ZB S10 ...3 X 3

[bob1]

Thanks again guys, Tony nice to get to know how the changer works and understand it better will have to read your post a few times to get it into my thick head lol.
Something I can't understand is why did the guy change the undercarriage to MSA and as I am sure you have seen on the other forum what he told me that it was a better way to go I am going to have to take a few good pictures and post them to let you good people see what is in the undercarriage in detail I am waiting on an email from the guy I bought it from to give me some detail on what he has done, I am wondering should I ask him does he still have the ZB system?.
I will get back to you all good people with good pictures Thanks again... Robert

[Tony Russell Davis]

Robert - just noticed your post on my way to bed. and couldn't resist a reply!!
ZB undercart always looked messy as the rods don't have to run straight and parallel. The other A/Ps (MSA, ShoBud etc) do; and look tidy and neat. This gives the impression they are better and so some have "improved" old ZBs with parts from other systems. In fact, it's just a different way to convert the energy pushing a pedal down vertically, to something eventually pulling horizontally at the endplate of the guitar.
The perceived advantage of the ZB system is that the pedal-tuned note, pulled tight against the endplate, makes a solid connection between guitar body and the changer finger, thereby transmitting the vibrations better. There is a similar claim for Push-Pull (eg Emmons) mechanisms. This connection is not so with the "floating" A/P systems. Whether this gives better tonal quality, or not, is in the ear of the beholder; there are vociferous proponents of each. T.

[bob1]

Hi Guys I would like to thank you all for your help so far with this Pedal Steel I have not had time to do anymore on the steel but will get back to it next week .
I will get more information via pictures and hopefully info from the person I bought it from, I am waiting a week on an email from him I have sent another email to him here's hoping.
Anyway I will get back at it next week. Thanks Robert

[Tony Russell Davis]

OK Robert - got a couple of other ideas that may help once you get into this rebuild, so keep up the posts. T.

[bob1]

Hi Guys I will be posting pictures tomorrow and then this pedal steel is going to be stripped down as it needs the top repainted, it is Mahogany and maple, will be looking for idea's on staining etc, the aluminum body need the leg sockets sorted as the threads are nearly gone need more info there, the pickup needs set into place properly.
Then the changer needs cleaned up as I think there might be a couple of pins missing where the strings go on not just sure yet but will post pictures about this as well.
The bell cranks rods and yokes well pictures will let you guys tell me exactly what this undercarriage is and how to get this pedal steel working as it should.
I also need the 3 pedals sorted as I have no pedal rods and no rod connections at the pedal.
So to sum this all up it is a complete rebuild and I can tell you guys now you are going to be sick of looking at bob1 before this pedal steel is sorted out.
Anyway will defiantly have the new pics tomorrow thanks again to you all.

Thanks
Robert

[Tony Russell Davis]

One quick word before you strip down the changer head. Keep everything in the original order. I mean, don't mix up the order of the changer head for each string, number them if necessary. ZB changers have round tops for the strings to go over and these jam on the square tops of the changer fingers without adhesive or weld. They sometimes have "shims" between the square top and the round cap to level them off. These caps can be a loose fit and if one drops off there might be a shim under it - they can even be hard plastic - don't lose any; you can cut more (Dremel) from thin sheet steel but it's fiddly. And avoid cleaning the tops with abrasive, they need to be the proper radius and scratch-free.

[bob1]

Hi Tony Thanks for the excellent advise as usual.
To be honest I am only going to take the changer out if I have to I will be going on the advice I get from yourself and others as I am a beginner, when I said about the changer on my other post about cleaning it up is a bit of a cloth cleaning wouldn't touch it with any sort of sandpaper I don't think it needs much cleaning just I think there might be pins missing for the strings, anyway we will sort this bit out when we come to it will be taking plenty of closeup pictures for you good people to look at and steer me in the right direction with this project.
OK Tony will get back to yourself and all the other good guys tomorrow, going to bed now.
Cheers Robert (Robin)

[bob1]

Hi Everyone This is just 4 pictures to let you see what is happening underneath from the changer:

Hope these are ok will let you see what the undercarriage really is.
Thanks
Robin.

[bob1]

2 more pictures of undercarriage

and one of PSG and one of Changer and pickup.
Pickup is supposed to be a Ronnie Bennet pickup.
Now I am wondering where do I go from here ??
regard
Robert (Robin)

[bob1]

Couple more pictures want to see if I can get this Steel kick started to a new beginning
Thanks Robin