their own. |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 08 June 2006 10:35 PM
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Newly added on eBay--item #7421746971 (someone else can work out the html link) a D-10 two serial numbers before my S-10. Somehow I missed out on a white pickup cover AND a ZB Custom sticker on the pedal bar. |
Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 09 June 2006 06:00 AM
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Thanks for the info Kevin. |
Mike Vallandigham
Member From: Concord, CA
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posted 09 June 2006 08:20 AM
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That guitar looks EXACTLY like mine, like they stole my pics 
but mine has 7 & 3, and has black pick-ups.Anyone interedted in buying it? Larry? I live in SF bay area.  |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 09 June 2006 08:27 AM
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Go for it Larry! |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 09 June 2006 09:27 AM
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Way over priced. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 09 June 2006 10:46 AM
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Let me remind anyone who is interested in buying a used ZB to be ware. I have NEVER seen a used ZB that wasn't severely out of adjustment unless it came from Billy Knowles or Greg Jones. Most all the ZB's for sale out there are in VERY poor condition. There was a guy in Canada who wanted $1500.00 for a ZB with a cracked body and two original knee levers. These guitars are only good if they are thoroughly gone over by a ZB mechanic, and they are NOT easy. Once they are put back into balance and the knee levers replaced they are okay. Most out there are real dogs and need to be disassembled and reassembled. The mechanics are very limited. |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 09 June 2006 10:53 AM
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I've got a 69 ZB Custom that I bought last year. The old thing is still in good shape and plays smoothly. No problem.Rick |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 09 June 2006 07:32 PM
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Russ, you know where to apply the pressure, eh? (:The guitar on ebay is serial number 62, which means that it's an early Bakersfield guitar - great sounding guitars! - and the pictures of the underside look pretty clean. I'm sure it needs adjustment as most do, but very clean. Cool white pickups, too. I've got PLENTY of ZBs, but they sure are great to look at! All ZBest,
LC |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 10 June 2006 01:09 AM
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Took the ol' '69 Bakersfield D-10 out tonight for the first time in awhile. What a special sound with the Webb. Having good tone can be inspiring!DZ |
Curt Jarvis
New Member From: Des Moines Iowa
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posted 11 June 2006 05:43 PM
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Hi Guys, I have just set up Serial # 1062 in my music room. It's a red D 10, 8 pedals 3 levers. This came from a guy that didn't learn to play it. I've restrung it sounds great E9 and C6. The E9 neck had strings that could never could have been tuned to the mordern E9 tuning and the pedals are not set up to resemble a modern copedent set up. Any ideas on how to set this up to use the modern tab and teaching systems. Also I saw Steel 0043 Black 12 String but seemed to be a more modern version of the ZB's. Great to see this forum out there. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 11 June 2006 08:04 PM
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Dave, isn't it cool to hear that sound? |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 11 June 2006 08:40 PM
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Yep, it's a cool sound! |
Henry Nagle
Member From: Santa Rosa, California
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posted 11 June 2006 10:47 PM
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I just got home from a gig with mine. It sounded great. Now if I can just figure out how to play like Dave, it'll sound even better! |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 12 June 2006 12:38 AM
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So! How are we going here. how many ZBs were made and where? Where are they now? |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 12 June 2006 06:25 AM
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Just start using picks Henry!
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Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 12 June 2006 06:48 AM
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Curt;
what is the current pedal setup on the E9th on your ZB?that would give us a starting point for determining the range of difficulty to bringing it close to a "modern" set up. Truly "modern" may not be achievable or even desirable on that guitar... but bringin it in line with a "standard" E9 should be do-able, if you are stout of heart... |
Tim Kauffroath
Member From: Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 07:57 AM
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Greetings ZB aficionados everywhere! Well here is admittedly a lengthy post –I’ve been wanting to get this out on this thread for some time but was waiting until I had pics to go along with it.When I was 15 or so living in Tucson, AZ, and starting to "get good" on my 8 string fender 400 Pedal steel, my folks agreed I should step up to a better guitar –I was taking some lessons from Chuck Gillette in Tucson at the time and he and I tried a number of different makes and Chuck liked the sound and action of the ZB. We then found that ZB had moved to Phoenix --we walked in off the street at a spot over by Sky Harbor airport --I believe it was a tool and die place or airplane parts deburring business --anyway, a little show room area was there with some Steels set up on the floor --then John Rutledge who was waiting on us was mentioned they had one just returned that they had given to a “major” steel player to play for advertising but had found out he had set it in the studio and was playing a different guitar on the road. Anyway there it was a D-11 in solid blue 9 pedals and 6 knee levers --serial # 0206 "repossessed" for the same price as the D-10 8/4 --I was the luckiest 15 year old in the world --I still have a hard time believing my folks borrowed the money to buy it - but I still have it today --and I also have the invoice --so here are pics (hopefully) of the ZB and the invoice.
