|
Author
|
Topic: Bruce Zumsteg and the Zumsteel
|
Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
|
posted 26 July 2002 10:36 AM
profile
I know this has been covered before but I felt compelled to make some comments about this man and his work. I took delivery on a new Zum a while back and I have to say at this point it is one great guitar. If anbody wants more specifics regarding my impressions feel free to email me. I am certainly not trying to ignite the "Steel Guitar Brand WWF" here as sometimes occurs. I'm just trying to give some credit where credit is due. There are many great guitars and craftsmen out there, both past and present, and this post is not in any way intended to discredit any of them. I have sat down behind and subsequently slobbered drool over many a fine steel guitar over the years. This is my third Zum over the past twenty years and they have all been good, solid guitars. But more than the guitar is the man behind it. Bruce is always "working"-brainstorming new ideas while perfecting old ones. And all while putting up with fickle guys like me with their incessant phone calls about this pickup or that pull rod or whatever. He is a credit to the steel guitar community, and will treat the beginner with the same respect as the seasoned professional. If this sounds like an "endorsement", well, for what it's worth, I guess it is. |
Tiny Olson
Member From: Tribes Hill, NY, USA along the Erie Canal in the beautiful Mohawk River Valley
|
posted 26 July 2002 11:12 AM
profile
Tommy:You took the words right outta' my mouth. You and I started playing ZumSteel guitars about the same time in the early '80s. I couldn't agree with you more on all the affirmative verbage regarding Bruce and the guitars he builds. I recently got a new one myself and it truly is a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. It sounds, plays and looks wonderful. And yup, poor Bruce has weathered my recent storm of questions about the various humbucking pickups with a smile. And he knows, I'll probably have him wind me up a set of his single-coils too. Stay out from behind the bus... ok Tommy !?!? Your Pal,
Tiny Olson
('87 D-10 ZumSteel w/ 8&7)
('02 D-10 ZumSteel w/ 8&8) |
KENNY KRUPNICK
Member From: Grove City,Ohio
|
posted 28 July 2002 10:35 PM
profile
96 ZumSteel w/8&5. One of the top steels on the market!!! |
Buck Grantham
Member From: Denham Springs, LA. USA
|
posted 29 July 2002 08:10 AM
profile
And he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.------------------
Music to light up your life
|
Roger Crawford
Member From: Locust Grove, GA USA
|
posted 29 July 2002 02:28 PM
profile
Tommy & Tiny...hearing what you guys have just said makes me even more excited about the phone call I just got. It was Bruce letting me know that my new axe was about to be shipped. He wanted to be sure that I hadn't changed my mind about any of the details, and was as excited about getting it to me as I will be to get it. Yep, he's a great craftsman and true gentleman. A rare combination these days.
Roger |
Wayne Cox
Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA
|
posted 05 August 2002 10:04 PM
profile
I know this thread is a few days old now but
I feel compelled to share this. During the
20 years I played full-time, I went through
a lot of steels;1-Stringfellow,2-Fenders,
1-ZB,2-Sho-Buds,5-MSA's,1-Dekley,1-Zumsteel.
All of those were purchased new. They all had
to be adjusted when I received them except
one;the Zumsteel! I picked it up at the Bus
Station on my way to the gig,thinking I would
play it one set;I played it all night & never
had to adjust anything on it! I think that speaks volumes for the craftsman who made it.Thanks Bruce!
Sincerely, W.C. |
Bill Simmons
Member From: Keller, Texas, USA
|
posted 06 August 2002 09:26 AM
profile
Bruce builds a great steel! Johnny Cox rebuilt my '79 birdseye maple ZUM (my first Zum after owning about every other major steel over the past 30 years)and the Zum is A+ in every category for judging a steel guitar. I may have other steels, but my '79 Zum will always stay. |
Duane Dunard
Member From: Troy, MO. U.S.A.
