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Author
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Topic: ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 23 July 2003 10:15 AM
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200! 200! 200!Please keep the ZB info coming! ZBump |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 23 July 2003 12:01 PM
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201! 201! 201! 
I am gonna try to track down the guy who owns my original '73ZB S10 and get the SN# info off it.[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 30 July 2003 at 08:22 PM.]
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 30 July 2003 04:02 PM
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Hey, Dave:You go do that, man... get on that horse and ride! Hee hee! ZBest
Zbump |
Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 30 July 2003 05:51 PM
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I know it's been mentioned beore but just as a little aside Larry, has anyone kept any "detailed" records of the serial number system from the first days of manufacturing through to the end including all the people that have had input to their building?Looking at guitars with just a few numbers apart, there are differences - especialy the cross strap fulcrum screw placement, plus placement of rods in the cross strap itself. Bob Mainwaring.Z.Bs.and other weird things. ------------------
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 08 August 2003 06:55 AM
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Thanks, Bob:I don't know if anyone kept "official records" - I have heard that an English gentleman named Eric Snoball kept some records for all of the guitars that were sent across the ocean (to the UK), but I haven't had any luck reaching him. Here's a related question: Does anyone konw if Zane's wife is still with us or if he had any family? I wonder if there are some company records... but I don't want to intrude, either. |
David Rothon
Member From: London, England
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posted 08 August 2003 09:13 AM
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Hi there,
sorry it's taken me a while to post to this thread, but I play an S-10 ZB (3+4), serial no. 0279, which was bought (possibly new, but I'm not sure) by the previous owner in 1971. It has 4 knee levers now, but apparently had more before they were sold to the late Gordon Huntley (of Matthews Southern Comfort). I've had it about 3 years - pedals etc are kind of stiff, but I gather that's ZBs for you. I'm doing my best with it, anyway.... |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 08 August 2003 09:37 AM
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Dave, your pedal action does not have to be that way. I'll bet your pulls are out of balance. Mine was the same way until it was balanced out. Now it plays butter smooth. Look at the allen screws on the endplate. When you press a pedal make sure all the pulls on that pedal stop at the same time on the endplate. Same with the knees. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 08 August 2003 09:49 AM
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Hi David:Thanks for the info. Yes, I think you are right on about the date of your ZB. My S-11 serial number 0252 has original volume and tone pots (they work, too!) coded 1377038, which means they were made by CTS (137) in 1970, 38th week (7038). Which means that my ZB (which is about 20 numbers off of yorus) was made sometime after September, 1970. Hope this helps and thanks for the info!
ZBest!
larry |
Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 08 August 2003 10:41 AM
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Hi Larry - May Faye Beck is still with us as good and as strong as ever selling tapes of Zane.
I can't find the address at the moment - I'm sure one of the guys out there could/will help.Bob Mainwaring. Z.B's and other weird things. ------------------
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 18 August 2003 12:40 PM
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ZBump!Does anyone out there have a way to contact Ms. Beck? It's time to get back on the ZB investigative trail! |
Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 18 August 2003 03:29 PM
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Hi there Larry - here goes:-Faye Beck Millsap
20711, Arch St. Pike
Little Rock,
Arkansas,
72206 Bob Mainwaring. Z.B's and other weird things. ------------------
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 27 August 2003 12:25 PM
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ZBump!Just like seeing the "ZB" name on consecutive posts...
(: |
Earl Yarbro
Member From: Bowie, Texas, USA
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posted 27 August 2003 12:48 PM
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I'm still looking for anyone who may have owned my Custom D10 w/11 pedal and 4 levers. Ser #1108. Jim Flynn is overhauling it now. Looking forward to playing it again. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 04 September 2003 09:59 PM
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ZBump! ZB! ZBest! |
John Davis
Member From: Cambridge, U.K.
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posted 05 September 2003 02:12 PM
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I don`t want to get lynched for this posting,as I know how you guys all feel about ZB`s, but if I were to remove (carefully) all the insides of my beautiful twin 10 (that is the prettiest guitar I have ever owned) is there another mechanism out there that has the smoth performance of a P/Pull Emmons or similar ,that would fit,or at least not have to wreck the guitar trying to fit. Thank you Greg, for all your help and advice,but these levers are still breaking my knees!!!JD |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 06 September 2003 10:44 AM
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you hold him down, I'll get the rope....
Just Kidding. Sort Of.
I am sure someone can advise you in your quest, but I would recommend agin it. |
John Davis
Member From: Cambridge, U.K.
