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Post new topic True Tone Pick Ups
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Author Topic:  True Tone Pick Ups
John De Maille


From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2004 1:24 pm    
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I just installed a T.T. pickup in my Zum U-12. I have to say that, it has made a marked difference for the better in tone. My Zum came with a Lawrence 912 in it, which didn't sound all that bad, though. But,I was searching for a better response from the strings, and have found it.
I feel that I've been very lucky with my dealings with Jerry Wallace ( a really great guy) and Bruce Zumsteg ( another really great guy). They are both truly extraordinary masters of their crafts and down to earth business men.
By the way, the pickup was wound to 19.5 K
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David Cobb

 

From:
Chanute, Kansas, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2004 9:16 pm    
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John, I'm thinking of a T.T. for the E9th on my Zum.
It has a Geo. L E66 right now, but it's a bit thin.
Could you describe in words what the 19.5K winding does for you?
More mellow or more bassy?
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James Quackenbush

 

From:
Pomona, New York, USA
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2004 11:07 am    
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David,
You could go with a 17.5k to 18.5k Truetone in your Zum and you will have plenty of body, and with the 17.5k you will have the sweetest high's you have ever heard !!....I think of all the different Truetones I've used , I really like the 17.5K on the E9 neck the most..Plenty of body, and REALLY nice sweet high end that is not brittle sounding..Very smooth, and very balanced tone ..You may like another strength...We all have different tastes ....Sincerely, Jim
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Chuck McGill


From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2004 11:50 am    
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John I am looking at a 19.5Kohm true tone on my desk. I'm waiting on some strings to install it on my Zum. Glad to hear you like
it. I can't wait to hear it.

[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 11 February 2004 at 11:51 AM.]

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John De Maille


From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2004 1:51 pm    
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David,
I spoke to Jerry Wallace about putting a 17.5K pickup in, because I liked the way Randy Beavers new Zum sounded. Jerry recommened a 19.5K because of the extra length of the 12 string pickup. All the notes come out sounding perfectly even in volume. It doesn't matter whether I pick the 12th string or the 1st string. And, it has sustain to die for. The bottom strings have balls, the middle strings have clarity, and the high strings chime. The problem, I personally, was having with the other pickup, was the lack of presence with strings 5-1. The bottom was there, but, the top was a little weak for me. Please understand that I'm not telling anybody else to go out and buy a True Tone, I'm just relaying the experience I've just had with the transformation of MY ZumSteel. In my opinion, the TrueTone pickup made my new steel an even better sounding instrument.And, I am extremely happy with the results.
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Duane Dunard


From:
Troy, MO. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2004 2:03 pm    
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David, Don't forget to adjust the distance from the strings carefully. Take your time because it makes a difference in the sound of your guitar and playing harmonic chimes.
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Andy Schick


From:
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2004 3:23 pm    
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Anyone ever put T.T on a Franklin guitar?
What pickup does Mr Franklin put on his new guitars? Thanks
Andy

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CrowBear Schmitt


From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2004 10:51 am    
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Hi Gang
add me to the list of happy campers
i just installed a TT 18.3K PU on my Zum (E9)
it's Dyno !
when i get more $$$, i'll go for a second on C6
Thanx Jerry
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James Quackenbush

 

From:
Pomona, New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2004 4:12 pm    
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The single coil on my Zum is wound by Bruce ....It's not a Truetone, but it's sure got a throaty tone to it in the low end, and has plenty of zip in the mid strings, and the highs are very sweet ...It sounds very similar to a Truetone in the 18.5k to 19.5k range ... Many other steel's that I have played seemed need the lower powered pickups to have the briter tone, to get the harmonic's to start singing ....This Zum is just amazing in that respect ....You can run a higher powered pickup that will smooth out the tone, and STILL get really GREAT harmonics, and you get them just about any place on the neck !!... I've never played another steel quite like it .. There are times when I have to stop playing because there are things comming out of this Zum that I have never heard in any other steel that I have owned !!...It's sure a keeper....Hey, I said that about my other steels too !!....It's no longer Jim's house..
It's turning into "Jim's House of Pedal Steels" ....
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