| Author |
Topic: Zum Steel vs. Sho-Bud Super Pro |
Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 8:45 am |
|
Recently bought a 1982 Sho-Bud Super Pro. This morning I figured I'd do a comparison of the Zum and Sho-Bud.
I won't tell you what order I played them in. One has metal necks and one wood.
Click HERE
 |
|
|
 |
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 9:05 am
|
|
I'm going to guess (and it's strictly a guess - I'm probably wrong) that the 'Bud was 2nd. Looks like humbuckers on the Bud instead of the single coils. Would probably have been a more noticeable difference. But, it was very close and hard to tell between these 2.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 9:46 am
|
|
The Bud is a looker I do know but I cannot tell the difference in sound. There’s not a dimes difference in sound.
Can you tell us which has the best playability. |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 10:07 am
|
|
Johnie,
I'm guessing it would be the Zum. 
Erv |
|
|
|
Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 10:19 am
|
|
| Both guitars have E66 pickups. |
|
|
|
ajm
From:
Los Angeles
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 11:04 am
|
|
A totally quick and unscientific analysis based upon listening on my lap top with no headphones.
You didn't say which one has the metal necks.
I don't know which one has the metal necks, but I'm guessing the second one since it sounds a tad brighter. |
|
|
|
Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 11:59 am
|
|
Zum 1st. and the Bud 2nd.
_________________
Email: azpedalman@gmail.com
Phone: 480-235-8797 |
|
|
|
Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 12:36 pm
|
|
| ZUM has metal necks, Sho-Bud wood. |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 1:01 pm
|
|
The second one sounds beefier, but maybe because it's louder. It also seems to have better string separation.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 1:08 pm
|
|
| That's a beauty Ron!!! I am playing a Super Pro with Bud PUP's. With the E66 PUP's in both guitars it is almost impossible to tell the difference. I am guessing the first one was the Bud. (Wood necks). |
|
|
|
Jack Turlington
From:
Toccoa, GA, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 1:50 pm
|
|
| I’m guessing the Bud was no. 2 |
|
|
|
John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 3:23 pm
|
|
| ShoBud 1. ZumSteel 2 |
|
|
|
David Graves
From:
Indiana, USA
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 4:53 pm
|
|
I’m with John. Bud first, Zum second.
_________________
St. Blues 1984 "Holy Grail"
Take the time to introduce someone young to music... and play a few songs with someone old. |
|
|
|
Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 5:58 pm Zum or bud
|
|
I say bud first zum 2nd. That looks like
My old super pro. Can I ask where you got it ???
P.w |
|
|
|
dlayne
From:
OH
|
Posted 6 Apr 2019 10:57 pm Sho-Bud
|
|
Zum is the 1st & the Bud 2nd
_________________
Dan Layne |
|
|
|
Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 6:32 am
|
|
The answer
Sho-Bud first then the ZUM.
Last edited by Ron Hogan on 7 Apr 2019 1:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Billy McCombs
From:
Bakersfield California, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 6:49 am
|
|
This is amazing, proof that a older steel can have the sound of a more modern steel.
_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56 |
|
|
|
Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 6:53 am
|
|
| Quote: |
| proof that a older steel can have the sound of a more modern steel |
...and/or that tone is in the hands (and the pickup) (and the amp) (and the room) ........ |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 8:14 am
|
|
I thought the second one sounded better, but I couldn't guess which one it was. I don't think that the brand name is a good indicator of an instrument's tone. There are too many variables from one instrument to the next, even with the same builder.
Having the same pickups in both guitars made the difference very subtle. I've always felt that the pickup is the biggest factor in a steel guitar's tone.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 11:09 am
|
|
Agreed. Pickup choice is the main thing that differentiates the sound of PSGs. And in terms of nailing a particular tone from an entire rig, turning knobs on the amp has the most profound effect.
We've had these recorded comparisons before on the Forum, with the same outcome. This shows once again that the differences between steels are surprisingly small, at least in terms of the ability to coax a particular sound out of them (meanwhile, the way they play and sustain and how that feels to the player remains a very real difference).
Ron, I bet you can turn up the treble on your amp and make the Sho-Bud sound quite close to the Zum. So close, that few listeners could tell the difference. But the player experience -- the feel of the pedals and how much you have to work the volume pedal to create sustain -- will be quite different for you as the player. So 'player experience' becomes a bigger factor in deciding which guitar to play. |
|
|
|
Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 1:21 pm
|
|
| Tucker I could not agree more with your post. I bet Ron favors one of the two steels although they sound very much alike. |
|
|
|
Mitch Ellis
From:
Collins, Mississippi USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2019 8:44 pm
|
|
| Tucker Jackson wrote: |
Ron, I bet you can turn up the treble on your amp and make the Sho-Bud sound quite close to the Zum. |
Yes he can. I can give my Zum many different sounds using nothing more than a NV400 and a delay pedal. I am sometimes amazed at how much money some players spend on "gadgets".
Mitch |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 8 Apr 2019 6:51 am
|
|
Boys and their toys!
Erv |
|
|
|
John Goux
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2019 11:05 pm
|
|
I could hear the difference on my iPad.
The first was warmer, and you sounded more comfortable with the pedal action, the second had extra highs to it, and you were not as smooth with the first.
My guess would be Shobud wood neck, Zum alum neck. Warmer/ brighter.
John |
|
|
|
