My 'new' 12 string Zum

[Roger Rettig]

First of all, my thanks to Mike DiAlesandro for a very agreeable and smooth transaction. It has been a pleasure.

The guitar sounds wonderful: a shimmering tone throughout its range. The build quality is superb!

It's natural that it's feeling a bit odd to me: it's set up as a Uni (Emmons pedals) and I'm accustomed to a Day D10.

I have learned to be patient with a new steel. Having said that, while I can (temporarily) deal with the alien ABC pedals, I hadn't bargained for the actual pedal spacing: it's tricky pushing on 1 & 2 simultaneously because these have a wider spacing than my LeGrande.

Next week, I will tackle basic changes (Emmons to Day) and decide what it's ultimate setup will be.

It has such great tone!!!

[John Hyland]

Hi Roger I would be interested to know what your pedal spacings are and what you are used to on other instrument.

[Carl Williams]

Fine looking Zum Roger…congrats! It’s what keeps us going…Carl

[Roger Rettig]

Thanks, Carl: I knew I wasn't crazy.

John:
Even in this picture, you can see (I think) that pedal 1 is a little further from P2 than the others.

The problem is that, as it's set up 'Emmons', I'm have difficulty using P1 and 2 simultaneously. I plan to switch 1 with 3 anyway (at the very least) and that may nullify the issue. I don't know the dimensions, but covering two pedals with my left foot is a breeze on my Emmons, but tricky on this guitar. It feels as though I'm catching each pedal with the very inside and outside of my foot. A few times, I've failed to fully depress the B pedal.

That doesn't sound too good.

[Earnest Bovine]

I plan to switch 1 with 3

Quick and easy way

[Earnest Bovine]

Or just swap the A and B pedals (probably 1 and 2 in your case)

[Roger Rettig]

Doug......

You're not helping!!!!

[Mike DiAlesandro]

First of all, my thanks to Mike DiAlesandro for a very agreeable and smooth transaction. It has been a pleasure.

The guitar sounds wonderful: a shimmering tone throughout its range. The build quality is superb!

It's natural that it's feeling a bit odd to me: it's set up as a Uni (Emmons pedals) and I'm accustomed to a Day D10.

I have learned to be patient with a new steel. Having said that, while I can (temporarily) deal with the alien ABC pedals, I hadn't bargained for the actual pedal spacing: it's tricky pushing on 1 & 2 simultaneously because these have a wider spacing than my LeGrande.

Next week, I will tackle basic changes (Emmons to Day) and decide what it's ultimate setup will be.

It has such great tone!!!

Thanks for the nice words Roger, it was a pleasure working with you as well. Enjoy!

[Joe Krumel]

Love that blue color. Makes me think of my old BMI.same color. Zum guitars are tone monsters.when you get things switched to your liking that thing is gonna keep you busy with new ideas,discoveries etc. Keep us posted.

[Roger Rettig]

Yes, Joe - I'm taken with the colour too.

I'm more and more leaning towards Ext E9.

How I wish it had 6 pedals and 6 KLs!!

Ps 1,2,3 will be my CBA.
Pedal 4, having three pulls on it now, could be the Franklin pedal.
Ps 5 & 6 (they have three rods each)? I don't know yet.
P7 - raising 5 and 6 a whole step will, along with the Es lowered, replicate C6th P7 so that will stay.

KLs:
LKL - will lower the Es, LKR will raise them (I wish I could raise all three Es ).
LKV: It only has one rod. Therefore, I'm forced to leave it in it's current setting, lowering the B to Bb (I'd prefer that pull on RKL, but...)
RKL: Has two pulls: I'm thinking I will raise 1 and 2 to G# and E.
RKR: Again: two pulls - standard 2/9 lower, I think.

AND - tuned to E9th, I will have my faithful D string at #9. On my D10, I also lower 10 to A on RKR but here I have that note with the B pedal.

If anyone has had the patience to read this and can see a flaw (other than my shortage of pulls), I'm open to suggestions - especially for pedals 5 & 6.

[Joe Krumel]

Roger I think you have this figured out and are ready to take the bull by the horns! Can't wait to hear the results!

