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Author Topic:  ZB 11 String Rebuild
Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 4:20 pm    
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Last year I bought this ZB #0456 as a project. It had been torn apart and not put back correctly - didn't really function. It was built with 5 pedals and 2 knees, so maybe it was originally a C6 or a Uni. But mostly it was parts in bags. Laughing



It sat around until lock-down and I suddenly had lots of "spare" time. I had to tear all the guts out anyway, so at that point I thought I would try a refinish job too (I hope nobody is offended)
You can see that the original color was bright green.






Well... it's got a whole new color combo now! And I've set it up with 4 pedals & 4 knees. It sounds great & plays smooth like it should. I even splurged on a new set of light-weight legs. Cool
If I ever get to go play somewhere again it will be a joy to haul it around.








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Brandon Schafer


From:
Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 4:26 pm    
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That is outstanding!!!
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 7:37 pm    
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Very, very nice. Always wished I had one of those...
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Scott Swartz


From:
St. Louis, MO
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 8:01 pm    
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Do you mind if I ask what technique you used to get the sharp lines between the blue stained and natural areas or inlay?
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 10:40 pm     Details
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Thanks guys Smile

I used 3M automotive masking tape. First I used amber shellac on the inlay to give it a gold color, and seal against the stain. Then I swapped the masking tape and applied blue aniline dye. I used Watco oil on the natural parts to bring out the birdseye.
The combo of tape & shellac allows the fine line.


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Stu Schulman


From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2020 11:47 pm    
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Awesome!!
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John McClung


From:
Olympia WA, USA
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 10:11 am    
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Love the color combo! Bet it sounds like a zillion bucks, at least I hope so.
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Frank Freniere


From:
The First Coast
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 11:08 am    
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WOW - love the color combo!

Last edited by Frank Freniere on 12 Aug 2020 12:27 am; edited 1 time in total
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2020 10:12 pm     Zb
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John McClung wrote:
Bet it sounds like a zillion bucks, at least I hope so.


Yep - it's my new favorite Very Happy

Sure wish I could play it in public somewhere... Oh Well
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Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2020 2:11 pm    
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Absolutely beautiful. It would be cool if you could find a ZB Custom decal. They probably don’t exist anymore though.
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Brendan Mitchell


From:
Melbourne Australia
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 3:42 am    
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Ken Mizell wrote:
Absolutely beautiful. It would be cool if you could find a ZB Custom decal. They probably don’t exist anymore though.


I think Greg Jones still has decals
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Johnie King


From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 10:03 am    
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Very nice good job for sure!!!
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Dennis Montgomery


From:
Western Washington
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 10:52 am    
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Wow! What a major upgrade...I love the colors Winking
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Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 11:52 am    
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That turned out really nice.
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John Goux

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 7:49 pm    
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Sweet. Nothing sounds like a ZB. And 11 strings would be fun.
John
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2020 9:28 pm    
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Yeah, it would be, John. I've played a couple 11 stringers lately, and that low string is big fun.
All those years I played in 4 piece bands, I sure could've used that low E string.
Beats me why I never got one back then...
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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 7:29 am    
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Eric, email me your address. I'll send you a decal for that guitar.
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Michael Greer


From:
Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 9:35 am    
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Eric

Beautiful work and craftmanship.
I am sure it sounds as good as it looks.
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 16 Aug 2020 10:10 am     Zb
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Thanks you all for the compliments Very Happy
I am really enjoying playing it. It sound great & I've got all the knees just where I want them.

Kevin, thanks for your offer, I sent you a PM.

For what it's worth, here is how I set up my 11 strings. It's extended E9 with E-G#-B-E on the bottom. The F lever drops low E to C#.
So A pedal + F lever at 3rd fret gives E-B-E-G#-B-E on strings 11-10-9-8-6-5 same intervals as guitar E/D tuning.



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Andrew Goulet


Post  Posted 23 Aug 2020 5:40 pm    
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Wow! Great job! Also, nice taping skills. If I tried that I'd have a big ball of green tape and a lot of curses.
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 24 Aug 2020 11:27 am    
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Andrew Goulet wrote:
Wow! Great job! Also, nice taping skills. If I tried that I'd have a big ball of green tape and a lot of curses.


Laughing Well... I do have to wear my reading glasses.
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Billy Knowles

 

From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
Post  Posted 26 Aug 2020 7:51 pm     Zb
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Beautiful job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Terry Wood


From:
Marshfield, MO
Post  Posted 1 Sep 2020 10:04 am    
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Eric Awesome job! Zane Beck would be proud of You Sir! Beautiful Steel Guitar!
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Damir Besic


From:
Nashville,TN.
Post  Posted 1 Sep 2020 7:07 pm    
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Awesome 👍
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Eric Dahlhoff


From:
Point Arena, California
Post  Posted 2 Sep 2020 9:15 pm     ZB decal
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Thanks Kevin Hatton for the decal Cool
I hope I get to play this in public some day!


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