Working Saturday nights isn't the greatest lot in life, but I've managed to make it work by timing my meal break to go next door to the world famous Farmer's Market where EB's Bar puts on the Ranch Party. Music is country/Americana, although there is a steel maybe only one in six Saturdays. I was delighted to walk into the west patio last night to see a ZB Custom (Kevin Hatton's oft-discussed and highly-touted reproduction) sitting on stage and Gary Brandin sitting in with Michael (Ubaldini) & The Lonesome Playboys.
The ZB sound is absolutely there and the playing was stellar. Everything that's been said about GB and ZB (RI) is true. (I guess, thanks to Kevin H, Buffalo NY is the new Scranton...or Bakersfield...or Phoenix?) Gary also had a kind of a National Resorocket-ish thang in tow, along with a six-string Supro and an 8-string Rickenbacker. It was a long drive and a late-notice call for Gary, so the night was even more of an unexpected pleasure.
Truth be told I am not taking any orders on these right now. I made one for Dennis Wireman here on the Forum and there were some cosmetic issues with the body. I am making him another body right now and want to get his guitar straightened out before I take new orders. I lost my shop helper and had some heart issues in August so I am here by myself. I know exactly what makes these guitars sound the way that they do. I've had to have the endplates redesigned for 1/4" step down as opposed to the old 3/4" bodies because bridging the old 3/4" bodies was not smart mechanicly. I have invested a lot of time and money to get to this point but I can't move forward until Dennis is happy. I'm trying to juggle my life with heart/health issues. Stay tuned in the future. I am determined.
Location: An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
State/Province: -
Country: United States
Postby Chuck McGill »
Kevin hang in there. I just had the worst year of my life for various reasons. Health being one. Not a time I put my scranton in your split case I don't thank you.
Chuck McGill wrote:Kevin hang in there. I just had the worst year of my life for various reasons. Health being one. Not a time I put my scranton in your split case I don't thank you.
My worst year last year too Chuck.
Kevin
If you catch the heart issues early you can carry on relatively as normal. I had 4 stents fitted, and the drugs I now have to take as a result make you very tired, which is a side effect.
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
Ken, my exact situation here. 4 stents and fatigue because of the beta blockers. Nice to know other people can relate. I radically changed my diet and lowered both my cholesterol and blood pressure, but I cannot work like I use to. Life is good and this Forum community is great. Health is everything.
Yep - beta blockers are a pain. They are used to regulate the the heart rate and keep it from over pulsing, but the downside is that they can impede any use of exercise to decrease weight. There are other side effects that I won't go into here, but I can sympathise with Kevin's situation. I thank God for the National Heath system in the UK - I had incredible treatment including 2 weeks in intensive care plus 8 weeks of after-care as an out patient. No financial outlay whatsoever.
There are a lot of used ZB's over here in the UK, and I have always felt that much of that classic bell-like tone is caused by the changer contact with the end plate. As someone who used to sell ZB's in the mid 70's, is does me good to see facsimiles of these great guitars now on the market in the USA with modern mechanics. There are lots of contributory factors that went into the ZB tone, and I hope that hasn't been engineered out of the modern equivalents. There are bargain priced ZBs to be had over here on the second hand market, many of which are non gigged guitars.
Good luck and best wishes to you from the UK Kevin. Your 2 lightweight split cases that I bought from you for my Emmons push pull and Sho~Bud are still in service, and now I have to watch what I lift ae a real boon.
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
I got to see Gary with the group, Freightshakers here in Bakersfield last week, and Gary and his ZB sounded just great. It was a great group, and I hope they come back soon.
I have to publicly thank Jerry Fessenden without whose kindness and mechanical work these guitars would not be possible. He has guided me through this process.
