Steel Guitar Builder

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

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

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

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

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.

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