My New Zumsteel

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 14 Oct 2003 6:46 am

I've got to brag a little on Bruce Zumsteg. As some of you know, I fell in love with an old push-pull that Bobby Bowman re-built for me. I've played a Zum for 24 years, and consider Bruce to be one of my best friends, and the builder of the finest guitar on the market. So when he said he had some new ideas for a guitar he wanted me to try, with no obligations, I was eager to see what he had come up with.

I set up my '67 Emmons in his shop, and played it for 3 days along with the new guitar he built. We've all heard the phrase, "It sounds just like a push-pull", yea right! Well, this time it's for real. He's done it! This guitar has every characteristic of tone, that my ears can hear, that is in that old push-pull, including those "growling overtones." If anything, I can hear more of them, and it has better sustain. Then of course, it plays like a Zum, and stays in tune. We decided on 17.5k True Tones from Jerry Wallace after a fair amount of experimenting. If it sounds like I'm excited about this guitar, you're right. As far as Bruce's "no obligation" comment, I was only too happy to buy this guitar.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 14 Oct 2003 8:26 am

Randy...hope you're coming to Saluda with this little darlin'!

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 14 Oct 2003 9:29 am

So what did he do different? I mean what did he change to get the PP sound and sustain? Will this now be avalable to the general public? Regards bb

Jim Whitaker · Post by **Jim Whitaker** » 14 Oct 2003 11:10 am

I heard this steel in Dayton Ohio last Sunday. Just let me say that Randy is a monster player. He sat between Russ Hicks & Jerry Brightman & there wasn't a backseat to be had. His tone was excellent & then some.
I overheard him talking of some things that bruce is doing to enhance the tone on his steels but couldn't make out exactly what it was. He is not kidding about this steel because the tone was to die for.
Randy if you read this I just want to say you are one of my favorite players (The first time I heard you was at Chubbys) & I think you play a hell of a steel for a drywaller.

Ps. I was the guy in the front row that Russ said looked like someone you two knew.

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JIM
"Carter SD10" "74" LTD & NASHVILLE 400, Profex II "55" Esquire, "63 Epiphone, "63" Precision,
"71" Jazz

[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 15 October 2003 at 11:37 AM.]

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 14 Oct 2003 11:12 am

Hi Roger. I won't be able to make the next Saluda show. I'm going to New York the week before and will be vacationing in the north east. I do plan on making the next show in Feb.

Bobby, yes this will be available sometime after the first of the year. This guitar is a proto-type. As far as to what all is different about it? There are several small things, but I believe the changer is the key. You have to tune it like a push-pull. Pedals down, tune it at the keyhead, let off the pedals and tune the open tuning at the endplate. Still, it has triple raise and triple lower with tunable splits.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 14 Oct 2003 11:33 am

Still, it has triple raise and triple lower with tunable splits.

If this wasn't Randy Beavers talking I would write this off as Bull.But Randy knows tone.Thanks Randy.This sounds real interesting.-----bb[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 14 October 2003 at 12:43 PM.]

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 14 Oct 2003 11:52 am

I'm interested.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 14 Oct 2003 4:08 pm

I also got to hear Randy play this guitar at the Chubby Howard jam in Dayton Ohio last week and the tone was excellent. He played it through a Webb amp for his part of the show and then through a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212 later on in the evening. It sounded great both times!

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Oct 2003 5:00 pm

I'd definitely like to see pictures of the changer of your new Zum, it sounds very interesting!

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 14 Oct 2003 7:21 pm

Hi Randy, does this mean that ole' Push/Pull
might be for sale? If so, did I speak first?
Jerry

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 14 Oct 2003 8:29 pm

Jerry,
No way I'm selling the push-pull! I feel like I've got the best of the old, and the best of the new.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 14 Oct 2003 9:01 pm

OK Randy, actually I am really glad to hear that you like your push pull well enough that you are going to keep it. I just had to know.

Your friend, for sure!
Jerry

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 15 Oct 2003 5:20 am

No problem Jerry. I knew you were messin' with me. If I were to consider selling it, but I won't, Bobby Bowman put in dibbs for it before I even heard it. Judy said last night if something were to happen to me, half the Forum would be trying to marry her just to get my guitars.

