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Topic: My friend Billy Knowles & ZB Custom |
Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 24 May 2014 12:13 am |
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Billy and I have been friends for many years and have many interests in
common, such as a fondness for vintage ZB steel guitars. Several
months ago I had mentioned to Billy that I would like to have a ZB
like one I had as a teenager, although I use my Mullen G2 to carry the mail. Billy found just the perfect candidate.
He restored the guitar to better than original and added what was required
for my set up including split tuning, all of which required fabricating many parts. The attention to
detail is jaw dropping. No easy feat here. He delivered it
to me yesterday in gorgous matching split cases. The guitar is absolutely a stunning work of art, plays
beautifully and sounds incredible. Thank you so much Billy! I'd also like to
thank Steve Knowles and Roger Howard for all their hard work!
I hope the photos capture just a 10th of it's beauty.
 [/url]
Last edited by Tommy White on 25 May 2014 3:42 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 24 May 2014 3:05 am
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Congrats Tommy...We're very lucky to have folks like Billy who can restore these vintage guitars to better than new condition! Zane would be proud of this one for sure...  Carl |
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Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 3:41 am
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WOW 
_________________
'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
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Dickie Whitley
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Posted 24 May 2014 5:10 am
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| In a word (well maybe two), jaw-dropping.... |
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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 6:16 am
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| What a master craftsman Billy Knowles is and one heck of a fine fellow. |
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George Seymour
From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 8:02 am
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| Mr. Hudson I would wholeheartedly second that! I saw the ZB in the early stages when I met Brother Billy at his shop this past December. Very lucky to have such a superb craftsman in the steel guitar world for sure! And thanks for the "extra" in my string shipment! |
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Lynn Stafford
From:
Ridgefield, WA USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 8:30 am Billy
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| Sid Hudson wrote: |
| What a master craftsman Billy Knowles is and one heck of a fine fellow. |
I could not have said it better myself, Sid!
I'm very proud to have Billy a great friend and also an associate. He does outstanding work!
Congratulations, Tommy! What a gorgeous guitar you have there. I'm sure you'll treasure it for many years to come!
_________________
Best regards,
Lynn Stafford
STEEL GUITAR WEST
http://www.steelguitarwest.com
Steel Guitar Technician (Restoration, Set-up, Service and Repair work)
Previous Emmons Authorized Dealer & Service Technician (original factory is now closed)
ZumSteel Authorized Service Technician
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Hugh Briley
From:
Apex, North Carolina
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Posted 24 May 2014 8:36 am Billy
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Great job Billy. Awesome work.
_________________
Cherokee SD-10
Emmons D-10 Lashley LeGrande
Telonics 12
Walker Seat
dhb Custom Split Cases
dhb Custom SD-10 Case |
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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 24 May 2014 9:12 am
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| Very nice. The lines between craftsmanship and artistry blur.....excellent taste, both of you. |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 11:35 am
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| Looking good! Now you need to find a ZB volume pedal to go with it! |
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Will Hart
From:
St. Croix, Virgin Islands
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Posted 24 May 2014 11:50 am
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| I don't know which is more beautiful, the top or the underside. What a piece of craftsmanship and mechanics. Great job, Billy! |
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steinar
From:
Finneidfjord, Norway
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Posted 24 May 2014 12:13 pm Blly Knowles.
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| All of the above and more, - making leather "Waylon" cover for a Tele, making his own Nudie style rhinestone jacket, etc., - a true scholar and gentleman for all seasons! |
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Russ Tkac
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Posted 24 May 2014 12:26 pm
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| Beautiful Tommy, and Billy is a great builder and person. |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 24 May 2014 1:37 pm
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I think that is the coolest looking piece I've seen on the forum. Any chance of a sound-bite, Tommy?
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Todd Goad
From:
Gray, Georgia, USA
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Posted 24 May 2014 6:44 pm
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| Beautiful Tommy!! Great work Billy!! |
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Ricky Hagan
From:
Elm City N.C. U.S.A.
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Posted 25 May 2014 4:51 am
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| Billy is the greatest and I feel honored to call him a friend. |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 25 May 2014 7:07 am Billy Knowles
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Besides being a master technician and restoration expert, Billy is a generous and kind person as well. A model of excellence in craft, and integrity.
Thanks Billy, and congrats to Tommy White on a beautiful guitar, can't wait to hear the Master play it!
JW
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 25 May 2014 8:40 am
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So Nice!!!
And so great to give another life to and old ZB.
And I really like the turnbuckle adjustments that are mounted at the ends of the rods.
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Josh Rossow
From:
Mchenry, Illinois
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Posted 25 May 2014 9:07 pm
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| Perfect!! |
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Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 25 May 2014 9:21 pm
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. . and a color-coordinated
pack-o-seat, none-the-less!
~Rw
_________________
www.russface
www.russguru |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 25 May 2014 9:44 pm
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Haha. You got me laughing Russ! Funny thing is, I've had that seat 20 years or more and never liked the color. Seems it was a mix up in my order. It has never left the house. Now that I have the 44 year old ZB I'm glad to have the matching set. Still can't get over what a great job my friend Billy did on the old horn.
Now like Jim Smith said, I must find a ZB volume pedal to go with it! |
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Billy Knowles
From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
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Posted 26 May 2014 5:34 am Tommy
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_________________
Billy Knowles
STEEL GUITAR EAST
Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician
my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com |
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Hugh Briley
From:
Apex, North Carolina
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Posted 26 May 2014 6:35 am Eric Dahlhoff ZB
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Eric Dahlhoff you also did a great restoration job on your ZB D-10/11. Looks great. Thanks for allowing me to build a case for it. Thanks for helping me with measurements and your patients. Great to work with you.
_________________
Cherokee SD-10
Emmons D-10 Lashley LeGrande
Telonics 12
Walker Seat
dhb Custom Split Cases
dhb Custom SD-10 Case |
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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 26 May 2014 7:02 am
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| Thomas, you're getting skinny my friend. |
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