Zum stage one.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 2 Jan 2014 8:15 am

Just bought a Zum stage one, looking forward to it arriving tommorow or the day after.
From what I have read they play well and sound great.
this one has four adjustable legs. I'm not sure what pup is on it, how many Stage one owners on here and do you have any tips on this steel..

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 2 Jan 2014 10:16 am

John,

Congrats on your new guitar, I hope you'll be as happy with yours as I have been (and continue to be) with mine!

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... fa65a95c98

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 2 Jan 2014 10:27 am

John,
As far as I know, the Zum Stage One is a pull-release steel, which uses a different tuning procedure then the more usual all-pull steel, and, like the Emmons push-pull, the Stage One will need to have slack in the raise rods to accomodate lowers.

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 2 Jan 2014 10:48 am

The raises are tuned with the standard tuning wrench and the lowers (three) are tuned with an Allen wrench. Very easy!

I think the red tuners are not to be routinely tampered with, I think they maintain the tension that is required on strings that both raise and lower.

Richard can probably explain that better.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 2 Jan 2014 10:50 am

Hi Richard, happy N-Y..I could be wrong but as fas as I can work out the only strings you can raise and lower are the two E's
maybe one of the owners here will know.

Lynn Gray · Post by **Lynn Gray** » 2 Jan 2014 10:55 am

Mine was/is the best bang for the buck out there. Love mine!
Have fun and enjoy the journey

Doug is always there to help with any questions......

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 2 Jan 2014 11:06 am

The guitar is much lighter, and a bit smaller than most of the many steels I've owned. It took me all of about 10 minutes of playing to acclimate and become very comfortable with the fit.

My guitar doesn't wobble or "walk" at all, and I've had guitars that cost twice as much, and much heavier that did!

I do miss not having the 9th string lower, but only when playing/practicing at home...not on the gig. The raising of the 7th string to G gives me something to divert my attention to.

Many times I've questioned myself as to why I have any other guitars. For my needs, the Stage One pretty much does the trick.

and....I do LOVE my Ritt!

Chris Tweed · Post by **Chris Tweed** » 2 Jan 2014 11:58 am

I bought a Stage One from Doug nearly three years ago. It is my first and only steel and I have learned on it and played it extensively at gigs. I think it's a great guitar.

It's so good, I have ordered an Encore. I play my Stage One through a Roland Cube 80xl and it sounds superb. The only reason I am buying another PSG is because I want to explore some additional changes. I will keep the Stage One as a backup or keep one PSG ready to gig and another setup at home.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 2 Jan 2014 12:09 pm

Chris, what settings do you use on the Roland, I will be using one as well.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 2 Jan 2014 3:08 pm

Glad you got one John, Regards Malcolm

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 2 Jan 2014 3:29 pm

Thanks Malcolm, really booking forward to getting it.everything I have read and heard suggests it is a good steel. HNY to you...john

Chris Tweed · Post by **Chris Tweed** » 3 Jan 2014 2:34 am

John,

I play through the JC-Clean channel with the following tone positions:

Bass at 5 o'clock
Middle at 1 o'clock
Treble at 3 o'clock
Presence at 12 o'clock

Delay volume at 7 o'clock
with very short delay
Reverb at 3 o'clock (Plate)

I store all of these using the Solo feature so that I can call them up with a single button press. I love the sound I get -- very clean, but full -- you may want a little less bass

I hope you enjoy your Stage One as much as I have enjoyed mine. And, I wasn't put off by the lack of interest in the Stage One on the British Steelies Forum, where it seems you have to have a really old steel to gain credibility

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 3 Jan 2014 2:57 am

thanks Chris, my only concern is the height of the steel ,,I find most of the steels I have owned over the years were too high for me making it uncomfortable to play, I'm 5_8 with shortish legs. most of the steels I was able to shorten enough to play but I don't like cutting legs and rods on any guitar. I had to cut the legs on my super pro when I got it in 1979 but I did keep it for 40 years.
Your right about the British forum ,you have to have emmons or the like before your taken seriously. me I try anything new that comes out just to see if it would make differerance to my sound or playing..
I'm selling my 1971 s10 bud to make room for the new steel
if you know anyone down you way that may be interested give me a shout.