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posted 07 September 2003 01:19 AM
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no need for that Dave, I`ll get the rope myself soon if I don`t find a way around the problem!! |
richard burton
Member From: Britain
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posted 07 September 2003 04:28 AM
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John,
You can make the ZB much easier to play if you put helper springs on the raises. My ZB plays like silk since I put helper springs on the raises, and modified the lowers with different length springs. |
Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 07 September 2003 11:46 AM
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John - I think when you ever get back to see all your buddies here on Vancouver Island you should bring it over as a gift for me!!Seriously though, I'm sure it could be reworked using the original setup and resetting it all to play like the day it was constructed. From your picture, it looks like a ringer of my D10 No.0510 Traaaaa then. Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs and other weird things. P.S. Don't buy that Bonneville - keep your money (and a little bit more)for a nice Vincent twin that's lurking in somebody's back yard. ------------------
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Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 07 September 2003 11:48 AM
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John - I think when you ever get back to see all your buddies here on Vancouver Island you should bring it over as a gift for me!!Seriously though, I'm sure it could be reworked using the original setup and resetting it all to play like the day it was constructed. From your picture, it looks like a ringer of my D10 No.0510 Traaaaa then. Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs and other weird things. P.S. Don't buy that Bonneville - keep your money (and a little bit more)for a nice Vincent twin that's lurking in somebody's back yard. ------------------
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John Davis
Member From: Cambridge, U.K.
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posted 08 September 2003 10:42 AM
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Hi Richard,
That`s an interesting suggestion I will have a word with my mate Wiggo (the engineer) and see if he`s up for trying to fit some springs
I don`t have the ball`s for it myself as I am no good under the guitar,too clumsy!Bob behave yourself!!! YOUR NOT GETTING IT
(yet!) |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 17 September 2003 09:02 AM
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Keep Zee Info coming.I've been a busZBEE lately, so my apologies for not getting back with a couple of you for so long. ZBest.
zbguitarinfo@yahoo.com
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 18 September 2003 02:51 PM
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Well it looks like I just joined the club. It's a ZB Custom S-10, blue/blonde/blue maple with the funky white fretboard. Stock pickup. I think a 3rd lever was added in the past year or so. I got it home yesterday and while changing it over from Emmons to Day I got a crash course in ZB changers. It may be a weird design for some people but man I like the design. Good feel, very solid and in tune. I do see it's limitations but for a basic setup it's great. The guitar sounds incredible and so familiar. The 3 tap pickup is cool, a bit microphonic but not too bad. The guitar feels very solid. My 2 '60s push/pulls are jealous. I've got some pic's that I'll post later. The guitar is beautiful. However there is some lacquer cracking where the blue body meets the blonde neck baseboard. Does anyone know if the body comes apart so they can be refinished as separate pieces? Also I've seen some ZB's that dont have that neck baseboard thing, just a typical neck on a body. What's up with that design? SN is 0554. Anyone got a year?? ------------------
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 18 September 2003 03:45 PM
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OK, here are some pic's. Notice the second to last one. This is the lacquer chipping that's happening. My question is does the blue body separate from the blond part so they can be refinished separately? Do they unscrew or are they glued together? Thanks, Brad Sarno
'66, '69 Pushpull, '?? ZB custom S-10
http://home.earthlink.net/~bradsarno/ZBpage.html |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 18 September 2003 05:39 PM
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The 3 taps on the pickup on this one are wound to:1: 7kOhms DC
2: 14.8kOhms DC
3: 25.8kOhms DC That's quite a wide range. The middle position is the most like my old Emmons pickups. The 7k is real thin sounding. The 25.8k is super hot and midrangy. Is there a pickup height adjustment? Just the polepieces? ------------------
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 18 September 2003 06:33 PM
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she's a Beauty Brad!!
I dig the raised single neck design...the extra height is kinda like the height offset of a front neck of a D10... wierd but cool- and that's part of the ZB mystique- I think the SIngle necks are actually thicker (height strings to bottom of apron) than the front neck of a D10- can someone verify- ?? |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 18 September 2003 09:09 PM
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Brad, welcome to the ZB club. Those windings on your pickup are exactly what mine are. I use the middle tap and add some bass and a little mids. I have been playing my D-10 for about six months now and love it. If there are any questions you have on setting the guitar up feel free to email me or call me. It took some time but my ZB plays like a good push-pull. You have a real nice ZB there. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 18 September 2003 10:10 PM
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Hey Brad:Welcome to the ZB family. I recently did some work on my S-11 4+4 and I can tell you, yes, the blue/green sections and the clear maple sections do screw together. So happy refinishing! Your ZB #0554 is most defnitely mid-70s. I've never seen one from that era that has white fingerboards and a white pickup, but it's COOL! My D-10 has 'em, but it's a '66. I use the middle and bassy positions on the triple coils, too. Very lovely sound. The pedals on mine play as smoothly as any other guitar that I've played and the sound ... well... you know. If I can be of service for anything ZB, please let me know. Nice pictures, by the way. Most ZBs that are "blue" or even "brown" may have started out with the famous green finish. you can check easily enough by just inspecting any unexposed part of the guitar (under the knee lever mounts, in the corner of the guitar under the sides of the endplates, etc.) ZBest to you,
lc |
B. Greg Jones
Member From: London, KY USA
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posted 18 September 2003 11:35 PM
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Brad, good lookin ZB there!!! Welcome to the ZB family. I just finished restoring a S-11, same color scheme, looks like twin sisters!!!You need any parts, (and I have a bunch of N.O.S. parts), or help with set-up drop me an email. Be glad to help you out!!!! Greg |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 19 September 2003 08:21 AM
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Ok, anyone got an idea what pickup setting Brumley used for Together Again? I found myself using the middle position last night a rehearsal most of the time, but this morning I was jamming on Together Again with the CD and I noticed I was on the thin setting and it was pretty close. How about "Teach"? This guitar continues to impress me. Amazing clear high overtones and sustain. Also real responsive to picking near the changer to get it "talking". At rehearsal my A pedal kept creeping toward the floor. I found a lock nut was loose on one of the rods so it kept loosening. Got that snug now. The mechanical feel is real nice. Blah blah blah... Brad Sarno |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 19 September 2003 10:21 AM
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quote:
At rehearsal my A pedal kept creeping toward the floor. I found a lock nut was loose on one of the rods so it kept loosening.
