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Topic: ZB Project |
Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2023 1:32 pm |
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Here is my next project. This is a ZB guitar that needs lot of work. The C6 neck is the upper one, and it appears that is the way it came originally because I do not see the myriad of holes you would find when someone starts changing things around.
There are only three pedals on the pedal bar and some of the knee levers are not all identical. My first thought was to change it back to E9 as the upper, but being that there are only 3 pedals and some other things I do not like, my thoughts are to make it a single with a pad and it would also be a lot lighter. Someone refinished the wood body at some point, and not too well, so that would absolutely have to be redone. All of the metal parts would need to be totally disassembled cleaned and done over to make it a nice player as well as a looker. The only problem for me in PA is there the cold is now setting in so painting is a bit of a problem, but I will deal with that when the time comes. I am not sure it will get done as quickly as the Sho-Bud I just did, but I will see how it goes. I just love these old wood body steels..........
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 15 Nov 2023 4:08 pm
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Joe, that looks like a worthy project! Since there aren't enough pedals I think you're right to remove the C6 guts and make it into an SD-10.
Looks like Zane Beck era parts. Does it have a 1xxx ser number?
Have fun! 
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2023 5:51 pm
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| Eric, The serial number is 1043. Once upon a time I had a Williams SD10 and always thought that was a neat guitar that was wide enough to lean on and had a nice pad, so now I will make one, kinda........... |
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B. Greg Jones
From:
Middleport, Ohio USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2023 6:39 am
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Joe, #1043 was invoiced on August 24th, 1966 to Johnny Williams. It was the last guitar built in Phoenix Arizona before Zane moved to Scranton Arkansas.
Greg |
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Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2023 9:26 am
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| B. Greg Jones wrote: |
Joe, #1043 was invoiced on August 24th, 1966 to Johnny Williams. It was the last guitar built in Phoenix Arizona before Zane moved to Scranton Arkansas.
Greg |
Hello, thanks for that. Does that mention anything about it being made with the necks in reverse of normal....
Joe |
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Abe Levy
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2023 8:15 am
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Very cool guitar! I for one would not lose the other neck. These guitars hold their value better as double necks, and there are not a ton of the early guitars around. I say let the C6 live! JMHO
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Mostly Pre-1970 guitars. |
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Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2023 4:31 pm
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The reason I wanted to make this a single is that for starters it is missing the five pedals needed for a double neck among other things. So right off the bat you need to find the pedals, and then still have to reverse everything to make it a normal E9 on top and C6 on bottom. That of course adds to the cost of this thing, of which I have quite a bit invested now. So, I figured why not just make it a single. It would also be a lot lighter. Unless there is something I do not know, these are not the most valuable guitars out there.
The second thing is that I have another one of these things, and my thoughts were that I could possibly use some of the parts that were left over from the single conversion to help it along if needed. So my question, now that this has been brought up here, is what is really best to do with these things. Anybody else want to contribute to the conversation. I am open to all suggestions........
Joe |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2023 10:18 pm
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With Tommy White ordering a new Mullens with necks reversed, The E9th on back neck and C6th on front neck may be the new fad.
May want to put an ash tray, drink holder and a rack to hold a tablet, Cellphone or computer on the front neck, for song list and charts. On the front neck. |
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Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 7 Feb 2024 4:42 pm
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Eric Dahlhoff,
I am starting to think about getting this thing all restored now that the warmer weather is getting closer, and I can do my refinishing outside. I really love the looks of your ZB in blue. What blue did you use to do yours ( I am understanding you refinished it if I am correct) because I am thinking a color change may be in order because I now have 2 red ZBs and one red Shobud.
I just can't make up my mind about the color. Also have tried to find a knee lever and pedals and no good on that so at least this one is more than likely going to be made into a single......... |
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 8 Feb 2024 8:10 am Blue
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Joe,
I used aniline wood dye by JE Mosers. The exact color is called "Greenish Peacock Blue" - great name huh? 
https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/finishes/aniline-dyes
The dye is mixed with water. And you can mix the colors. You can put on as many coats as you want until you get the shade you like. Then I sealed it with clear shellac. Then top-coat of your choice. (lacquer, poly, etc)
If you need to mask off parts, use shellac and masking tape. I experimented on a chunk of maple to get the right color and masking technique.
Have fun!
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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Joe Romanchick
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 8 Feb 2024 8:25 am
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Eric,
Thank you very much for that info and yes, that is a great name for the color..I was just told that this and the other one I have which I will include a picture here are fairly rare, and now I am not sure about making changes. The problem is that I am 78 and also dealing with medical issues and wanted to redo them my way cosmetically and also making a single neck while I still can. Just restoring them back to orignal is not very interesting to me, and probably would not bother at all, so I have some thinking to do now...Here s the other I have, serial number 1055......
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Eric Dahlhoff
From:
Point Arena, California
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Posted 8 Feb 2024 10:01 pm Zb
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Those are both very worthy projects!!
I considered both a while ago, but shipping across the country was more than I could bear.
My opinion, by the way, is that a musical instrument is a very personal thing. if you own an instrument, you should feel free to make that instrument be the way you want it to be. And they are called ZB CUSTOM.
_________________
"To live outside the law you must be honest." (Bob Dylan) |
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