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Post new topic Original Zum pickup vs. Telonics 409 comparison?
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Author Topic:  Original Zum pickup vs. Telonics 409 comparison?
George Kimery

 

From:
Limestone, TN, USA
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2016 5:43 am    
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I am an experimenter, what can I say. I am considering trying a Telonics 409 pickup on my 1982 Zum E9th neck. I am getting a good sound with the original Zum single coil pickup, but being able to adjust the magnets on each string of the Telonics appeals to me.

The Telonics PU is expensive and I am wondering if it would make much difference. I posted this subject a while back, and although I got responses about how good the Telonics sounds in a Zum, nobody had replaced the original pickup with the Telonics. Hope somebody reads this that has done exactly that and was it a good move and worth the money.

Thanks,

George
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 2 Jan 2016 8:44 am    
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The 409 is built around the style of the Danny Shields Craptrap, which then became the Tonealigner.
I have a Tonealigner on the C6th neck of my Zum and love it.
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2016 1:27 pm    
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Hi George, I replaced the TruTones in my first Zum Hybrid with Telonics 409s and just love those pickups - this is my recording guitar and it sounds just fabulous.
my second Hybrid still has the Trutones in it, but I think I will be updating that guitar with 409's as well ... they just make my guitars sing :-}
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
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Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 5 Jan 2016 5:05 pm    
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Lynn Stafford put a set in a Zum and we could not believe how good it sounded. I put a pair in my '70 PP, it is a cannon. I use a Walker system, the combo works great.
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'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Flamma Reverb, Planet Wave cables, Quilter 202 Toneblocks, Telonics 15” speakers.

Phone: 971-219-8533
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Jim Priebe

 

From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2016 2:37 pm    
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George: Paddy's Zum with the 409's in it - has the absolute killer tone - I can vouch for that. His later one with single coils is OK but the 409's make them really special.
(Shameless Plug) Buy his CD and you will be believer!
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Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com
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Roger Crawford


From:
Griffin, GA USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2016 5:02 pm    
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How much time and trouble are involved in adjusting the pole pieces to balance the strings?
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George Kimery

 

From:
Limestone, TN, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2016 8:15 pm     Original Zum pickup vs. Telonics 409 comparison?
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I am a little scared of going to a humbucker pickup. I am of the old school "single coils sound better". However, I am willing to take a chance on the 409's from the positive comments posted.

Right now, I am trying to save up the money to attend the Dallas show for the first time. Once I am all set on that, I will order the 409 and give it a try.
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Dave Beaty


From:
Mesa, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2016 8:20 pm     Alignment time for a Telonics Type 409 Pickup
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Roger, David provides a good look, setup explanation and example of tone for the 409 pickup on his guitar in this video he posted on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T1KTOHacLs

He mentions that it took him about an hour for his initial setup.

With experience, most people are able to do a good job in 30 minutes.
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Dwight Lewis


From:
Huntsville, Alabama
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2016 6:44 am     Telonics pups
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Are these 409's still made today.? I looked on the site and didn't see anything on a 409.
Thanks

Dwight
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Dave Beaty


From:
Mesa, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2016 4:22 pm     Type 409PN and 409PW pickups
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Dwight,
The Type 409 pickup is a current production item, but has not yet been listed on the web sites.
They look and install exactly like the type 84 pickup, but were designed to for a different type of steel and therefore have different sonic qualities than a type 84.
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