Jim S.
As to pictures of the changer? You'll need to talk to Bruce.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 15 Oct 2003 6:11 am

You're doing the PSGA show next month, right?
Which steel are you gonna use?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 15 Oct 2003 7:59 am

Okay folks, the cat is out of the bag. I promised Randy that I wouldn't sat anything until he wanted it known. For anyone with ears this is going to be a revolutionary breakthrough. I believe that Bruce Zumsteg has done it. Bruce has apparently found a way to add back the growling overtones of a push/pull into his Zum guitars. Its there. I heard it loud and clear at the NTSGA jam. Randy described it perfectly. Bravo Bruce!!
This isn't such great news for people who want to buy. We're probably going to have to wait at least a year now for a Zum guitar. It sounds fantastic. Bruce put some more people on!!!! We're a comin!!!!

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 15 Oct 2003 9:24 am

Will this new ZUM guitar be the "ZUMMONS" model?

Roger

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 15 Oct 2003 9:50 am

Jay,
I'll be bringing the Zum.

Roger,
Since this guitar is kind of a "hybrid", Bruce went to a synonym website and entered the word hybrid to see what it came up with. All that came up was "mongrel." So that's what I'm calling it.

By the way, does anyone know another word for synonym?

Roger Osbourn · Post by **Roger Osbourn** » 15 Oct 2003 9:54 am

Hey Randy;E-mail me some pictures of Judy just in case.I got my Rocky Caple,Sawed Off Shotgun,45 rpm record matted and framed,hanging in my music room.Thanks for your help in getting it autographed.It will always be a priceless treasure to me.Oh and I hope we both live to be a hundred.

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Roger Osbourn (President NEOSGA)2003 MSA Millennium, (2) Peavey Nashville 1000s, Hilton pedal, Steelers Choice seat.

Tony Rankin · Post by **Tony Rankin** » 15 Oct 2003 12:29 pm

If any builder can replicate the revered push-pull tone, it without a doubt will be Bruce Zumsteg. Bruce is a true craftsman and all of the guitars he builds are representative of the best currently available in terms of design, playability and quality, not to mention that they also sound great. I too, have personally heard Randy's new guitar (at Chubby Howard's show)and it does in fact sound fantastic. Of course, it did not hurt that Randy was the one playing it.

Randy, when you were visiting with Bruce, did you by chance get a peek at the sunburst lacquer SD-10 he is building for me? I am really looking forward to seeing it and I should be getting it in a week or so.

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 15 Oct 2003 12:43 pm

Tony:
Yes I did see your guitar. It is absolutely gorgeous. If I remember right, Bruce showed me your guitar before I saw mine. Its probably the best looking sunburst I've ever seen.[This message was edited by Randy Beavers on 15 October 2003 at 03:40 PM.]

Eddie Malray · Post by **Eddie Malray** » 15 Oct 2003 12:58 pm

I read countless post where someone has a new guitar that has "That PP Sound" but plays easier and stays in tune better. But, they won,t sell their old Emmons PP. Why is that?-----------Eddie

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 15 Oct 2003 1:16 pm

Eddie, I feel very fortunate that I don't have to.

[This message was edited by Randy Beavers on 15 October 2003 at 07:55 PM.]

Tony Rankin · Post by **Tony Rankin** » 15 Oct 2003 1:53 pm

Randy,

Thanks for the reply. I spoke with Bruce on the telephone Monday and he told me it would take my breath away. Since Bruce is not prone to stretching the truth, I am considering having paramedics standing by.

Thanks again and keep us posted on your new "mongrel".

Tony

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 15 Oct 2003 4:20 pm

Eddie,old push-pull Emmons guitars have something magic about them.It is like driving a 68 Corvete ,you can buy a brand new one but it will never had the feeling and magic of the old one.Only original push pull has that magic and history behind it.We can buy the newest modern pedal steels that "they" say sound like the old push pull but what is the point?Why not get an original Emmons p/p and have the real thing insted of copy that sounds "almost" as original.All that tuning nightmare and stiff pedals are the part of the charm of the old Emmons p/p and all that together gives the sound to guitar.Everybody keeps their old push pulls because they are "THE" real thing and they will always be.The new guitars are ,no doubt,faster and easier to play but they don`t have the carisma of the old Emmons push pull guitars.And why trying to copy Emmons tone?I love it don`t get me wrong,but I think that every guitar should have it`s destinctive and original tone itself and not trying to copy other guitars,wich is btw. hopeless ,they can come as close as they want but no other guitar will ever had better "Emmons" tone than Emmons itself.

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Eddie Malray · Post by **Eddie Malray** » 15 Oct 2003 5:56 pm

RANDY AND DAMIR: I was just making a little joke. I've had a PP for over 23 years. I.ve tried others along the way but would never part with the PP. Randy, you don"t know me but I know who you are and have heard you play. You could make a "Little Buddy" sound good. Thats a beautiful Zum and I wish you many happy days with it.---------Eddie