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Topic: ----> ZB Rebuild <---- |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 1:33 pm |
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Some time back I undertook quite a project. I bought a D-10 ZB that needed some TLC. I bought it with the idea of rebuilding it with a typical cross shaft pedal system, I never did like the looks of the ZB mechanism. It wound up being a bigger project than I bargained for. I dis-assembled the guitar, refinished the cabinet and put it back together again with a crossshaft mechanism. I retained as much of the original ZB as paossible. I kept the original cabinet, end plates, changer, pickups, keyheads and foot pedals. Most ZB owners feel that the ZB's sound primarily rests in the changer and pckups. So I wanted to keep those intact. I even bought split cases for it through Bill Rudolph.
I really don't know what to do with it, I would never get my money out of it on a sale. The best I could is maybe trade it on a late model MCI or a EMCI. I've always wanted to try one of those.
Here are some pictured:
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Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 1:44 pm
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You did a beautiful job on that makeover, Erv.
_________________
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 1:54 pm
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Thanks, Rick!
I know it took long enough.  |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 2:04 pm
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| Great job Erv! |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 2:13 pm
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Great job Erv and believe me, I know how much work goes into a project like that because I did same thing. Mine wasn't as fancy as yours but the mechanism worked and was a big improvement over the original ZB cross bars and didn't change the tone at all as far as I could tell.
Again, fantastic job.
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Tim Russell
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 2:33 pm
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Wow, that's incredible. I would keep it and play the heck out of it! 
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Sierra Crown D-10 |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 2:44 pm
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Some of the undercarriage is MSA Classic. I got that from Wayne Link in Canada.
The rails, crossshafts, pull rods, turnbuckles and etc., I made myself.
What's interesting is that the pull rods that connect to the changer are shortened bicycle spokes. |
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Billy Knowles
From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 8:41 pm Zb
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Wonderful work!!
_________________
Billy Knowles
STEEL GUITAR EAST
Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician
my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 8:49 pm
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That's amazing stuff
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 27 Feb 2016 12:53 am
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Erv,
You've fallen in the trap of using bellcranks and collars for the pulls.
This is not the best way to set up a ZB, as it becomes very difficult to tune at the endplate when each changer finger has its own bellcrank.
If a pedal is to raise two strings, ZB's work best if there is just one bellcrank with a swivelling yoke attached.
This ensures that both changer fingers will bottom out on the endplate, making tuning the raises and lowers very simple. |
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Ned McIntosh
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 27 Feb 2016 1:51 am
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I think Richard is referring to what engineers call a "Whiffletree", which is a yoke connecting two or more shafts or rods to ensure each rod arrives at the destination at the same time, "finding its own level", as it were, on the way.
Whether Erv's system is hard to synchronise or not will depend a lot on the moment-arms, length of pulls and mechanics. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be capable of being set up to synchronise mutliple pulls to arrive "in time". But, if a Whiffletree is needed. I don't think it would be hard to incorporate into Erv's rebuild.
Having gone through the exercise of re-building the undercarriage on a Marlen Pull-release, I applaud Erv's work. It looks magnificent.
_________________
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2016 8:27 am
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| I've covered my tracks. I still incorporated the turnbuckles on the pull rods and, like the Emmons p/p's, I have short springs on the pull rods behind the bellcranks. There is no problem in adjusting the pulls. |
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J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2016 3:21 pm
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Hey Erv, Again let me say your guitar rebuild work is beautiful. You did a great job. I did not mean to hijack your thread with a picture of my little build.
I am just kinda excited to try building one again. Like you I only have basic tools, Drill press with compound vice and a couple of milling bits, Band saw, a disc sander & 1 inch belt sander and a 8 inch buffer. Takes a lot of time. Again, You did a great job, J.R. Rose
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2020 11:16 pm
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Erv, did the pedal and lever action improve with the upgrade? How about tuning stability?
Looks great!
Thanks
Dz
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 1 Jan 2020 11:28 pm
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| Superb job on a very beatiful guitar! |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jan 2020 2:53 am
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Erv,I salute you!
_________________
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. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Jan 2020 5:25 am
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My hat is off to you, Erv! What a splendid job you've made of it. If my ZBs had had undercarriages that looked like that maybe I'd still be playing one!
My late father knew nothing about steel guitars (or musical instruments of any kind, come to that) but he was an engineer by trade and by vocation. When I brought my first ZB home in the mid-1970s he was underwhelmed by the mechanical principles inherent in the guitar. I recall him saying that, once I'd explained what the pedals and knee-levers were required to achieve, 'There has to be a better way.....'
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Gary Patterson
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 2 Jan 2020 6:04 am
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| Beautiful cabinet. Is the MOP banding original, or an added touch? |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Jan 2020 9:07 am
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Some ZBs had that binding as an 'extra'. Gerry Hogan's green-and-maple one did, anyway.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Bill C. Buntin
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Posted 3 Jan 2020 8:28 am
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Erv do you still own this zb?
Bill |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2020 9:10 am
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Thanks, gentlemen!!
The MOP binding was original to the guitar when I got it.
I don't know if I would take on that project again, it was a lot of work!
I tried to maintain the tone of the ZB when I rebuilt it.
I believe the tone of the ZB rests in the changer, which has features very similar to the Emmons p/p changer, and the pickups so they are original.
The undercarriage on a ZB just looks like junk so that's what I tried to improve on.
I don't know if it plays any better but it sure looks better and, yes, I still own it!
Erv |
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Daniel Baston
From:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 3 Jan 2020 10:19 am
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| Very cool! Beautiful work |
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Bill C. Buntin
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Posted 3 Jan 2020 10:21 am
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Erv I restored a zb d11 back in 2000. It had zb cross shafts and bell cranks instead of flatbars. The changer is amazingly simple and unique l always thought Zane beck was a practical genius and it was a tone monster. I sold it on the forum to steve tkacs (rip steve). I think he had it rebuilt with Kline mechanics.
Your zb is beautiful. If you ever sell it, let me know. Love these old zb guitars.
Bill |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 5 Jan 2020 7:17 pm Nice job Erv.
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Nice job Erv.
That was a labor of love.
I was never a big ZB fan, but that would be a nice one to own.
Best wishes,
Andy
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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