My zum S12 has the serial number S1274198. I think it was built in 1983. It is regular S12 model with rosewood mica finished. It has now 8 pedals and 5 knee levers.
It has been imported in France in about 2001 from Bobbe Seymour. I wrote to Bobbe for having some détails but He did not answer to me. Curiously this guitar is engraved on the left end plate and shows amazing signatures with a date : 6 december 1983. And there is an other date written with a marker on the inside of the mica rear panel: 26 nov 1983(assembling? selling?)
I don't know anything about this instrument wich gives me so much satisfaction (I will not write here all the qualities it has !..)
Is there anybody who was owner and knows something about it and can give me a little of its history?
Many thanks for him
<font size="1" color="#5d862b">Zum S12/GL'S12-5, Zum D10/TT, Korg PX4, Hilton, Peavey N112 - Still on steel...</FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Patrick Laffrat on 25 February 2006 at 08:20 AM.]</p></FONT>
I and a few friends attended a teaching seminar with Buddy and Jeff in Stockton, California during that time period. I remember them both engraving their signitures on students' guitars! That guitar and its owner may have been there, or at another like siminar in a different location.
It Could Have Been At Jeffran College School Just Out Side Of Nashville.Jeff And Buddy Signed A Lot Of Guitars There. Some One May have Been There For A Week Of Steel School. I Was There In 1981. SONNY.
Is has been engraved after november 1983.
I think the first engraving was the 6 dec 1983 by Lloyd Green and Norm Hamlet (the two signatures have the same disposition.
After, Buddy Emmons and jeff Newmann. Probably the owner had himself the engraving machine?
Congratulations on owning a very fine Zum steel! I am a previous owner (September 1996 to September 1998) and would be happy to tell you what I know.
Sept. 1996 - Purchased it at a large guitar show held in Raleigh, NC, from a man from South Carolina. Of the hundreds of stringed instruments for sale that day, it was the only pedal steel.
Oct. 1996 - Bought 1" longer pedal rods and lift kit from Bruce Zumsteg. (Can't tell from your photo if they're still installed.)
June 1997 - Attended Jeff Newman's "Top Gun" school at his home outside of Nashville. (I say "attended" because I'm not sure I graduated...did anyone ever really "graduate" from it?) Anyway, Jeff did not recall the exact story of the engraved signatures, other than they were not all done at the same time. You'll be happy to know, though, that Jeff personally adjusted the Zum's return springs, noting that he had learned a lot as a one-time Sho-Bud employee. Also, on Bobbe's suggestion, I had Woody Woodell build a lightweight fiber case for hauling it around town. (Because it was a second, additional case, I don't know whether you own it too.)
Aug. 1997 - On Jeff's suggestion, I bought three additional pulls from Bruce to add the E to F raise on string 11 and to compensate strings 1 and 7 when the B pedal is down. These parts were installed by Mike, who then did repairs for Leonard Stadler, founder of Marlen pedal steels in Reidsville, NC.
Sept. 1998 - Traded the Zum toward a wonderful lacquer SD-10 Emmons Lashley LeGrande II, my main steel. I remember hearing that the Zum eventually ended up with Bobbe.
During my short time of ownership, this Zum had quite an odyssey and brought me into contact with some great people in the steel guitar world, including Bruce, Jeff, Bobbe, Woody, and Leonard. I did a few gigs and recordings with it, and felt the Zum was a special guitar.
Why did I sell it? Well, one of the many lessons I learned from Jeff is that you need to "return to basics" and "keep things simple." For someone like me, who is mainly a guitar and bass player, this meant sticking to E9th and giving up on the universal tuning. I have not regretted that decision, and had the opportunity in 1999 to tell Jeff that he was right...again.
So, as we say here, "my loss is your gain." I am glad that the Zum has found an appreciative and enthusiastic owner in you. Enjoy!
Location: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
State/Province: -
Country: United States
Postby John De Maille »
That's a wonderful story about a great steel. It really adds a history, when you can trace a steels lineage. I have a Zum U-12, that, I love, and I know you'll be happy with yours
Thank you very much Bill for relating me the story of this Zum during the two years when it was your.
I really love that instrument. I bought recently a black 1995 D10 Zum for learning to play with a double neck (I never played with D10), but I have not the same affection, perhaps because it is ten years younger, and my S12 seems to have lived through more ?.. It is very nice to you to write these words. Of course I'll have a thought for you each time I play it.
Now I hope an other person as attractive as you will give me the story about the years before!
with my best regards.
Patrick<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Patrick Laffrat on 04 March 2006 at 08:49 AM.]</p></FONT>
