ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 20 Sep 2007 6:09 pm

Billy.... Did you rebuild that guitar? How does it sound with a different changer?

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 24 Sep 2007 7:05 am

Henry
The wood on a ZB is 3/4 and an Emmons 1/2 so the changer finer had to be 3/8 longer(had to allow a little extra for the thickness of the end plate) than an Emmons finger. So to make a long story short, the changer was 3/8 inch longer than a Legrande and it made it play so easy that there was no feel at all and I was disappointed. I could just touch the pedal and the pitch of a string would change. I tried stronger pedal return springs but still could not get any feel that was acceptable to me. I can't remember about the tone though. I was so upset with the feel that I don't think I even listened to the tone. This does not answer your question but I just do not remember. Maybe I should have tried another company's changer. The Emmons changer is great!!!!! in an Emmons but did work well in a ZB but then it was not designed for the ZB. I was just trying to find a quick fix for a modern type ZB but what I tried did not work unless you want no feel in the pedals.
Thanks
BIlly

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 1 Oct 2007 9:56 pm

Early 70's ZB S-10, Peavey CS-200X power amp, Alembic F-2B preamp, Boss RV-3 Reverb/Delay, 15" BW...sounds good to me. Opinions?

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 1 Oct 2007 9:56 pm

Double post..sorry.

Bill McKenna · Post by **Bill McKenna** » 5 Oct 2007 3:00 pm

Hi ZBaholics

I just got my 68 ZB D10 back from Kevin Hatton, he has had it for the last couple months making it look purty again! Looks great to me!. Can't wait to get it all back together now!
Here are some pics

Here are some pics of what it was like before he got hold of it!
http://mckennasgarage.com/newgallery/album07?page=2

Thanks Kevin!
Bill

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 5 Oct 2007 5:39 pm

Hey Mike Winter!

Let's see some pics of that S10? Have you had it long?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 5 Oct 2007 9:04 pm

Mike Winter wrote:Early 70's ZB S-10, Peavey CS-200X power amp, Alembic F-2B preamp, Boss RV-3 Reverb/Delay, 15" BW...sounds good to me. Opinions?

as Duke Ellington said..."If it sounds good, it is good."

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 5 Oct 2007 10:58 pm

With the help of forum buddy Bob Hamilton, I finally got my lean and mean S10 Bakersfield machine up and running with 5 x 4. She sounds sweet and plays like a dream. Thanks Bob!!

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Oct 2007 5:49 am

Dave
What is the serial number and it looks really nice
Billy

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 6 Oct 2007 5:50 am

Bill
What is the serial number on yours
Thanks
Billy

Bill McKenna · Post by **Bill McKenna** » 6 Oct 2007 12:20 pm

If you are asking me, the Scranton ZB D10 up a couple posts ago, which is now Red is 1169, shipped Dec 27th 1968, just before the company changed hands.

Thanks
Bill

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 6 Oct 2007 1:42 pm

Bill's 1169 body was in particularly bad shape. Just like my 1107 1968. If any of you need a hard body poly finish let me know. Much superior to lacquer. Between Greg Jones, Billy Knowles, and myself there is no reason why anyone can't own a ZB in better than new condition. Best sounding steel ever made.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 6 Oct 2007 3:31 pm

Anyone want to change the setup on my ZB from Emmons to Day and give it a tuneup? I'm serious. I only play ZBs, not work on them...anything other than tuning the endplate is way out of my abilities. Some people say that playing a pedal steel is out of my ability, but I'll post that one in the Steel Players section.
Duncan

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 18 Oct 2007 8:02 pm

Any new ZB finds??? Surely someone has purchased a ZB here recently.

Casey

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 18 Oct 2007 9:14 pm

I can't imagine not having blathered about it, but I got that 11-string student model on eBay (160148351666) a while back. (An avalanche of other ZB student models seems to have followed it out of the woodwork.) Very cool but its case isn't up to the weight of the contents.

Speaking of which, a few days old:

http://tucson.craigslist.org/msg/444511244.html

Since we have this thread back near the top, something I've been wondering about: has anyone ever married a BMI undercarriage to a ZB body?

Dave Seddon · Post by **Dave Seddon** » 19 Oct 2007 7:06 am

Since this appears to be the official ZB book what better place to ask my question. Can anyone tell me what that really sticky stuff is that ZB used to stop the allen screws (Changer stops) from moving. I do believe that FUZZY steels used it aswell. I know some amplifier manufactuers use it on the pot shafts to keep the knobs from falling off.
Cheers Dave.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 19 Oct 2007 10:32 am

I always use blue threadlock. Lock-tite (or some such spelling) is a brand name. Available at any auto parts store.

Some people crimp the female threads on the allen screw, but I wouldn't attempt that unless I really knew what I was doing. I'd hate make it too tight and break off the end of a pull rod.

Dave Seddon · Post by **Dave Seddon** » 19 Oct 2007 10:47 am

Thanks Henry, the stuff I refer to as I remeber is like a clear grease but as I said is extremely tacky, but failing that does the blue Loctite you refer to have a number??
Cheers Dave.

Paul Frank Bloomfield · Post by **Paul Frank Bloomfield** » 21 Oct 2007 10:00 am

Hi Shakey !
you can get that " Loctite" in any good DIY shops,
pity about our non- show in November,hoping for
December now.
All the best
frank Bloomfield. Corfu

Dave Seddon · Post by **Dave Seddon** » 21 Oct 2007 10:25 am

Frank, I look forward to seeing you in December, I shall definately be there, (never missed a Christmas meeting yet.) DON'T FORGET THE OOOOOOOOOOOZZZZO !!!!!
Cheers fer now
Dave.

Dave Seddon · Post by **Dave Seddon** » 21 Oct 2007 10:31 am

But still noboby can tell me what the clear stickt stuff is. No it ain't loc-tite I checked!
Dave (Shakey)

Todd Meadows · Post by **Todd Meadows** » 22 Oct 2007 2:44 am

Hey guys, I have Zb d10 Ser#0566. I love the tone, but it needs a good tune up.Anybody know abuot what it cost to go through the under carrige? Any other info on this guitar would be greatly appricated. Thank's Todd.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 22 Oct 2007 9:49 am

Todd, you need to contact Greg Jones at (606) 309-0442. He is in Kentucky.

Justin Brown · Post by **Justin Brown** » 5 Nov 2007 1:10 pm

What is the scale length and string spacing on a ZB?

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 5 Nov 2007 5:47 pm

In answer to the new ZB finds I haven't seen it yet
but have a 74 custom 4x4 coming. It was a D10 now
a loafer. Can't wait to play it. I am hooked on ZBs
Thanks for being there guys.

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