[Jerry Overstreet]

Have you thought about where you would place a sixth knee lever? Left working, 2nd LKV, or reversing? You can shop around for another Knee lever kit...should be a fairly straight forward add provided you find the parts.

I believe this is something you can do and if you don't need the 7th pedal, perhaps you can trade it toward a KL kit or sell it to offset the added expense.

My offer stands on working a KL cross shaft for the guitar given the dimensions needed to help you along with your new setup.

Some of the other guys are fabricating similar bell cranks that fit these guitars and pull rods can also be done.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Having raise on B pedal to G# on 11th, Raise on 12th string E to F on knee lever, And with raise 10th string B to C# will give you another lower octave combination, That can open a lot of new territory.
I find many uses for low B-G#-E on S12U tuning.

[Bengt Erlandsen]

I see one "not neccessary" a flaw but something that will complicate getting the most out of an S12extE9 with some additional pedals.

Your LKL which lower E's to Eb is really needed for a majority of those extra pedal combinations.

That might present some issues with using LKL together with pedals further to the right at the same time.

Personal observation after having S12extE9 for 20+ something years. Raising both 1 and 7 F# to G# is really useful on the S12extE9.


B.Erlandsen
Zumsteel S12extE9 7+7

[Roger Rettig]

I checked, Bengt; I can reach P7 while engaging LKL: the current p7 (raising 5 and 6 a tone - along with lowering the Es) is a good one!

I'm still unsure about pedals 5 and 6....

[Bengt Erlandsen]

Just a suggestion.....am pretty sure it will work with a Day setup

For P4 since it has 3 rods. 12th string E-C#, 10 & 5 B-Bb (split tuned to give the maj7 with the A pedal)

P5 string 11 and 6 G#-A#

P6 string 11 and 6 G#-G (split tuned w P5 or P7 to give an A note)

P7 6th string G#-A# and 5 B-C#

since the B-Bb is now on P4 your LKV is free to either have a quick 9th string D-D# or 8th string E-F#. The 8th string E-F# is really cool melodic tool to have available.

B.Erlandsen
Zumsteel S12extE9 7+7

[Roger Rettig]

Thanks, Bengt - taken on board!

[Damir Besic]

I plan to switch 1 with 3

Quick and easy way

now that is some funny stuff right here …

[Bo Borland]

A month later…. How’s it going Roger?

[Roger Rettig]

Bo:

I posted a picture on a Facebook steel page just showing it off, really, when my friend Larry Bell answered, saying:

"If you ever want to sell it, I want first refusal!'

In a moment of post-dialysis weakness and with my energy at its lowest ebb, this triggered my response:

"Give me what I paid, and you collect it (Larry's not far away here in FL) and it's yours."

We actually met on I-75 and did the hand-over.

Therefore, the answer to your enquiry is that things are going well, but I no longer own the Zum 12-string.

I think my days of contemplating something other than a D10 are behind me. I enjoyed JC's D13th and I see potential in Ext E9th but two 12-string guitars are in my recent past and I never got quite comfortable with the change-of-grips.

Both steels now have a good home, my faithful 2000 Emmons LG111 continues tgo fit me perfectly so, if I ever talk again about 12-string steels, I'd be obliged if someone will remind me of this response.

[Steve Cattermole]

That Zum is beautiful, but I think you made the right decision. I give you tons of credit for trying something new at our age. I've heard you play and it doesn't sound like you are missing anything, you play beautiful steel. I'm still super happy with my double 10 Infinity and have no plans of changing anything

[Roger Rettig]

That's kind of you, Steve.

As I can no longer take shows and go on the road, I have a tendency to yearn for something 'new' to occupy me. The fact is, my LeGrande is playing as smoothly as ever and I'm guilty of having it loaded! With 8+9, it's all the guitar I'll ever need (if I'm going to catch up with you ).

I envy you and Rick those lovely Infinity steels, but I want for nothing, really.

The Zum was a high quality instrument and it's good hands with Larry.

I have no intention of wandering again!! My two Emmons will see me out.