Zum Preferred Pickup
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
Zum Preferred Pickup
I have a '93 SD-10 Zum that I picked up used.
It had George L PF on it when I got it. It sounded "muffled" so I put on a '96 Emmons pickup that I had lying around. It sounded ok(less noticeable with NV112) until I picked up a StereoSteel/TC Electronics unit. Now I get a raspy sound when I slide down the neck, say from eighth fret to third. Mainly on the 4-5 strings. Or, should I say, more noticeable on the 4-5 strings.
I'm sure there may be a difference of opinions, but, is there a preferable pickup for this guitar?
Thanks.
It had George L PF on it when I got it. It sounded "muffled" so I put on a '96 Emmons pickup that I had lying around. It sounded ok(less noticeable with NV112) until I picked up a StereoSteel/TC Electronics unit. Now I get a raspy sound when I slide down the neck, say from eighth fret to third. Mainly on the 4-5 strings. Or, should I say, more noticeable on the 4-5 strings.
I'm sure there may be a difference of opinions, but, is there a preferable pickup for this guitar?
Thanks.
The pickup he recommended to me when I wanted to replace the E-66 I ordered it with was the TrueTone.
I still have an E-66 on the C6th neck.
A friend of mine (now deceased) had 705s and it sounded SWEET.
I still have an E-66 on the C6th neck.
A friend of mine (now deceased) had 705s and it sounded SWEET.
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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Zum preferred pickup
Jim, my Zum is a 1982 with the stock Zum single coil pickup. I have no complaints about it. I prefer single coil pickups, not humbuckers.
I had a Jerry Wallace True Tone single coil on my PP Emmons and really liked it. Nice and clean with better string separation than the stock Emmons single coil.
Have you tried the Stereo Steel with and without your Lil Izzy? I don't like this suggestion, but maybe try some cables other than George L's.
I had a Jerry Wallace True Tone single coil on my PP Emmons and really liked it. Nice and clean with better string separation than the stock Emmons single coil.
Have you tried the Stereo Steel with and without your Lil Izzy? I don't like this suggestion, but maybe try some cables other than George L's.
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Pickups
I have L-710's on both necks of my Zum and play through Walker's Stereo Steel amp/preamp and the TC Electronic Effects Processor .
The combo has a fantastic sound at least in my opinion and some others .
The combo has a fantastic sound at least in my opinion and some others .
John
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- Paddy Long
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Zum Pickups
I have reissue BL 705s on my D-10 Zum. They sound great!
A lot of great players use (or have used) the BL 705s on their Zum steels--Wayne Dahl, Bruce Bouton, Dean Holman. I'm sure there are others out there too.
Another great steel player who likes BL 705s includes none other than Mike Johnson (Emmons).
On the side, there are some who swear by the original chrome 705s. I've read one post where somebody liked the reissue BETTER than the original. Still, others hear no difference at all.
Don
A lot of great players use (or have used) the BL 705s on their Zum steels--Wayne Dahl, Bruce Bouton, Dean Holman. I'm sure there are others out there too.
Another great steel player who likes BL 705s includes none other than Mike Johnson (Emmons).
On the side, there are some who swear by the original chrome 705s. I've read one post where somebody liked the reissue BETTER than the original. Still, others hear no difference at all.
Don
Last edited by Don Mogle on 29 Sep 2014 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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My U-12 Zum had a BL 912 on it when I got it new from Bruce, but I found it to be too dark sounding. I went with a TrueTone wound to 19.5 and never looked back. It's crystal clear from top to bottom. It has that low end growl on frets 1-5, which, I like. Also, I've never had a problem with any hum, at all. The TT is just a super pick up and satisfies my needs fully. I recommend them.
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Bruce is in the process of installing a Telonics 128 on my S-12 right now. I really liked it on my Millenium, so we will see. If I don't like it I can always go back or to something different. I thought the Telonics gave better seperation of the mid strings.
Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo.
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Zum Preferred pickup
Jim, I was trying to address the raspy zip sound with the bar sliding on the strings that you were getting. I thought that maybe trying cables other than George L's and/or the Lil Izzy might lessen the high end response of the bar sliding. Both of these lessen the loss of highs. Just thought that the raspy zip might diminish if you tried different cords or took the Lil Izzy out of the chain. But of course, this would probably bring on a whole new sound that you don't like.
Do you like the sound of the Emmons pickup, except for the raspy sound? Based on my experience, I think you would like the sound of the True Tone over the Emmons, but I don't know if it would make any difference in the raspy sound.
Do you like the sound of the Emmons pickup, except for the raspy sound? Based on my experience, I think you would like the sound of the True Tone over the Emmons, but I don't know if it would make any difference in the raspy sound.
Last edited by George Kimery on 1 Oct 2014 5:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Dennis Detweiler
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Truetone single coil wound 18000 or
Telonics humbucker
Telonics humbucker
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Boss 59 Fender pedal for preamp, NDR-5 Atlantic Delay & Reverb, two Quilter 201 amps, 2- 12" Eminence EPS-12C speakers, ShoBud Pedal, 1949 Epiphone D-8. Revelation preamp into a Crown XLS 1002 power amp.
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Lane, sorry I missed his statement that the problem is mainly on 4 and 5. That do merit some consideration, however, one does not normally slide the bar up on strings 4 and 5 and not have the bar cover the bass strings. They don't have to be picked to grab. In fact with your volume pedal near open you don't have to pick any string to get a raspy noise sliding the bar up the neck. Of course you know all that. I would still never recommend a stainless bar on stainless strings and I am a dealer for John Pearse bars. I always tell a prospective buyer of the Pearse to not buy it if he (or she) uses stainless strings. I do compliment you on your close attention to the post, much closer than mine was.
Jerry
Jerry
- Dennis Detweiler
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I use stainless wound sets, but a chrome plated bar. I don't think plains are pure stainless, so not sure how relevant a stainless bar would be with plains.
However, since specific plain strings are the culprit in this question, I doubt the bar being the cause?
Sounds more like an electronic problem.
On a similar situation. During the 70's, I had a MSA Super Sustain pickup that suddenly started causing a raspy sound when playing certain note frequencies. Evidently, the pickup had a loose winding in it. MSA sent me a new one and solved the problem.
However, since specific plain strings are the culprit in this question, I doubt the bar being the cause?
Sounds more like an electronic problem.
On a similar situation. During the 70's, I had a MSA Super Sustain pickup that suddenly started causing a raspy sound when playing certain note frequencies. Evidently, the pickup had a loose winding in it. MSA sent me a new one and solved the problem.
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Boss 59 Fender pedal for preamp, NDR-5 Atlantic Delay & Reverb, two Quilter 201 amps, 2- 12" Eminence EPS-12C speakers, ShoBud Pedal, 1949 Epiphone D-8. Revelation preamp into a Crown XLS 1002 power amp.
- Jerry Roller
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Dennis, my thinking is since he stated "when I slide down the neck" meaning the bar is causing sound from the strings which I take it to mean there is friction caused by sliding. When you are playing multiple strings the bar does not just touch those strings. If I were playing the 4th and 5th string at the same time I would have the nose of the bar just past the 4th string and the tail of the bar would be resting across strings 6 thru 10 and as I slid the bar I would expect that if the bar is not sliding freely it would make the raking sound as it tries to grap the bass strings instead of sliding quietly. This is why a shaft that turns needs a bearing made of a different metal than the shaft. It is true that only the winding is stainless or nickel. The plains are just plain piano wire. (Or is it music wire)? It is worth a try for him to try a chrome bar and see if it helps or not.