New ZB's SD-10's with modern mechanics

[Kevin Hatton]

I am building new ZB's with modern mechanics. The top half of the changer is exactly the same as the original. The bottom half is double raise/lower. The pickups are exact as 68 Zane Beck originals. The nut rollers have been improved for pin axle virtually eliminating hysterisis that was prevalent on the originals. 2 cent cabinet drop (non existent). Stainless steel legs (they never rust or corrode) that look as chrome originals. 3/4" hard rock maple body as original. All metal is CAST aluminum as original for resonance as Zane Beck intended. The guitar sounds exactly as a 1968. Triple tap pickup. 12.5,18.5, 23.5. The guitar weighs in at 30 pounds! Embossed/engraved pedals. Custom colors. Don't ask me to build mica because I won't. Quick change hex shaft bell cranks. You can change your setup easily in ten/twenty minutes. Just back off the set screw on the bell crank and move it. Polished ADJUSTABLE aluminum knee levers. If you ever wanted a ZB with modern mechanics this is it. I worked on this for two years with some of the biggest builders in the business. The guitar sounds exactly like a 1968. They look stunning. Split cases with wheels included for easy transport. I have a two month backlog right now. I am selling these under the Retro Steel guitar name. $2995.00 plus shipping. I will post pictures soon.

[Ricky Davis]

And here's those pics now. Wow Kevin; that is Awesome work my brother.
Wish I had one.

[Stu Schulman]

WOW!

[Kevin Hatton]

If anyone wants one of these guitars call me at (716) 691-6527 Hatton Split Cases. I am taking orders on first come first serve basis. The are LIMITED EDITION guitars. I do not do this for a living. Every one that I make is like I am making one for myself. I will guarantee you a flawless new modern ZB guitar. I am not taking any more than six orders in the first year.

[Peer Desmense]

This is absolutely beautiful!!!

Hat off for mr. Hatton!

I bet you'll get more orders than you could ever imagine, Kevin.
BTW, do you own the ZB brandname?

I wish you lots of succes!!!

Peer

[Kevin Hatton]

No I don't. These are being sold under the "Retro Steel Guitar" name.

[Peer Desmense]

Please pardon my ignorance in this matter, but the decals that you see on the guitar above indicate ZB.
Is that allowed?

Peer

[Dave Van Allen]

is that an original body with retrofit hardware in the pix?

[Kevin Hatton]

No Dave. I designed and built the whole guitar. This one has a D-10 body but I decided to build only SD-10's at this time. Peer. I am delivering the guitar without the stickers. The customer can intall the sticker if they want to. They are after market. I also have Retro Steel Guitar stickers.

[John De Maille]

Kevin,
Great looking job on that ZB! A great sound with up to date mechanics. Perfect!
BTW- are there RusLer pedals on that ZB?

[richard burton]

Kevin,
That's a work of art, well done

[Kevin Hatton]

Thanks Richard. I knew that you would appreciate it because you are a ZB player. You can see why I'm so hard edged about ZB's. I put two years of my life into studying that guitar. I talked with people who originally worked for ZB and this was a collaboration. The guitar absolutely sounds like a 68. Its got the west coast thing happening. John, very good observation. Yes they are the Rustler pedals. I have been given access rights to them for this project. Hence th "R" in the "Retro Steel Guitar" brand name I chose. They are beautiful pedals. Both Chuck Back and Jerry Fessenden helped me put this project together and I want to thank them here. If anyone wants a reference on the sound of this guitar just call Jerry Fessenden (he worked for ZB). Jerry was instrumental in encouraging me to do this. I was after getting the original sound above all else and its there. The sound of this guitar will knock your socks off. Its like your listening to The Buckaroos again.

[Bob Hamilton]

No wonder you've been so quiet lately, nice job. Who is building the pickups?

[Kevin Hatton]

Bob, I can't reveal my source right now. They are exact replicas of 68's.

[ray qualls]

Will it sound anything like my old "68" FrankenBeck?

[Duncan Hodge]

Fantastic work Kevin. I am mightily impressed. The only problem is that now I want one of yours too. As you keep making your steels please keep posting more pictures.
Duncan

[Terry Sneed]

I'd love to hear a sound bite of the above guitar. I've always liked the ZB tone.


Terry

[Carl Williams]

Hi Kevin---so this is the project you were working on---we talked a little about what you were trying to do this past Fall when you were building my cases---Great looking steel and based upon your craftsmanship/attention-to-detail work on my cases, I'm sure you're on to something that will keep you in the business for a long time to come! Good luck and like many others, will be awaiting addn'l pics as you build your other five for this year as well as some sound clips...I'm sure Zane would be very proud of you breathing new life into the ZB--be interested in what Tom Brumley's take is on your retro work? Carl
P.S. I may be calling you for some advice very soon on a small project I'm working on...

[Kevin Hatton]

I am going to post sound MP3 clips next week.

[Casey Lowmiller]

Kevin,

Will you still be doing rebuilds as well???

That sure is super-slick!!!

I'm surprised that you went with a Double Raise/Lower versus a Triple.

Casey

[Kevin Hatton]

Casey, yes I am doing conversions. The ZB endplate will not accept a triple. Double/Double is plenty good enough for me anyway. I can do triple on a per string basis though for special order.

[Paul Frank Bloomfield]

Hallo Kevin
What can I say,it is a truely magnificent guitar,I
wish you all the success you deserve with this
project.
All the best
Frank Bloomfield, Corfu

[Ken Byng]

Very nice!! Zane would approve I'm sure.

[Jay Ganz]

Holy mackeral Kevin First it was the split cases, then the poly refinishing, now these updated ZB's.
All top notch stuff What's next on the horizon

[Russ Tkac]

Who owns the ZB name?