Bruce Zumsteg's Book

David Fleming · From: Texas, USA

Excellent!! Cover-to-cover in one sitting. If you haven't read it, you should. Thanks for sharing, BZ.

Mark Eaton · Posted 30 Jan 2016 5:42 pm

I had no clue what David was writing about, but thanks to his post I did a search and found the announcement I missed from early in January in the thread linked below.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=295179&highlight=
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Mark

David Fleming · From: Texas, USA

I'm sorry, Mark. I figured if I knew, EVERYBODY knew. "My Life and the Steel Guitar" by BZ. Really cool insight into his life and the time when pedal steel was taking off. I couldn't put it down.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Nice little book. It's a shame guys like Shot, Buddy, Big Ron, Reece, et al never had the chance to write their own steel guitar stories. Thanks to Mr. Zumsteg for his foresight.

Jason King · From: Missouri, USA

Not only does this book shed a lot of light on how much work it was to get the business going, it has a lot of great stories about musicians and the places they were working. The book does a great job of helping the reader picture the settings at many of the places music was being played. Also quite a few humorous stories. If you like music you will appreciate this book.

David Fleming · From: Texas, USA

I couldn't agree more, Jason. And, to Jack's comment, I agree. I wish more players, builders and other influential people in the PSG world would chronicle their experiences. That "behind the scenes" stuff, to me, is very interesting. I read Wally Moyers is putting a book together about the West Texas music scene (of which I was involved in for a while). I look forward to that one, as well.

Randy Beavers · From: Lebanon,TN 37090

The one thing we steel players can't get enough of is the behind the scenes stories. What a great read! It makes me appreciate more what goes into building a pedal steel guitar manufacturing business. Understanding the desire and passion to do so is the real story to me. I think most folks of our generation will relate to many of the stories. For example, what we all thought the first time we heard Buddy Emmons play. It made an impact on my life as well as many of you.

Reading this also brought the thought of what we have all missed out on by others this deeply involved not writing their stories. Wouldn't it have been great to have had books written by Shot Jackson, Bud Carter, Ron Lashley, Tom Morrell, Buddy Emmons, John Hughey, Hal Rugg, Pete Drake, and many many more.

This book isn't a commercial for his guitars but of his journey. Well done my friend!

Billy Knowles · From: Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa

Over the years I have called Bruce several times for advice when working on a Zum and he always had time to talk to me. Bruce is such a nice person and great guitar builder.
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my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Actually, my friend Fred Wright wrote a nice bio of Reece Anderson in 2010, nice story of his life. Publisher is infinity publishing, here are numbers that may help you track it down. Fred is also a forum member, you can find him here and ask him how to get a copy. It even comes with a CD of music and some spoken words from Reece.

ISBN10: 0-7414-5797-0; ISBN13: 978-0-7414-5797-4.
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Tiny Olson · From: Mohawk River Valley, Upstate NY

Randy said it all very well. And, I agree... the book is a great read.

As I stated in another section of The Forum, reading the book and seeing the photos made me smile and touched my heart many times. I still have a few chapters to go but have enjoyed Bruce's book very much.

I recommend it highly !!

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

David Fleming · From: Texas, USA

Heck, Tiny. I'd like to read YOUR book.

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

Let me add my voice to those who have chimed in about Bruce's very fine Autobiography. I enjoyed it tremendously. It provides insights into the mind of the man who is responsible for the arguable apex instrument of its kind. It follows his development as a designer, a craftsman, artisan, musician and businessman. It is an American success story, rooted in the values of honest hard work, love of family, diligence, and dedication to quality and craft.

Bruce's instruments always speak for themselves..now its a delight to hear from the designer and builder himself in a straight forward, modest and pleasant conversational writing style that suits the storytelling. Thanks Bruce! I enjoyed it a lot.

Your Friend and fan,

John Widgren
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Billy Easton · From: Nashville, TN USA

I have finally gotten around to reading Bruce's book, and I am sorry I haven't done it sooner! What a great read this is.. there are so many steel guitar stories that most of us have not ever heard nor even been aware of. Bruce writes this in an easy to read, down to earth style. It is just like sitting in his living room and talking about steel guitar. I know, because I have done just that!

