About Zane Beck

[azureskys]

Hey Guys , does anyone know anything about the old ZB s any drawings, info discriptions etc etc , how they work ?I heard that they are very heavy and sound great , never seen one in person , was thinking of maybe building something similar to them ,anyone know anything? thanks Russ

[Storm Rosson]

Firstly they have completely different mechanics .....flat bars and and things on the original ZB's this and the attending center bar did make for a hefty piece ......all the newer rebuilds and such have usually replaced this setup with more conventional crossrods and bellcrank systems....Stormy

[azureskys]

Thanks Storm , thats what im wanting to know about , the flat bar system how it works and whatever else ill need to know to build something similar.the mechanics of the whole thing . Russ

[Storm Rosson]

Maybe someone here has a pic they could post of a real ZB, it's quite simple but hard to describe you just gotta see one...Stormy

[Bent]

Stormy, go here http://www.pedalsteel.co.uk/goods---build---service-2 and see the work of Bob Adams in Scotland. Bob lovingly rebuilds ZB's, Emmons PP, Sho-Buds and his latest is a Blanton - yes a Blanton that found its way over to the UK - Just one ,and Bob got his mitts on it.
On this page you will see 11 pics of his ZB resto. Bob is a talented man whom I wish we could have as a member.
I agree with you: the ZB has a unique and very good sound and tone. I have been told that one of the reason for this good tone is the heavy castings used in those old guitars. Zane Beck, now there was another intelligent man...

I encourage you all to visit Bob's site. It is very informative and well laid out. Oodles of pics.

[burt]

If you want the ZB sound, I think that it's the changer design that matters, not the undercarriage.

The changer finger doesn't use nylon tuners, it has a positive stop which bottoms on the endplate.

Here's a photo of a changer finger