I never owned a brand new steel and but noticed that after a few mounths that my mica startet to sound better. I talked this matter over with John Hughey and he told me what I also found that you need at least 6-8 mounths with much playing to break it in. This is why John has only played his new allpull Zum this year - to break it in. He still got and loves his hybrid.

The tuning of a hybrid are much like a pushpull. You need to tune the raises first, then the open tuning and then the lowers. For many this will make it more difficult to tune the steel since they use to tune the steel from an open tuning first.
I just tune my 4th string open and dial the rest from it. Last thing I do is go back and tune my 4th string F# and then adjust the open 4th string E, F note and Eb note of that string. It will take everbody just a little more time to tune but once you have the steel in tune it`s as simple as an all pull to keep in tune.

Actually, to tune this way are more appealing to me. The raises and open strings has their stops in the changer – like the push pull. This is a more direct acting tuning and I love it.

The Zumsteel has always been a very stable steel when it comes to how it stays in tune. The hybrid are even better, to me. The undercarriage of the Zumsteel are the best you can get. (I`ve seen a lot). It also easy to work on and do changes to. Many steels will not do a whole tone lower with a 6th string .022wound. Even an old Zum from the -70`s does this easily.

A hybrid sounds to my ears different from a Zum allpull. Bruce wounds the pups lighter for the hybrid since it has a more bottom or a "boomy" sound. I consider this ”boomy” sound a good thing.

Now, I did compare my allpull Zum (a very-very good -87 with new changer) to my mica hybrid and the allpull had a more open and clear sound. I like an open sound. The hybrid sounded better on the lower strings.
I have Zumsteel single coils in my mica hybrid. I was not quite satisfied with the sound at first so Bruce wounded me a lighter pup and sent me. I have not yet changed it since I wanted to give the originals more time. I know now that I need a brighter pup to bring out the high and clear sound of the mica hybrid.

Larry Sasser told me he has his old -64 Emmons single coils in his Zum hybrid and he is happy.

I had a hard time getting Bruce to built me a wood/laquer Zum but he made me a promise a long time ago....

I ordered the laquer with same pups but Bruce being the smart man he is knew I was looking for a bit more clear sound so he put in True-tone pups and said to me: "I think you like them better".
Bruce was right - I liked the TT better.
After getting back to Norway I compared the laquer to the mica and the laquer sounded better, no doubt.
BUT I suspect that this is because the True-tone pups are a better match.
I am sure that the mica and laquer with same pups are very close in sound and you can hardly say that one is better than the other.

I will put in the lighter Zum single coil that Bruce sent me for my mica hybrid and A-B it to the laquer with TT pups.

All the above was done with single coil pups.

I also brought home a new Zum sd-10 hybrid with 710-Lawrence humbucker. It sounded very clear and good. I think if you don`t like single coils a L-710 will sound great in a hybrid because they are a good match.

The hybrid are a fantasic design and Bruce got a winner here.
It got the adventages of both Push pull and allpull.

Let the game begin...

Dag

[This message was edited by Dag Wolf on 14 September 2006 at 02:33 AM.]

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´75 Emmons p/p D10 8+4, ca '72 AWH Custom D10 8+3, Hybrid Zum coming soon, Peavey Nashville 1000

North West didn`t put the steel on the weight so no problemo.

The new SD-10 Zum are 24kilo.

Bruce say that a hybrid`s pedal action are just a tad more stiff but I guess you will only notice if you A-B an allpull verses the hybrid.
My 4th pedal are a bit stiff but I have three lowers (PF ped) on E9th and the two standard raise on the C-neck. I have a wound .022 on the E-neck and the lowering spring stretces about three times longer that with a plain .020.
Still there`s no problem to use it.
Anyway, stiff pedals has been no problem for me but I love the action of an Emmons PP too.

Another genius thing Bruce has in the hybrid is were on an Emmons PP you have to get under the steel to adjust the rod collars, the hybrid "collars" are set on the other side of the rod - at the end plate. Bruce went for metal on these rather that nylon.

You are not suppose to use them unless you change string gauge and the pulls then get un-even. It`s the same as with Emmons PP.

Here`s a pic of the E9th changer.
On the 4th string I have the C ped to F#(metal) a knee lever that raise also to F# (metal)and the raise for the F note (nylon)

The lowers are like a allpull.
I adjust the lowers a bit too flat and then bring it up to pitch with the split tone screw at the end of the necks.
This should give an even better tone and it`s more stable tuning wise.
You can ofcourse do the last on every steel with a split tone screw.

Dag

[This message was edited by Dag Wolf on 15 September 2006 at 05:21 AM.]