ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

[Dave Magram]

Mike,

Where did you get that super-cool mat with the Emmons logo and fretboard markers?

- Dave

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Mike,

Where did you get that super-cool mat with the Emmons logo and fretboard markers?

- Dave

https://www.emmonsguitar.co/product-pag ... -stage-rug

[Bob Hamilton]

Hey Brian Lee, I had that 12 string for a couple of years too, if you ever get the chance to remove the neck, you'll find it's signed underneath by Zane. I did an overspray on the body and repainted the black section and discovered that it's signed in red stain. It was supposedly built by one of Zane's employees for his own use. I still have her cousin number 1062. Nice guitar for sure.

[Brian Lee]

Hey Brian Lee, I had that 12 string for a couple of years too, if you ever get the chance to remove the neck, you'll find it's signed underneath by Zane. I did an overspray on the body and repainted the black section and discovered that it's signed in red stain. It was supposedly built by one of Zane's employees for his own use. I still have her cousin number 1062. Nice guitar for sure.

Hi Bob Hamilton! Thanks for your post on my 12 string! Thanks too for all the posts you've contributed to this huge ZB thread! When I bought it from Eric Dahlhoff, he was kind enough to provide me with a summary of its history that the had put together. I got the bug to add to it with all the info that I could find on #1060 in this thread. Thanks to your July 2, 2009 post I saw your photo of Zane's red stain signature under the neck- very cool! I also saw your photo of your #1062 and #1060 together - cool that you still have 1062, it's a beauty!

I also found the info that you describe regarding the original owner, plus its invoice info. Really interesting , and also a little bit of a puzzle...

Thanks to B Greg Jones post on Aug 22, 2007 in this thread, here's the invoice info: “The Serial number on that 12 stringer is #1060. Invoiced on Feb.11th 1967 to Don Edwards. Built in Scranton, Arkansas by Zane. “

I'm thinking that "Don Edwards" is referring to the Don Edwards Music Shop that was in Colorado, rather than Don Edwards personally.

Darvin Willhoite's posts describe the original owner story as you relayed:

His July 10, 2008 post in this thread (addressed to you when you owned it) says: “Bob (Hamilton) I’m glad this old guitar is still around and being played. I bought it from Lee Prince, who was living in Oklahoma at the time I bought it. I think he worked for Zane in Arizona, and was originally from California. I never had any more contact with him after I bought the guitar, I don’t know if he’s still in Oklahoma or if he still plays.”

Darvin also made some other similar posts:
"Here’s the story as I know it. This is probably the only 12 string Zane Beck ever built. I bought it in 1980 from a guy in Oklahoma that had worked for Zane in Arizona several years before that."

and...

"I bought it from a former ZB employee, who built it while he was working there.”

The B Greg Jones invoice info combined with Darvin's comments pose a puzzle: If Lee Prince worked at ZB with Zane and was involved in making 1060, why would the invoice be to Don Edwards - a shop in Colorado? Maybe Lee Prince worked with Zane at ZB, was involved in building 1060 on a spec. order from the Edwards shop, but worked a deal to buy it?

Does anyone here know anything about a steel player named Lee Prince in California/Arizona/Oklahoma?

It's a kick to find so much owner and configuration history of this guitar thanks to SGF! It would be fun to find out even more about its journey. Thanks Bob, and to everyone who has posted information in this ZB thread!

[Larry Chung]

22 years old and still going strong. (:

I just finished listening to the most excellent Greg Leisz/Fretboard Journal podcast interview and was surprised (and not surprised) to hear that Greg had spent several years playing ZBs as well. FYI link here:
https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcas ... reg-leisz/

Thanks to bOb (and RIP) for keeping this 100+ page ZB thread up and hosted all this time. Many years ago, bOb had asked me, "Do you want to keep that crazy ZB thread going?" "As long as there are folks who are interested and as long as you have enough space to host it." We both laughed. (: The information here has provided so much valuable historical and practical information to all of us ZB players and devotees.

I'm delighted myself to see that it keeps going and growing.

All ZBest,
LC

[Brian Lee]

Thanks Larry Chung for creating and nurturing this thread for 22 years! Wow! We also sure owe huge thanks to bOb for this amazing SGF site, and to all the folks who have kept it going since his passing. Thanks so much!

[Larry Chung]

Greetings, ZB Enthusiasts:

Thought I'd share this very interesting set of ZB pickups I just bought off of Reverb. I've never seen ZB pickups with these readings or configurations before, perhaps this was an early experimental set of pickups? They are identical in appearance to the early Zane-built pickups I've seen, too.

The first is a pretty standard split-coil pickup, but the DCR readings are different than nearly all the ZB pickups I've seen. Plus there's a mysterious 3rd coil tap (versus the standard 2). 19K, 15K, 7.7K and 6.7K. Interestingly, the lowest value tap appears to not have been used.

The second is even more interesting with two sets of 2 coil taps, perhaps a hands-on way of determining the "proper" winding configuration? One one side, 18.3K, 11.3K and 6.7K; on the other side, 21.4K, 14.6K and 7.5K. A total of 6 possible values. Interestingly, only certain values from both sides appear to have been used for a total of three options.

The wire lead holes in the bobbins look stock on both pickups and the lead insulation and wire type is identical. I've tested both pickups and they both work and sound really nice, too. Hoping to find just the right situation to install one or both.

Here are a few snaps.
All ZBest,
LC

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Here is a later model, probably mid '70s. Basil Smith thinks his Dad may have built this ZB. Has the later style abalone inlay, like Tom Brumleys Sd-11 from this era had.