|
posted 06 August 2002 10:21 AM
profile
The Zumsteel guitar represents the very hard efforts of a guitar builder who absolutely will not take short-cuts, or rush his work. Bruce is very near a perfectionist in that every guitar must meet his high standards, regardless if it's new owner is a "star" player or bed-room beginner. I remember him telling me how he hated to ship a certain exceptionally good sounding guitar, because it was going to a beginner, but that's the way life is. Everybody gets the same high quality guitar. My shop represents a compeditor brand, but credit is deserved here, and I'm also very proud to claim Bruce as a friend. D.D. |
Jim West
Member From: Vista,CA
|
posted 06 August 2002 12:01 PM
profile
"I remember him telling me how he hated to ship a certain exceptionally good sounding guitar, because it was going to a beginner ...."That must have been my guitar.  |
John Russell
Member From: Austin, Texas
|
posted 07 August 2002 06:58 PM
profile
Tommy, read my post on the thread "Something Tut Said."In addition to the wonderful craftsmanship and great attitude of the builder, I'd like to mention that the SOUND of the Zum is second to none. Despite all the raves about brand "E" let's not forget the brand "Z" can match it and maintenance is also "Z" i.e. "Zero." I've owned mine for about 4 years, it's only my third pedal steel but I can't see a reason to ever get something else unless it's another Zum. And that's only if mine sinks to the bottom of a lake or gets stolen, God forbid.
--JR |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
|
posted 07 August 2002 07:04 PM
profile
quote:
And that's only if mine sinks to the bottom of a lake
John, quit using the guitar as a boat anchor and the chances of that occurring diminish rapidly!!!!! just kidding... you know I love ya! ------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association |
Mike Kowalik
Member From: San Antonio,Tx.,USA
|
posted 08 August 2002 08:41 AM
profile
Guess I better get in line.... |
Jeff Coffell
Member From: Killeen Texas
|
posted 18 August 2002 01:14 AM
profile
NEVER AGAIN HAVE ANYTHING THAT DON'T SAY ZUMSTEEL ON THE FRONT. I am a very green steel player and Bruce treated me like a star. No better guitar than Zumsteel. No better guitar builder than Bruce. Oh yeah he's a pretty good ole boy too. That always helps.IMHO Jeff[This message was edited by Jeff Coffell on 18 August 2002 at 01:17 AM.] |
Kenneth Kotsay
Member From: Davie, Florida
|
posted 18 August 2002 10:22 AM
profile
99% on target guys, my 1998 D-10 Zum is still in top shape.......EXCEPT FOR.......The 3rd finger roller where the string turns 90 degrees. Has a nice BURR from the string. Yes I have used semichrome polish very, very lightly to remove the burr and it just keeps coming back. I break .011 about every 12-15 days on this guitar but not on the Franklin or EMCI, the.011 lasts alot longer on both these steels. I have taken all kinds of advice in the removal of these burrs, etc., BUT...... the burr on my ZUM is still there. Why BURRS in the first place. Is the aluminum too soft. My 1999 D-10 Franklin (Franklin uses a different grade of aluminum) has no burrs and my D-10 EMCI has none either. I'm not an expert on metals so I really can't answer why Bruce ueses a different softer aluminum then Franklin. I'll pay top bucks for a steel just as long as I NEVER, NEVER get a burr as long as I own that steel. Don't say it can't be done or say I'll have to give up the tone quality of the steel for a no burr finger. By the way, what type of metal does Remington Pedal Steel Guitars use on his fingers??
Seems a steel buddy of mine owns a D-10 Remington and never has any burrs, guitar plays & sounds great. Would I buy another ZUM, yes but not before I buy the new MSA. Will that steel have burrs?? I have no idea, but I'm willing to take a chance on what Mr. Anderson has produced seems he has improved the changer and how the strings all ride over the fingers, could be a vast improvement over the older changers, just have to wait & see. Right now I'm waiting for the 3rd string on my ZUM to POP at any time In closing, yes the ZUM is an excellent steel and I'll never sell it, but that S.O.B. burr really gets me jumping mad. KEN[This message was edited by Kenneth Kotsay on 18 August 2002 at 10:25 AM.] |
John Hawkins
Member From: Onalaska, Tx. on Lake Livingston
|
posted 18 August 2002 03:03 PM
profile
Kenneth ,I've played Zum's for many years and have never thought any part of the guitar had soft medal --especially on the 3rd string ( or others) changer end . I have used .011 ga.on that E9th side for as many as 25 to 30 hrs of hard use and never broken a .011 ga.
