zum steel good grief

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

what is zum steel made of when one goes up for sale it last just a few hours people grab em up like they are gold or something. well if you ever heard a zum steel you would know why they are the ONLY psg that goes that fast on the forum. i find it hard to believe that these fantastic psg's go so fast. they are faster than a corvette. but the sound it is so sweet expecially when you play that good ole gospel music it is so sweet it makes the devil get on his knees. i love the way my zum sounds and i see that there are a lot of others that think a lot of this psg. i only put these coments up like good grief or What was you thinking. to get peoples attention so they can give their comments about zum steels. i enjoy reading the things people has to say about the finest psg made today. keep picking thanks doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

Dave Van Allen · From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

There are lots of other steels that sound every bit as good ,no doubt..different,but just as sweet in the hands of a skilled player.

My opinion is the relative scarcity of Zum guitars.. I notice the same thing when a Zum,Franklin,Fulawka,Derby,or any of a dozen other brands is posted for sale.. GONE in an instant at any price,where sometimes a Bud,Emmons,Carter,MSA etc,is not sold as quickly.. PLENTY of Buds,MSA's,Carter and even PP Emmons guitars around..thousands of these were made.. they are not low production units as far as pedal steel guitars are concerned.

A used ZUM can be quite hard to find if you are looking for one... a used Carter is NOT... thats my take on it.. I DO NOT think its a "better/worse" thing bob

[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 16 February 2005 at 09:02 AM.]

David Doggett · Posted 16 Feb 2005 9:23 am

It may seem strange as a Zum player for me to say it is not the sound. I've also owned a Fessy, Carter, and Emmons p/p. And I've played other people's ShoBuds, MSAs, GFIs, and a few more. With the right pickup for you, they all can sound good. I snapped up a used Zum because of the great engineering and mechanics, and the great looks. I knew the sound would be good, but so is the sound on the others. But I was not happy with the mechanics on some of the others, and little things like the lack of gauged nut rollers. And with the two-tone designs, Zums are about as good-looking as a formica guitar can get. I have also heard great things about Anapegs, Excells Fulawkas, Franklins and a few others. But you never see those on the used market.

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

Supply and demand.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

It's interesting to note that, in the history of the Steel Guitar Forum there has only been ONE ANAPEG for sale. In that same period there were 63 ZumSteel, 69 Mullen, and 20 Fessenden guitars for sale. Many of those guitars sold in a few days' time as well.

I too have a long history with ZumSteel, although I no longer play one. Bruce built me a wonderful guitar in 1980 that was my partner in thousands of gigs and recording dates. I sold that guitar in 2001 and have been very happy playing Emmons push-pull and Fessenden guitars.

What I look for in a guitar company is someone who knows who I am and listens to what I have to say and responds to my needs, even though I'm not John Hughey or Herby Wallace. That's how Bruce treated me and Jerry Fessenden does the same, to this day. Yes, there are MANY wonderful brands and steel guitar craftsmen. ZumSteel and Bruce Zumsteg are definitely on that list, in my opinion.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I bought a Zum last year after playing Sho Buds for 25+ years. Well my Zum has so much soul in it it amazes me everytime I play it. Its the sound and the mechanics and the looks and all the other stuff it has. But most of all it has the soul of one of the best people born to this world. Bruce is one of the true spritual people I have known. Thats what the Zumsteels have.....

Jim Ives · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

I am one of those Zum snatchers mentioned here. A few weeks ago I saw one listed at Duane's Music and I grabbed it immediately. Prior to that I played a Mullen, and prior to that a ShoBud Pro II. The Mullen's action was like stepping on warm butter, and I was concerned that the Zum may not be as smooth. Happy to report I was wrong. The Zum, with stock pickups also has a bighter sound than the Mullen (with George L's), and I am considering changing to True Tones. The Zum is just a great axe, which I will outgrow in 25 years.
-Jim

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Mullen D-10 -or- Zum D-10
Lexicon MPX 100
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500 -or-
Peavey Nashville 1000
Vox wah-wah pedal
My dog Toby sittin' on the floor listening

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

my first real psg was a ShoBud Professional D10 8/4
a little over a year ago, i got lucky & got a Zum D10 9/8 off ebay
i've been so happy w: it that i went out & ordered a new one
i'm not surprised to see how quick a Zum can get a new home
more good homes than Zums ?
betcha' there aren't any just layin' away under a bed or in a closet not bein' picked on.

Bruce Meyer · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Started playing a ShoBud. Sold it, bought my first Zum. Bought an Emmons for a 2nd guitar. Sold it, bought a second Zum. It's the Lexus of steel guitars.

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

If you've never dealt with Bruce one on one or owned one of his guitars you just don't understand. I would sell all my guns and motorcycles before I'd sell one of my Zumsteels.
Lee

Steve Stallings · From: Houston/Cypress, Texas

I owned a Zum D10 for a few weeks about two years ago. I thought it was a very nice guitar but it never really "clicked" for me. I traded it straight up for a D10 Emmons. Again, the Zums are really nice. I guess it is just different strokes....

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

well i started out on a carter starter wow what a mistake. i wished i would have boutght a zum for my very first steel. it is so nice just about all i have to do is sit there and smile. for the ones that got rid of the zum you have my sympithy. i got some new tabs and these gospel songs sound great on the zum. i think it sounds a lot better than my carter U12 sounded. but i also am concedering putting a tt on my zum to make it just a little better. thanks fellas. doc.

