Durn Zachs are pretty addictive. Never in my life have I been a "Les Paul" guy, but the ZM seems to remediate all the annoyances I've had with the LP. I think the just-enough-chambering with the f-hole is a significant part of that; I've always liked semis for whatever subtle tonal difference they impart. The neck and playability are extra-double-perfect for me - and the pickups have enough of everything (high-end included), with enough control in the pots to dial in whatever I think I'm looking for at the moment. Clean or dirty, it's a whole lot of just right. (I mean, for the vaguely Les Paul thing. Other guitars for other things.)
So...trying to get to the Ultimate ZM, I've now accumulated three. Maybe you know how it is: you get one, and ooh shiny! there's one with better figure, or in the other color, and you figger well, I'll just keep the one I like best and turn the other one.
But then you like them all the best, perhaps for different reasons. So here I am, play-testing back and forth among them, still trying to decide. A '14 green, a '19 green, a '21 blue. To make that process marginally more scientific (when I know in the end I'll make some irrational subjective decision), I need to put the same strings on all of them, and adjust the pickups identically. At the moment, though, I have 9s on one, 9.5s on one, and 10s on the third one.
It's crazy how much difference string gauge makes on the ZM. Not just the feel - the tone and response are markedly different across the three. All are really nice, too. With the 10s, it's just ridiculously FAT; not that the lighter strings are deficient, just more wiry and with a bit more snarl. It's no wonder the guitar is so popular: a guy can apparently tweak it very specifically to his own preferences. And on any of them, I'm likely to lose an hour or two every time I hook it up.
There's a surprising range of weights, too: the lightest is 6 lbs 14 oz; the heaviest is 7 lb 9. I'll be trying to decide if that makes a difference in tone.
As for modding, I'm not going to do anything till I'm down to the One. (Or Two. We can justify having one in each color, right?) The tuners aren't as stable as lockers, but so far I'm not inclined to change them out, though it's good to know there's a direct fit.
I always think about pickup covers for open-face 'buckers, but at least the green Zachs aren't so inherently elegant that they need to dress up. The zebras look appropriate on them, I think. A no-nonsense workingman's guitar to get stuff done. The blue, though - what with the matching headstock, cream binding everywhere, and the fancy blue striped tux - is kinda all grown up and dressed for at least prom (if not a night at the casino). I think creme rings and nickel covers would be the right answer here (in the prom context it looks a little like it's wearing combat boots), and maybe ivory tuner buttons. The recommendation I've seen for covers that fit is Philadelphia Luthier supply - and be sure to carefully measure the center-to-center spacing between the outside screw holes.
And howbout them knobs, huh? I've seen some dislike for the clear, but I've been through every option in my parts box and can't find anything that looks righter than the clear. Maybe cream or ivory, at least on the blue if it gets creme pickup covers (and switch tip, to be cosmetically thorough about it).