However, if I go past that use time ( and I never do ) then a break could happen at any moment . Have you tried different brand strings ? I've used S.I.T Stainless for years of good service from them . I would strongly suggest you call Bruce Zumsteg by phone and discuss this problem with him ! He is one nice fellow and will take time to talk to you and probably solve your problem . I have never known anyone who called him about a problem on his Zum guitar that has not been helped by Bruce . He builds
a super fine guitar and will help in any way he can .That has been my experience ,anyway ! For your handy reference --here is his phone
no. a/c 816-380-4568 . He does not currently
have a web site or e-mail . Guess he is too busy with all the orders he gets to mess with a computer ! If you deside to call him , please pass on my regards to him . Good luck on solving your problem . John[This message was edited by John Hawkins on 18 August 2002 at 03:10 PM.] |
Kenneth Kotsay
Member From: Davie, Florida
|
posted 19 August 2002 10:42 AM
profile
John - From what I can gather off the forum about string breakage, seems to be either the brand of string that one use along with getting a bad batch or other built in factors that I cannot explain since like I mentioned in my previous post, I'm not an expert in metals or strings, BUT.......I had on my ZUM, a Franklin .011 string for almost 204 days of playing (about 300-375 hours of pumping that B pedal like crazy.) Now after I removed the Franklin strings ( it did not break) I added a new 10 string set, which was George L's, naturally the .011 popped in 10 days. About two months ago I was in Guitar Center looking around and they had a sale on, Ernie Ball guitar strings so I picked up about four (4) individual .011 strings. The first chance I got after that new George L .011 string popped on me was to replace it with a Ernie Ball. Well it lasted almost a full month of playing on my ZUM. Amazing, I never used or even considered Ernie Ball strings, maybe I got a very good batch of these strings. So right now I have another Ernie Ball string hoping it too will last about a month. Time will tell. Now where does this bring us in relation to ZUM & the changer finger. I guess having burrs on changer finger will add to the string breakage, how much, I guess some what but not much. The way I understand it a string will break because of the stress that occurs as it bends 90 degrees and the consistent moving back & forth. Friction also adds to the breakage. I do notice that when a string breaks it always breaks in the same place at the ball end of the string. Carl Dixon had an excellent post on the forum about this subject, very informative and logical. Bottom line again is I love my ZUM and will never sell it, it's an excellent guitar, very beautiful too, similar to Hal Ruggs color scheme on his ZUM. Since I received it nothing has gone wrong with it. I also owned a D-10 Sho-Bud & MSA and they too had burrs but after many years of playing. My Emmons P/P D-10 also has a burr on the 3rd string, this steel is a 1980 edition. The major problem that occurs at least with me is how much burr cleaning can I do before I have to replace the entire 3rd finger. On all the guitars I ever owned I never replaced these fingers nor would ever try to attempted it. But of all the steels that had burrs on the 3rd finger, the ZUM will most likely need a finger change down the road in a few years. Semi-chrome polish removes most of the burr but it also removes the finish of the finger after so many applications over the years. Maybe someone on the forum who's an expert on metals, (educational & professional wise) can explain what's happening regarding the burrs on fingers relating to all steels produced. Also can it be that a steel manufacturer sometimes ends up with a bad batch of aluminum fingers that he is not aware of. Hopefully I can get more answers from the guys on the forum about my burr problem. KEN [This message was edited by Kenneth Kotsay on 19 August 2002 at 10:46 AM.] [This message was edited by Kenneth Kotsay on 19 August 2002 at 10:53 AM.]
|
The Steel Guitar Forum
