ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 24 Feb 2012 9:54 pm

Eric Dahlhoff wrote:For the holidays this year I convinced my wife to travel down to southern California & visit Jim Palenscar's shop. I've been trying to play pedal steel for less than 2 years, and it was such a BLAST to finally get to see and play all these different makes & models.
And well... here's what I came home with. Jim made sure it was set up & played well. I am a very happy camper!

Ser# 0560. Any idea when it was born?

I just missed out of that one, congrats!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Feb 2012 10:21 pm

I'd say 73-74'. I owned that guitar for awhile. Great sounding guitar.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 25 Feb 2012 5:18 am

A recent shot of me in the studio. The green scranton that Marv finished and Greg did the rest was sounding like a ZB should. If only it had an operator like Al Perkins or Tom Brumley. Oh well It's mine to love.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 25 Feb 2012 5:50 am

Very nice Chuck ... and I'm sure the shirt helps to get the proper vintage vibe!

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 25 Feb 2012 6:04 am

Russ I ordered that shirt 2 months ago and Rusty himself sent a little Christmas message, signed on a card with thanks and he sent me a CD. I guess he and his wife are taking care of the swag. It may sound a little teenage but it gave me a warm fuzzy at my age. He is one of many players that made me want to play pedal steel when all my friends were rocking on guitar. The new CD is great. Love the music.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Feb 2012 7:21 am

Chuck, don't you feel great playing that restored ZB tone monster? Very nice. Enjoy.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 25 Feb 2012 7:30 am

Kevin I am a lucky guy.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Feb 2012 7:43 am

If they only knew.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 25 Feb 2012 10:21 am

When I met Sneaky Pete in 2005 I was a 50 year old teenager again! Rusty is the best and I'd feel the same meeting him.

... and yes Kevin you are so correct!

Here is a link to a song my friend Paul asked me to play on for a CD he was doing and I did some guitar and steel including the 1969 ZB Custom I got from Chuck. I don't get to play much so this was fun.

http://soundcloud.com/tonecaster/take-me-away

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 25 Feb 2012 12:27 pm

Very cool Russ. Slick pickin brother. Very west coast. I wish I could have met Pete. Such an interesting character.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 27 Feb 2012 7:30 am

Chuck,

What are you playing through in your rig? I have some stuff but seem to play through a Bandit 65 the most. Easier to lift!

Russ

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 27 Feb 2012 7:45 am

Russ my rack is a Mesa formula pre with a Lexicon Mpx 1, a Stewart amp and a Peterson tuner. Works pretty well for most gigs. I come record out of the Mesa to do sessions direct in. I have a Marrs 15" D140 loaded cab for live and a Hilton Pedal.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 27 Feb 2012 7:59 am

Sounds like some good stuff. I'd like to have something so I can get a nice sound direct, as that seems to be how most like to record.

Seems like a while since these days!

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 5 Apr 2012 1:48 am

Chuck, that guitar is beautiful!!!

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 5 Apr 2012 1:49 am

Chuck, that guitar is beautiful!!!

John Shadid · Post by **John Shadid** » 5 Apr 2012 6:48 pm

Unfortunately I don't have time at the moment to go through al 100 pages of this post, but I do have 1 question! Whats the deal with the far majority of ZBs having 4 digit serials? Mine has 13!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Apr 2012 7:04 pm

Well, tell us the number John. Pictures?

John Shadid · Post by **John Shadid** » 5 Apr 2012 8:06 pm

The serial is #0115230000013.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Apr 2012 8:11 pm

Looks like a Basil Smith guitar. No fish tails.

John Shadid · Post by **John Shadid** » 5 Apr 2012 8:36 pm

I picked it up from consignment at a music shop in Prairieville, LA (a little south of Baton Rouge). All I know is it was owned by an older gentleman (or gentlewoman??) who passed away and his grandchildren were selling his music equipment. Hadn't been played in many years, decade or more possibly. The tone is amazing. Here is some more pics.

It also had this Goodrich pedal with it. A clue maybe?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Apr 2012 9:18 pm

Sloppy job on the mechanics. Greg Jones or Billy Knowles could straighten that guitar out and make it play like new. Needs disassmby, cleaning, and a good setup.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 6 Apr 2012 5:22 am

Thanks Joe. It was the D11 Ben Elder had for sale here on the forum.

Tony Russell · Post by **Tony Russell** » 6 Apr 2012 9:13 am

Brendan Mitchell wrote:Al Perkins is probably why I play steel today .

I'm late into this thread. Al plays Anapeg now, but still keeps a ZB in UK for Europe tours. I did some work on it a while back. Also in this thread is mention of Eric Snowball, who had "the Steel Mill" shop in UK. Al's ZB has a plate on the front that says it was made for Eric.
I found this thread looking for ZB info as I just got a blue D10 and it needs a little work to get it smooth again. I read here the colour often fades, but mine is a strong blue. Serial #0552. I'll try to get some pics up soon. Tony.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 6 Apr 2012 2:13 pm

John's guitar is not a Basil Smith guitar. This guitar was built in Texas between 79' and 85' when Tom Brumley owned the company. I have never seen a serial number like that before either. Looks like its in pretty good shape!!!

Greg

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 6 Apr 2012 2:21 pm

Send it to Greg and let him work his magic.

The Steel Guitar Forum

ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!

Re: Joining the club