Unique ZB single 11

[Brendan Mitchell]

A friend sent me this pic of a ZB, I have never seen the front panel like this one. Any thoughts?

[Eric Dahlhoff]

I assume that it's post Brumley era.
Not seen one like that. I'd love to see the underside!

[Maxwell Berg]

Hi, that’s my guitar!! Pictured after a gig in Urbana, IL this Saturday. I purchased it here on the forum about 11 months ago. I’m unsure of the exact year it was built (68 or 69 maybe?) but the serial number is sx001, so maybe a prototype of some kind?

I’m still fairly new to steel guitar (only started playing a couple years ago) and know pretty much nothing about ZB and Tom brumleys history with the company. So if anyone has any info or ideas about the history of this guitar I’d love to hear!

-Max Berg

[Brendan Mitchell]

Hi Max
A friend of my son took this shot and sent it to him who sent it on to me. I have a ZB myself and was very interested in yours. I have never seen one like it, looks great! I would love to get a single neck ZB but any ZB's are few and far between over here in Australia.Do you have any of your music online?

[Brian Lee]

Hi Maxwell,
That's a really good looking ZB!

Brendan also posted the pic of your guitar in the big "ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!" thread, and I posted some thoughts on it there (thinking that it was Brendan's guitar). I'll re-post those comments here , which reference posts in the "ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!" thread:

The lack of "horns" on the changer and head stock, and the aluminum edges on the front apron are interesting. I remembered some prior posts in the "ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!" thread that showed ZB's with similar features, and out of curiosity took a quick look to confirm the recollection.

The Jimmy Gibson posts on 25 Sept 2015 and 22 Sept 2013 show "ZB Student" models with similar front aprons, and no horns - but the body construction details don't look the same as yours. As an example, those Student models have fasteners going through the top near the corners.

The John Shadid posts on 5 April 2012 show a "no horns" style changer and headstock , and in B Greg Jones' response post on 6 April 2012, he indicates that John's steel was built between 79-85. I think there is another post that describes the "no horns" configuration of that time period, and that the classic horn versions continued to be built concurrently - but I couldn't find that post with a quick look.

A read through the big ZB thread might provide you with some additional clues on your rig. You've sure got a nice one!

[Joe Bill Moad]

Jerry Garcia chose a ZB and I always thought they were very special sounding Pedal Steels. I have always wanted one but they are few and far between. Someday maybe!

Thanks for the beautiful Custom ZB Post!

Joe Bill Moad
Oklahoma

[Joe Bill Moad]

Anyone have a operant for a E9 tuning on the 11 string?

Jbm

[Brian Lee]

Lots of folks add a low E for the 11th string, with strings 1-10 set-up in standard E9. With Buck Owens, Tom Brumley used the low E to play rhythm/backing lines when Don Rich took a guitar solo. It provided nice continuity with the rhythm lines Don played. The add of the low E is also great for rock and blues.

[Joe Bill Moad]

Thanks for the reply Brian! Sounds Great and makes sence for sure! I have always liked Buck Don and Tom since we watched their show in Oklahoma at 4:30 every Saturday afternoon! I would say that Buck Owens and the Buckaroos were what trained my ears to the Bakersfield Sound. Man those were the days!

Thanks again for the help!

Joe Bill Moad
Oklahoma