James Taylor · Post by **James Taylor** » 3 Jan 2014 3:56 am

John, very pleased you have decided on a stage one and I am sure you will love it as all the reports have shown. Every best wish and a very happy new year to you and yours. JAMES TAYLOR Scotland

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 3 Jan 2014 4:07 am

Thanks James, look's like the Zum's are starting to be taken up here in the UK. mine will be shipped today from Ireland, with a bit of luck I'll get it tomorrow or Monday, I'm like child waiting for Santa.
With the Zum and the Roland 80 I'll have the dream setup for traveling to Spain where I'm hoping to spend the rest of my life. no more maintenance worries...olÃ©

Henrik Nielsen · Post by **Henrik Nielsen** » 3 Jan 2014 1:01 pm

Hi John
Congratulations on your new guitar

I have one of the older models build by Bruce Zumsteg. I've never heard one of the new ones but they should sound great

The only problem I've had with mine is the pick up that's very noisey but that's because bruce build them with a singlecoil. The new one's with a humbucker I think so that should solve this problem

I've never replaced my pickup because I really don't know what to replace it with, but that's a different story

Otherwise it's a great guitar and it's mechanically very stabil, so I'm sure you're gonna love it

Henrik

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 3 Jan 2014 2:45 pm

Chris, I think the reason why there is not a lot of info on the Stage One on The British Forum is that there are not that many in UK. Even although price in US is very good ,by the time it is imported into UK it is competing with a lot of used pro models around that price, many of which are maybe more cosmetically pleasing to the eye, and also the limited copedant changes on it mean that some players who have more changes than this model rule it out.They could possibly go for the Encore, but that means even more cash.My own view is that the Stage one is more than enough to to keep the "newbie" going for many years, as well as being a great travel guitar for pro players, or those like me with bad backs ( I am lucky enough to have an extremely light MSA Millenium ) .I think over the next few years some may start to appear on the UK/Euro market ,and possibly may be at better prices.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 3 Jan 2014 2:48 pm

it has more pulls then Lloyd Green. nuf said

James Taylor · Post by **James Taylor** » 3 Jan 2014 3:54 pm

John, as a matter of interest on your Roland 80, do you know how that compares with the Peavy 112 . I hope the sun always shines when you move to Spain Yours JAMES TAYLOR

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 4 Jan 2014 2:30 am

James, the Roland is far better the Peavey, not only is it half the price and much lighter but much easier to get a great sound quickly. most of the players have got at least one....do a search here on the forum and you will find nothing but praise for it... Over the years I tried every steel amp plus other non steel amps , but the Roland wins hands down for the above reasons. I also have a micro cube 5 watts and amazing sound very handy if you have a small gig or get together at a friends home where you don't want to carry the bigger one. also it's portable the batteries last about 24 hours...just my thoughts..john

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 4 Jan 2014 2:37 am

That's a really good move getting the Zum John. I use the 80XL for pub gigs, and it does the job pretty well. Just have to tame the highs somewhat, but it is a luxury carrying it in and out of gigs. Light as a feather.

James Taylor · Post by **James Taylor** » 4 Jan 2014 6:39 am

John, Thank you and it was just a thought.I have a Peavy vyper 30 and it sounds good but I always wandered what these amps sounded like as one never hears about them out here in the sticks. James Taylor

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 7 Jan 2014 9:03 am

Zum arrived today, happy as Larry with it. light and sounds great..sustains for ever with the stock pup. just need to do a few adjustments and she will be ready go.
I'm not used to the 22 wound but I try it for a while and if not happy I'll put a 20 plain on. anyone done this?

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 9 Jan 2014 3:26 am

can someone tell the size of the hex tool for lowering the three strings. mine did not come with one.. thanks

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 9 Jan 2014 8:54 am

7/64" for the socket head cap screw adjusters on 2, 4, and 8.
Tuning nuts are 5mm. They are really a fat 3/16 so we use the 5mm tool, it fits better.