I just brought home a new Zum D-10 with the hybrid changer from the Dallas show.
I will have a test run on Friday and Saturday and make a report on it`s performance next week.
I am very courious about how the hybrid changer will sound.
The steel looks awesome and the mechanics are in my opinion the best you can buy.
It is well worth the wait.
This is the #19 hybrid that Bruce has built.
Bruce uses the same serial # for the hybrid and the regular changer with a " - Hxx" (mine is -H19) added to the serial #
I just want to thank Bruce Zumsteg for his workmanship and for building me this steel.This is the first time for me to buy a brand new steel.
I compared the old vs Hybrid Zum side-by-side at Scotty's show in St Louis in 2004.
I preferred the sound of the old style but that is a minority opinion.
Well, I would like to share my thoughts about this.
I think to do a side by side comparing of a hybrid and a regular Zum you really need to do it with two equally built Zums, same pickups and so on - still there will be some individual difference between two steels. You know, it`s not a digital clone.
Earnest, what tone difference between the two Zum did you conclude? Did you test them at close to a gig level?
(I have not yet.)
I have not yet heard anyone say that the hybrid sounds "better" than a regular Zum - just that, " - it`s the best tone ever" or likewise.
A new regular Zum are some of the best if not the best steel you can buy.
John Hughey has at least one hybrid but played a regular, close to brand new ZUM at the Texas show.
I would really like to hear John opinion and how he likes his Zums.
So far I only have test played my new hybrid and can already tell it`s the best Zum I have played. I most likely would have said the same about a new regular Zum.
As some of you know I have tried a lot of Zums here at my house.
If someone brag about their hybrid are best they played it does not put down the sound of the regular changer Zum. It`s just somewhat different and many, me included likes to think that the changer finger touches the body will have a postive effect on tone.
One thing I always liked about the Zumsteel are that it is easy to change setups, add knee levers and do really complexe changes that many equally steels won`t do that easy.
A hybrid is a different animal so to speak. In many ways it`s like a Push pull and takes some tweeking to get right but without the annoying slack you have to have on strings that are lowered. You can load it down with both pedal and return compensators. It`s the best of two worlds. Bruce will do all the tweeking before you get a hybrid in your hands.
If you likes to do tweeking yourself you should really know what to do before changing anything.
The whole tuning happens right at the changer and that makes it more stable in tuning - but.... I have not had any tuning issues with any of the Zums I have played.
I seldom have to tune the nylon tuners (pedals).
I was looking and testing a few steels at the Texas show. Also I have had many different steels here at home and rebuilt before selling.
If I had a scheme giving points for the different details like: Tone, easy changin setup, adding pedals, action, finish,support and so on - there is no doubt that Zum will come out on top many points over #2.
Let me add that this is my first time to state such a positive comments about Zumsteel.
I am not trying to put any other steel brands down.
Congratulations Dag!
Brand new Zum... wow.
Your friends at Vestnorsk Steelgitarklubb will surely like to hear more about it, and of course to hear you playing your new Zum live
Our meeting in April would be a perfect occation, ha?
hey Crowbear yes the guitar on the left is Dags new Hybrid ....and it is a beauty for sure. The other standard changer guitar was really nice as well - not sure who that was built for ?