One of my favorite stories is about the time that Bruce was on the spot about a broken knee lever on Buddy's guitar...that must have been a frustrating time for Bruce! To learn about "the rest of the story", you HAVE to order the book.

Put that $15 check or money order in the mail today to:
Bruce Zumsteg
25625 South Brush College Rd.
Harrisonville, Missouri 64701

You will not regret it!

Billy Easton
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Nashville, TN

Steve Spitz · From: New Orleans, LA, USA

Got mine today. It's GREAT !!!! You will enjoy it, it's a great read.

It Makes me wish there were a couple dozen others like it , but there aren't.
There is a lack of this sort of thing in our community, which makes this very special.

Well done, thank you Bruce.

Dean Holman · From: Branson MO

I have to tell my story. Being from West Plains, Mo which only had a population of over 7000 at the time around mid to late eighties. I was surprised that there were a couple of steel players that played around West Plains at that time and they both played Zumsteels. Those guys were Drew Pierce and JT Durham. Drew played at a very popular Nightclub / Steakhouse restaurant and my dad would take me there to watch Drew and the band he was in, practice before the weekend gig. Drew and the band happened to be playing at our County Fair and he let me sit down behind his Zum to try it out. At the time, I was playing a Sho-Bud LDG model. It wasn't a bad playing guitar except the pickups became microphonic and picked up all kinds of noise especially the clunky sound of the pedals. After getting behind that Zum and test driving it, I couldn't believe how easy it played and how quiet everything was on that guitar. I still remember the excitement I felt playing that guitar. That same year, my dad who was a Sheriff, always had to go to a state annual Sheriff's Convention. That year they had the convention in Kansas City. My mother and I always got to go as it was like a vacation to us. I had a brochure that Drew had given to me, so when I got to Kansas City, I called Bruce and he let me come over to his house in Raytown. I felt like a little kid going to toys r us. When I got there and met Bruce for the first time, he had a guitar setup that I picked around on. Being impressed with the guitar was half of it. Bruce sat down behind that guitar and played things that gave me goosebumps. The tone and touch he had when he played, just fed my soul for the instrument even more. This was about 3 or 4 weeks prior to the Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis. My dad took me to the convention that year. It would be my first time going to the convention. I couldn't believe there were so many other guitar companies. I tried all the other guitars and my conclusion was there was not one guitar that I played, that sounded or was built any better than a Zum. I ended up ordering my first Zum in the spring of 88. Since then, I've owned 5 Zumsteels, the one I currently have now, I've had for almost 12 years now. I had thought about selling it a couple of times, but I just can't let go of it. It has really turned out to be a spectacular guitar. I've played some other guitars over the years, I've played about three Mullens, I had a JCH and I currently have a Rittenberry. But in that mix I have always had a Zum. Bruce's guitars are light weight for their size and so easy to work on. They are so dependable and consistent. I don't think I've ever played or heard a bad Zum and Bruce always bent over backwards to help me at anytime. Thank you Bruce for the hard work you have done over the years and for setting the standard high for great steel guitars, and thank you for mentioning my name in your book. I feel very blessed and honored to have met and known you all of these years from when I was a 15 year old snotty nose kid. Thank you for everything my friend.

David Fleming · From: Texas, USA

Very cool post, Dean.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

I found Bruce's book to be a very good insight into the life and times of a man I have considered a friend since 1981. Just wished it were longer and with more pictures of Zumsteel guitars.Many of the people mentioned in the later chapters I have had the pleasure of meeting and several of them are considered friends.

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I just finished reading it and it's a fine testament to Mr Z's singleness of purpose and his ability to satisfy the needs of some very demanding people. The quality of his writing is good too. He's a little pessimistic about the future of the steel, but then he was right at the heart of its country music heyday and nothing is likely to compare. Take heart though, folks - by that reckoning the saxophone would have died out some time in the fifties.
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Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Bruce will have copies of his book available for sale at the Dallas steel guitar show. Stop by for a little chat and pick up a copy.

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