had the same experience at a gig... had to keep reaching under and spinning the turnbuckle tight again; audience must've thought I was doing something lewd to it.... 
have since put loc-tite (not the permanent kind) on the threads where the turnbuckles join up. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 19 September 2003 10:39 AM
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Brad, Tom cut Together Again on a Fender, not a ZB. If you get a copy of his Tom Cattin album you will hear his classic ZB sound. |
Bob Mainwaring
Member From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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posted 20 September 2003 12:56 PM
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Hi Brad - nice one.
My D10 has the adjustable pole pieces but my SD10 has them fixed (non adustable)and am amazed at how many slight changes there are from guitar to guitar.
Strange how that extra piece of wood under the neck came to be although it looks all original.
My mostly used P/U position is the switch thrown to the left for that more "middy" sound but surprised the guys last night when I took one of my breaks with that thin
"tinny" sound; by their looks it didn't seem to go down too well.............ah well.Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things. ------------------
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 21 September 2003 09:24 AM
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Thanks for all the cool feedback guys. Yea Kevin, the Tom Cattin album sounds WAY ZB. There's a growl in the low strings that I've never heard another guitar make, and the high sustain is remarkable. How much adjustment of the pole pieces is appropriate. The pickup seems a little low from the strings but maybe thats where it should be. Anyone? Also, I noticed something that's either brilliant or accidental. The top surface of the main body is finished with some lines in it, sort of like the surface of a vinyl record only straight. Like rough sandpaper left the top grooved and then a slight buff was put on over it still leaving the grooves. The front apron is smooth as glass but the top is grooved. When I was playing I noticed my ceiling light reflecting off the top of the guitar and those grooves did a great job of diffusing the light so the glare wasn't so bad. Judging by all the other little smart design ideas in the ZB, I'm betting that the rougher surface is intentional. Anyone? By the way, the ZB into my Sho-Bud pedal into my '69 Twin is just amazing sounding.
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Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 24 September 2003 10:52 PM
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The thought of three consective ZB posts on this page is just too tempting.Brad - Your pickups are very strong with lotsa magnets in them. My experience is that backing them off slightly will give you better response in the upper part of the neck, with minimal loss of lower tones and growl. Try them out at different settings and go for what sounds best to your ears. My '57 Tele sounds wonderful with the pickups a good distance away from the strings. Really clean, full and harmonically very rich sounding. Just like my ZBs. Good luck!
lc ZBest! |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 25 September 2003 08:13 AM
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Well last night I played my first real gig with my ZB. It sounds great loud. And so easy to play. However I did notice my A pedal taking my 5th string B gradually sharper as the night went on. Yup, the tuning nut was slipping. So I got home and loc-tited it so hopefully that'll stop. This guitar is so cool and different. Brad Sarno '66, '69 Emmons Push/Pull,
'7? ZB Custom S-10
'69 Fender Twin w/BW
'76, '78 Session 400
(never trust an instrument under 30) |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 25 September 2003 08:38 AM
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quote:
By the way, the ZB into my Sho-Bud pedal into my '69 Twin is just amazing sounding.
My ZB into my ZB pedal into my '68 Twin is just amazing sounding.
like they were made for each other...
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Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 02 October 2003 08:45 AM
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Greeting from IBMA in Louisville, KY!ZBEST, still, but too many banjos around here (: |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 10 October 2003 07:33 AM
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ZBump!
lc |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 12 October 2003 08:18 AM
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All hail the Great Green ZB machine.Go Cubbies!!! ZBest,
lc |
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