A great memory to be sure and I have hauled that steel thousands and thousands of miles –the amazing thing is it could sit in the case for a year and pull it out and it's almost dead on in tune. The pics are as it sits today –mechanically it is great –you will notice the original finish had faded except where I had my name in self adhesive letters on the front. There is a little bit of Lacquer checking in places but it’s really clean original. I had some email conversation with fellow forumite John Rutledge who amazingly told me he remembered us coming in to the shop and he also weighed in on who he thinks he built the guitar for originally. Perhaps he would share his ideas at some time!
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Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 12 June 2006 07:58 AM
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Great photos!
(#1111) |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 08:20 AM
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Hi Tim:Way too cool! The ZB Blue is an AMAZING color. I have a D-10 that's faded to light grey, but sure enough, just under the fretboards... voila, instant skyblue. D-11 = very cool
White 11-string triple-coil pickups = very, very cool Great pictures, thanks for posting and sharing, too. What a wonderful story and a great way to start Z-week. All ZBest,
Larry |
Tim Kauffroath
Member From: Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 08:26 AM
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Larry,
thanks for the kind words and gee I didn't notice until just now --my D-11 was post #1111 -just how lucky can a guy get! Maybe I should play the lottery tonight- if I won I could buy more Steel Guitars! |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 12 June 2006 04:37 PM
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Great looking ZB, Tim. I'm #0093 & #0127. I guess 007 and Agent 86 are around somewhere. Wow, 35 years with the same steel. You are the very epitome of "acceptance". It still looks fantastic and very well taken care of and loved. My blue D-10 is feeling under the weather at the present time, but with a little more of my tweaking I believe that it will be on the mend. I just get the feeling that I am hurting it whenever I work on it.
Thanks again for the great pictures and the history. How much did it cost in 1971?
Duncan |
Curt Jarvis
New Member From: Des Moines Iowa
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posted 12 June 2006 06:06 PM
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Thanks for the reply Dave, As clearly as I can explain it. Ped 1 takes sting 1 up 1,5 dn 2,9 up 1: Ped 2 takes string 2 up 2, 6 dn 1: Ped 3 takes 3 up 1: Ped 4 takes 7dn 1, 9 dn 1: Ped 5 takes 4 up 1, 8 up 1..... The rest ofthe Pedals and levers apply to the C6 neck. I would think that these throws would have worked for a different tuning. I am thinking I would like to have an A and B pedal atleast to start, would the best plan be to try to switch the 5 Ped from raising the 4-8 strings to the 5-10 and useing the 3 Ped for the 3 string A and avoid the 6th string? Is there something you would recomend to lube any of the mech. This Steel #1062 is all red would it have come from the shop that way? Thanks |
Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 13 June 2006 08:29 AM
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OOOO and Ahhh. What a beauty. I need to post pics of my Scranton #1067. Does anyone
know what an original case looked like? |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 15 June 2006 11:57 AM
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A case of the ZeeBee GeeBee's on a bad hair day!. My first pic of me playing the Greg Jones restoration of #0115 built around 1969/1970 in Bakersfield.DZ |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 15 June 2006 12:24 PM
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Dave,Makes me a bit sad I sold #202. But I still have my D11/10 to play. Greg does some nice work! Russ |
Tim Kauffroath
Member From: Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 15 June 2006 12:27 PM
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Dave, That's one beautiful ZB! I've thought about having Greg do the full "treatment" on my #0206 --seeing yours makes me start having the shakes, cold sweats and my wallet starts jumping in my pocket.
Look out Greg! |
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