The Steel Guitar Forum

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Sep 2015 6:41 pm

I don't see a problem.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 28 Sep 2015 6:44 pm

There is not a problem, that is a photo of Tom Brumley's ZB with ball bearing roller nuts.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 28 Sep 2015 6:54 pm

Hysteresis!

h

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 28 Sep 2015 10:08 pm

Billy, that 11th string looks a little slack to me...
Is that the I Sang Dixie gtr?

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 29 Sep 2015 4:42 am

Yes this is the Dixie guitar, I loosened the 11th string so the roller nut would show.
thanks

Dwight Lewis · Post by **Dwight Lewis** » 29 Sep 2015 5:51 am

Very interesting.....Does anyone know who started the ZB company? I see Tom Brumley in one of the user manuals, but I know he did have a friendshipwith Zan Beck.
Just wanted a little history on these guitars and their intricate cutsom designs.

Thanks

Dwight

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 29 Sep 2015 6:01 am

I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure it was Zac Brown. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Craig

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 29 Sep 2015 6:06 am

Billy, do you think the ball bearing roller nuts really help or was that just a lot of work for nothing? I would think that just the regular old roller nuts would work just as well if kept clean and oiled.
Zb's are amazing guitars and have a wonderful tone but with parts removed so you can see cabinet under neck, etc,, they look like they were put together with a hacksaw and chisel but it sure didn't hurt their tone.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 29 Sep 2015 8:56 am

Dwight - ZB stands for Zane Beck who started the company and designed the guitars.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 29 Sep 2015 11:53 am

My 76' RusLer has ball bearing roller nuts. They're a neat idea, but, I don't really think they're an advantage. I oil and spin them each time I change the strings, even though they all spin freely.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 29 Sep 2015 7:14 pm

Henry, there is little none on this guitar so they must help. Tom Brumley was convinced they helped and his ear was much better than mine.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 29 Sep 2015 11:10 pm

SGF member Greg Lasser was the ZB guru of the SF Bay Area when I lived there in the 70's. He turned out sets of ball bearing rollers that he made on a Unimat lathe. They were beautifully crafted & improved guitar tuning significantly.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 30 Sep 2015 12:17 pm

Thanks Billy, if you or Tom says they help, then they do.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 30 Sep 2015 5:51 pm

Tony Glassman wrote:SGF member Greg Lasser was the ZB guru of the SF Bay Area when I lived there in the 70's. He turned out sets of ball bearing rollers that he made on a Unimat lathe. They were beautifully crafted & improved guitar tuning significantly.

Greg did the work on my first ZB. Added 3 knee levers, set me up Day style (like him of course).

Zb

Zb

problem

dixie

Zb

Zb