3x1 to 3x4 on a ZB Student

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

Hey all,

I tried to use the search function, but couldn't really come up with much to help me out. I've got a ZB Student 3x1 that I bought from the forum a while back and have slowly been making her seaworthy. My current dilemma is that I'd love to have three more knee levers, as the current setup only allows my high E to drop a half step. A coworker of mine can fabricate the levers, shafts, and supports, but I'm a bit lost on how to get said levers to do what they're supposed to. I was hoping the collective wisdom might have a solution and can point me in the right direction.

Thanks much,

Thom
_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

Some shots of the underside for those curious. Seems to be pretty standard for this model.

_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'd ask Dan Burnham of BMI for guidance, or peruse the couple of big ZB threads.
I'd love to muck about with a ZB, but they seem so foreign to me, I've got no clue.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

You might contact Kevin Hatton or Jerry Fessenden
Kevin was rebuilding ZB's and Jerry worked for or with ZB's for a while.

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

I think you might have problems with the changer since it is single raise, single lower, meaning that, for example, you wouldn't be able to raise your 4th string to F since 4 is already being raised to F# with the C pedal.

That is about the only example I can think of out of the "standard" changes and I wouldn't like to have to choose just one or the other.

richard burton · From: Britain

Not so, Jeff Shocked

The changer finger has two raise holes, and two lower holes, so it's a double raise double lower mechanism, therefore the F knee lever can use one of the raise holes.

It's not as easy as that, though, as the ZB student does not have an additional row of holes in the endplate to accommodate a semitone raise, unlike it's bigger brothers.

The semitone raise can still be accomplished though, even with the second row of holes missing.

The knee lever will need an adjustable stop, to allow the 4th string to be tuned to F.

The yoke that is attached to the F knee lever will have to be unbalanced, so that the 8th string is always activated first and bottoms out on the endplate, then any additional movement of the knee lever will raise the 4th string, and this can be tuned to F with the aforementioned adjustable knee lever stop.

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

^^^ Hey, that's my guitar! It's since had a few fixes. I had to drill out and install a helicoil into the aluminum frame due to one of the bolts connecting the body breaking off inside. It now has a Lace Alumitone installed as well.

Thank you for the responses, everyone. That'll surely help! I found this image of what looks to be a heavily modded ZB Student (note the honkin' aluminum frame) and thought there might be someone out there that could make the same pieces for me.

[/img]
_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

Check with Billy Knowles for ZB parts & knowledge.
Also Michael at
http://www.psgparts.com
has ZB pull rods with turnbuckles.

I had a ZB (not a student model) that was missing the 3rd row of holes. It had the E-F raise adjusting nut underneath. So I drilled the extra set of holes in the end plate and made it "normal".
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

Thanks for the tip, Eric! I'm pretty sure mine is the same, so I'll follow your lead there. Psgparts seems to be down at the moment, but in the meantime, I found that the work above is attributed to David Wiggins. I'll post a solution if I'm able to get into contact with him.
_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

David Ellison · From: California, USA

The knee lever you have... what does it do? Just curious... I thought all student models raised the Es to F.

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

David: as purchased, it was only able to affect a single string. It's currently lowering my high E to a D#.
_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

Eric Dahlhoff · From: Point Arena, California

I like how the turnbuckles are located behind the yokes in that picture. Billy Knowles sells parts like that. It make them easier to adjust.

Holes added to the end...

It requires a lot of disassembly, but it's worth it to be able to adjust the tuning from the end plate.
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan)

Thom Washburn · From: Texas, USA

Awesome, Eric! Thank you for digging that up. I don't mind some disassembly. In fact, it'll give me an opportunity to try my hand on some home anodizing for the now-purplish changer and roller nut assemblies.
_________________
ZB Student 3+1, Session 500

C&C Player Date II
Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian Kerope 22" ride
Zildjian K Custom Dark 17"
Cymbal and Gong 15" hats

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