New Retro Custom Steel Guitar ZB's

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I'd like your opinions. Here are pictures of two different color scheme Retro Custom ZB's with new mechanics that I build. Please tell me if you like the two tone natural tops and front stain, or the solid stain body. I can make them either way. I am partial to the two tone classic ZB look, but others who have seen the solid stain guitar marvel at it and are partial to that. Please give me your opinion. I can make them either way. Anyhow, let me know if you like solid or two tone. When I figure out how to insert the picture here I'll add it.[/img]

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Thanks Mike. I'll try it.

Ben Elder · From: La Crescenta, California, USA

Two-tone.

(And while we're at it: white fingerboards and white pickups.)

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

Solid stain. But I agree with the white fingerboard Very Happy

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

As a former ZB player, I prefer the solid colors. But, I have seen some great two tones on here.

I think the white fretboards and pickups work best on black guitars, and mayge dark blue. The darker the stain, the better. I've seen them on some other colors that did not look right.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Kevin,Two tone.Stu Winking

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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I just want to add that I think Kevin deserves a lot of praise for building "new" ZB guitars. I think it's great. Would love to have one if I had the bucks and he made D-10's.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

Two tone (with blond tops)!

I think this is a great idea, Kevin. A ZB with modern mechanics is just about the only pedal steel that I don't own that I'd consider buying.

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

Kevin, is it the same type changer with different pull rods and bellcranks, or is it a modern all pull changer. Great work! JP
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Carter,PV,Fender

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Jim, same changer on the top half(the important half for sound). Lower portion is double raise/lower. We designed it that way. It gets the exact sound of a 68. By the way, I offer both white or black fret boards. Pickups are white.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Kevin, not that I can afford it, (or need another steel) but just out of curiosity, could you make a U-12 with a triple raise and lower?
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Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
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Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Absolutely not. No Uni's. No D-10's. SD-10's only at this point. These are great club guitars.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

New precision mechanics. Quick change bell cranks.

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Kevin I love the look of the two tone . I refinished my D10 in plain blond but I would have love to make it two tone .

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Two-tone fer shure!

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Two tone is the look of a classic ZB!

Mike DiAlesandro · From: Kent, Ohio

Cool idea, how many were made total, and where are they now?

I am curious about the modern changer having the same tone as the original with the stops on the endplate, but it appears that they were well thought out and achieved the tone from what I have read.

Who owns one today?

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I made five along with Jerry Fessenden. The tone was exact ZB in that the fingers were Russlers and the caps were ZB. The pickups were exact ZB replicas. Superior sand castings also. One is in France. My student has one. Gary Brandin plays the only S-10 I made. I decided not to go into the steel guitar business. Large capital expenditure for very little return. The new Emmons are priced about right in order to make a going concern.

Mike DiAlesandro · From: Kent, Ohio

Kevin,

Thank you for your informative response. Do you still own the rights to the ZB Custom trademark name?

As you know, ZB's are one of the best sounding steels from that era, with a unique tone.The pickup design is unique as well.Do you still wind pickups in the original ZB style?

It would be so cool to be able to produce a few more in a boutique fashion, as you were doing. I thought that the Kline pulling system would mate well with the existing changer system. But I have no resources to pursue it, or I probably would.

And on another note... do you have any pedal bar decals available?

Thanks! Smile

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Beautiful work, Kevin! Cool

I like the tu-tone, as well, and I always thought that those old Z-B guitars were the most attractive design of them all, with those angle-front endplates, and the "horns" on the changer and headstock. (I believe Buddy called them "cat ears". Very Happy

)

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Mike, yes I have pedal bar decals. No on the pickup winding, although I know how to do it. I completely got out of it. I sold everything to two forum members who apparently never understood the project. The right to the name is largely established by manufacture. You just can't hold a brand copyright and not manufacture. It's against the trademark laws. So no, I don't own anything at this point. I was hoping that the two forum members took up the project. I had engineering cad drawings and an ace aluminum castings supplier, which was key to the signature sound. It was more of a project than I could tackle myself. Just making up polyurethane bodies took a lot of time. I had my own personal bills to pay and couldn't devote enough time/resources to the project.
I will say this, if that guitar was ever resurrected correctly it would blow most steels available today out of the water for tone. Having talked to Tom Brumley before his passing I know exactly what makes those guitars tick. I play an original '67 and it smokes tone. Classic ZB tone. I've owned most major brands. I'll be playing Loretta Lynn's hits on it tomorrow at a gig.
I think that the people who are producing the new Emmons guitars have done it right. They are getting superior tone because of their materials and design. I can relate to their thinking. Bravo job.

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