Needs a little polishing, but dang, this guitar sings! Judging by the pedals, looks hardly played.

As a matter of fact I discovered the rod on pedal 5(C6th), that should go to the lower of the 5th string, was hooked up wrong at the factory and was connected to the 5th string raise .... Been like that near 50 years and no-one seemed to notice, or care.

[Tony Oresteen]

Are there any aftermarket pickups that will fit a ZB 10 string bridge?

The pickup opening is 103mm x 42mm (4,060" x 1.653")

Thanks!

[Kevin Hatton]

Steeltronics.

[Tony Oresteen]

Thanks Kevin. I will contact them.

[Brendan Mitchell]

Unique ZB

[Brian Lee]

Hi Brendan, That is an interesting ZB!
The lack of "horns" on the changer and head stock, and the aluminum top and bottom edges on the front apron are interesting. I remembered some prior posts in this thread that showed ZB's with similar features, and out of curiosity took a quick look to confirm the recollection.

The Jimmy Gibson posts on 25 Sept 2015 and 22 Sept 2013 show "ZB Student" models with similar front aprons, and no horns - but the body construction details don't look the same as yours. As an example, those have fasteners going through the top near the corners.

The John Shadid posts on 5 April 2012 show a "no horns" style changer and headstock , and in B Greg Jones' response post on 6 April 2012, he indicates that John's steel was built between 79-85. I think there is another post that describes the "no horns" configuration of that time period, and that the classic horn versions continued to be built at the same time - but I couldn't find that post with a quick look.

A thorough read through this great ZB thread might provide you with some additional clues. That's a really sharp looking rig!

[Eric Dahlhoff]

Happy New Year ZB Fans

Last summer I acquired #1055 as a "project". I am finally getting some time to spend with it. I'm guessing 1967-68 maybe?
It was not playable when I got it, clearly it has had a hard life. I don't intend to refinish it, just rebuild the broken guts and clean it up. I think it's a beauty and worth the effort.
I'll post a separate thread to share the journey here...

viewtopic.php?p=3236739#3236739

[Kevin Hatton]

Okay, 1055 was another Ted Solesky guitar, sold on December 16th 1966. Ted sold many for Zane. Those guitars sound great.

[Eric Dahlhoff]

Okay, 1055 was another Ted Solesky guitar, sold on December 16th 1966. Ted sold many for Zane. Those guitars sound great.

Thanks for the info Kevin!

[Russ Tkac]

Eric, That is one cool steel! Thanks for bringing it back to life. I haven't played in a while. I need to pull my ZB out.

[Ben Elder]

Greg, are you out there? I sent an email a while back. Would like to discuss a project.


Thanks,


Ben
3Io-65O-5o8three

[Johnie King]

Bump

[Jeremy Brandelik]

Might as well keep adding to this thread.

What is the best way to clean up dusty, gunky changer fingers. Rock tumbler possibly?

I cleaned up the fingers on my new (to me) '69 with brake cleaner because I was wanting it up in playing condition and I already had some at home. My '67 is really starting to feel sluggish and I can tell that the fingers have seen better days. This one is a real treasure (not putting down the other one) and I really want to do it right.

How do the pros on here do it? Please enlighten me.

[Eric Dahlhoff]

An ultrasonic cleaner with Simple Green is my way.
An example...
https://www.amazon.com/InvisiClean-Prof ... B072JXQ9P5

And then you'll find hundreds of other uses

[Dustin White]

Longtime listener -- first time caller.

So I picked up a ZB Custom S-11 from a gentleman yesterday and, of course, have some questions that I hope y'all can help with. I know the ZBs are unique beasts in how they operate and hopefully I can get it all dialed in by an expert in the future -- but for now...

The gentleman I bought it from said he bought it awhile back at Billy Coopers -- BUT -- when we bought it he had them take the knee levers off because he had a knee replacement and couldn't work them. I'm going to call Billy Coopers later today and see if they have any insight on this OR could offer knee lever replacements. I have a feeling though that this was purchased awhile back. IF any other ZB wizards have knee levers or advice that would be amazing. The screws are still present where the levers would've screwed in. So they were definitely there at some point.

Serial number 0021
I'm assuming late 60s from the SN and the Bakersfield logo, but would love an expert opinion.

When I got it home I discovered that pedal C was only pulling string 4 and not 5. Got under and discovered the linkage (hope im using the right term here I'm still relatively new and have looked thru most of this thread to get insight) wasn't connected anywhere.

So my first question:
Should that linkage connect in the same slot or one in the first slot and one in the second?
I put together a little picture because it's easier to make sure I'm asking the right question.

PULL.png

I know this is a rudimentary question but everything else seems to be operating great mechanically.

I had an MSA Red Baron to learn the basics and am trying to move up to my 'big boy' steel but obviously the mechanicals here are very different.

The pickup has one tap disconnected from the switch. Going to see whats going on there when I restring it. Hopefully the tap is still there just got disconnected. The pickup is also VERY microphonic but according to this thread that's super common.

Are there any good ZB knowledgable folks in PA? I'm in Lancaster County. From what I've picked up on here seems like most folks are in the South or California. Billy Coopers is only 4hrs away so that's not a big deal but would love to find somebody close to get this back to 100%.

Thanks to all y'all for the endless amount of information on here and now let's have some pictures of this beauty.

zb-hutch.jpg

IMG_2960.jpg

IMG_2959.jpg

IMG_2958.jpg