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Zum steel #one in my book,i had a universal 12 built in 1984,fine guitar,i just couldn't get the hang of a 12string.i tryed for 20yrs. plus,its hard to teach a old dog new tricks.and when you call bruce he is there for you!! number one guitar and #one man.wish i could afford and had the time to get a double 10 from him. farris

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I'm with Bob Carlucci on this one!

richard burton · From: Britain

Sidney,
With respect,
You made a statement about your ownership of a Carter Starter being a mistake. Then there was no follow up as to why you thought it was a mistake.
This is doing Carter a disservice, as your statement may well be valid, but equally it may be invalid.
If it is an invalid evaluation of a starter pedal steel guitar, some people just starting out may be depriving themselves of a very good (in my opinion) product if they read your comments and heed them.
R B

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

richard what i was refering to was i should have went right to a pro model instead of a starter model. i like carters but i will not buy one because i have had too many problems with this company before. but that is just my opinion. and i have heardothers speak ill of carter. carter always has a defencive but not saying who is right or who is wrong i know who and what was right when it came to me. i feel that there are certian people working for carter that is ruining the company because of service etc. but they are a good psg. but nothing like a zum!!!!!!!!!!doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Sidney, I think as you progress on the steel guitar and develop your skills, you will not be so dependent on equipment. You won't worry about little differences because you will have control over the guitar rather than the guitar controlling you.
THEN, you may think that there are a lot of good guitars out there and a lot of good people selling them.
Of course you will never know until you try some of those other brands.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Comparing a $700 student model guitar to a $2500+ professional guitar is just simply not a reasonable comparison. We all have our brands we prefer and the folks we prefer to deal with, but that doesn't make all other brands bad guitars. THERE IS NO BEST BRAND OF ANYTHING. THERE IS NO BEST STEEL PLAYER or AMP or VOLUME PEDAL. It is simply personal opinion. You are not the only one who likes the brand you play better than others. We have a lot of beginners on the Forum. It is doing a potential student a disservice to lead them to believe that they must wait a year or more for Bruce to build them a guitar when they can pick up another brand -- yeah, maybe a Carter Starter -- in a week's time.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 19 February 2005 at 12:18 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Larry, you make an awful lot of sense.

I don't mean to offend anybody, but this constant refrain of "my guitar is (sounds) better than yours" is very tiring and unprofessional. Indeed, the only "pros" that make these kind of statements are the ones who are selling guitars. The rest, well, they just play whatever they like, and they like a lot of different brands, and they all sound pretty good to me.

It ain't what you play, but how you play it. If a particular brand of guitar makes you feel good, good! More power to 'ya.

But please understand, to the rest of us, you don't sound any different, or any better.

Sorry 'bout that. Really, I am.

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

boy oh boy you people got things way out of size here. you just didn't understand what i was saying. unless i am buying the psg for someone i don't say what to get or that you have to get this one or that one. i was not saying anything about like get a zum right from the start. i said i wished i would have went to a pro model from the start. why well a few of the reasons is that the legs on a student model is not adjustable. and when you sit at a student model you just don't feel comfortable. if you don't sit well your not going to play well either. i spent $700 on a starter when for double the money i could have got a great pro model of which i would have enjoyed more and would have started playing better right from the get go. i agree with what someone said about there is not the best of anything but only personal preference. i started this topic for fun to get a few laughs to maybe get a few pic of peoples psg's to have a good time and with eveyone bitching about this and that i am sarry i said any thing at all. some poeple need to lighten up a little smile a little and have a little fun in life. if you cant smile you got serious problems. doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

leland what kind of bike do you have. i also am a rider. i got a kawvolski. 84 model 3 wheeler. front is a kawasaki and the back is a volkswagon. 1600 dp 2bbl 4 streight pips with a 4 speed. its on my yahoo profile doc_holliday_1890 i also belong to BTW gateway chapter but will be starting up a chapter here in moberly this spring. i have been working on it this winter putting all the bells and whistles on it an making it look cool. i got air horns on it now but i am looking for a train whistle to put on it. ride em easy doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

I've bought and sold a number of various steel's over the last 2 years and still own a few ....I don't think that it is as much of a "supply and demand " situation as it is the man behind Zum guitars, and the product itself....Think about it ....Why would someone wait almost 2 years to have a pedal steel made for them if the quality was not there ? .... Why wouldn't they just buy another brand , and have it in a matter of a few months ?... I would venture to say that probably 95% of the people who own or have owned a Zum, only sold them to because their NEW Zum arrived !!... I am not saying that Zum is the only steel made that is a well made steel , and that it's the only game in town..
I am only saying that the cost, and the time to build it , is WELL worth it !!.....Once you own one, you will understand what I am saying completely ....Jim

Chubby Howard · From: Franklin, Ohio, USA

If you love zum look at mine for sale on the forum

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

No one loved my Zum.This was a really nice guitar with the late type changer.8 & 8.It stayed on buy & sale for about 4 months.After 5 months I finally sold it to a friend for $2500 and drove 100 miles round trip to deliver it.Here's a link to the thread.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Archives/Archive-000004/HTML/20040705-3-019777.html

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